Well Dressings

From May to September each year villages around The Peak District get together and create one or more Well Dressings. Intricate designs are used, mostly something that is being celebrated that year like “VE Day” or Anniversary of the Queens Jubilee, Religious people. Materials used for making the dressings are fresh clay, moss, sweetcorn, coffee beans, leaves, flower petals

Firstly the fresh clay is kneaded or puddled into the wooden frame, then using a stick the design outline is marked into place, coffee beans are usually the first item to be placed around the design outline then the colour starts being inputted, children & adults all love to get involved, it’s a great village get together.

After the masterpiece is ready it is put into place against the village well, most villages bless the wells by doing an outdoor service & songs. A lot of the villages put a collection box for numerous different charities.

The following villages can be seen each year with well dressings

Wyaston & Edlaston, Norbury, Marston Montgomery,   Lilton, Whaley Bridge, Tideswell,  Biddulph Moor, Hayfield ,  Over Haddon

Old Whittington,  Hope,  Buxton,  Bakewell,  Rowsley, Matlock, Tissington, Hatersage, Bollington,  Chapel en le frith,  Harthill

Pilsley, Great & Little Longstone,  Stoney Middleton,  Bonsall, Great Hucklow,  Barlow, Wirksworth,  Middleton, Monyash  

Endon, Ashford,  Youlgrave,  Tintwistle,  Chesterfield

Plus many more villages participate.