I've always wanted to see Derbyshire's famous Well Dressings, and this year we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Tissington's wells were all dressed up and ready to see!
Hands Well
Coffin Well
Yew Tree Well
Town Well
Hall Well
The Children's Well
The origins of Well Dressing are lost in antiquity. They may even have their roots in pagan customs, which were later given Christian meaning.
Tradition recalls a severe drought in 1615, when thousands of cattle perished and crops were lost, the wells of Tissington flowed freely and the surrounding area had cause to be grateful for the unending supply of water from the little village. A thanksgiving service was held and the wells were decorated each year in memory of the deliverance. The custom has continued ever since.
The boards that the pictures are mounted on are soaked for days in the village pond...
After this they are plastered in clay. Flowers are picked locally, and the picture is traced and marked out onto the boards. Then comes the laborious task of infilling with flower petals and other natural materials.
Each petal is put on separately and they overlap like tiles so rain will flow off the picture. The detail is incredible. The process takes many hours and many hands. The dressings are erected on the Eve of Ascension Day when there is a Blessing Ceremony.
Tissington is a lovely little English village ....
The gateway to Tissington Hall which has been in the hands of the Fitzherbert family since the reign of Elizabeth I. Today the estate consists of 10 farms and 40 cottages which are let to local people to preserve the sense of community in the little village.
I also found the prettiest shop in the world...
Acanthus Gifts .... Just gorgeous!
And a traditional Sweet Shop
Inca is intrigued by someone who doesn't talk to her!
We had serious house envy with every turn of the lane ... the whole place was just idyllic!
Well Dressing takes also place in other villages around Derbyshire at this time of year. You could catch one this week if you're lucky!
It's such a lovely English tradition!
Tissington is a very pretty village and the well dressings look wonderful. I've always wanted to see inside the hall! The shop always looks interesting but I've never been inside so I enjoyed looking at your photo of the interior. The place always reminds me of when all of the children from junior school in our village were taken on a bus every year to see the Tissington Well dressings - we always used to take a bottle of 'pop' and smelly egg sandwiches in brown paper bags - those were the days:)
ReplyDeleteWe have never seen it but heard lots about it over the years too. I think it will have to go onto my 'must visit' list! I am a firm believer in Traditions!
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Wow, I had never heard of this before. They look amazing. thank you for sharing. x
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the other day that I must look out for some local Well Dressings. I must go and see the one in Tissington one of these days but there are lots of them in this area through the summer including the village where I live. The Tissington Wells are really lovely though, worth a journey to see them.
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting. I've never heard of it before. The decorations are very amazing. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks a very pretty little village, especially at the moment with all the gorgeous well dressings. I hope the scarecrow was more successful with the birds than he was with Inca, she doesn't look very frightened at all.
ReplyDeleteWe go to Derbyshire a fair amount but have never made it to Tissington so far. It looks and sounds absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to get to see them, but so far, no luck! Thanks for sharing the pics. The wells look really beautiful. Hope you have a good week. Ros
ReplyDeletel have been trying to get to a Well Dressing for ages..maybe next year. Thanks for visiting it for me and taking such great imagesxx
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've had a wonderful break. I would love to know what site you stayed at ...sounds idyllic!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this informative and lovely post. So interesting to see the Wells and your shop find looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love well dressings and am glad the the tradition is still alive around me in both staffordshire and derbyshire! Last year we went to Eyam well dressing but we have been busy and missed them all this year!
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