The history and meanings behind Derbyshire Well Dressings

The history and meanings behind our county’s Well Dressings ritual – and let’s be honest, nobody does it better than we do – have been well told over the years, not least in this very publication.

What can sometimes be missed, however, is the sense of belonging and shared purpose well dressing bring to Derbyshire, especially – but certainly not exclusively – in our more rural areas.

In the coming weeks and months, over 50 local communities will display the fruits of their labour – and make no mistake, creating well dressings can be hard work.

And while the spectacular results survive for just a few short days, it’s totally worth it for all those up and down the county who get involved.

The Hayfield team in 2023 with Gill far left Photo: Gill Soulsby ‘I retired from teaching in 2012, freeing up time to get involved in the making of a well dressing. Over the years I made many friends and learned some of the intricacies of making a well,’ Hayfield’s Gill Soulsby tells me.

‘When Lesley, a lovely lady who organised Swallow House Well, had to give up responsibility for it, I and a small group of friends took over. It goes without saying there are stresses involved, especially leading up to the deadline. Petalling has to be last minute, for example, as they have a limited shelf life.’

Gill explains that many aspects of the village community come together at well dressing time – from church groups to school children, friendship groups, and a whole range of village and local sponsors.

Participants in Hayfield range from five-years-old to some in their 80s and appealing to younger villagers is a priority this year, with Swallow House running an evening taster session for those at school or work during the day.

‘The group meets socially, led by our chairperson Lorna, where we discuss the wells and make decisions on things such as themes,’ concludes Gill.

‘The village buzzes during exhibiting week, with many groups organising supporting activities and it is so lovely to see locals and visitors admiring the creations.’

Whitwell Photo: Glyn Williams One person well versed in the tradition is Derbyshire Life’s very own Richard Bradley who, in recent years, has gained first-hand experience at Rowsley, close to where he grew up.

‘The majority of people who see a completed well dressing probably don’t fully appreciate the many hours of communal work which goes into making the finished article,’ says Richard.

‘Having been documenting Derbyshire’s folklore and traditions for the past decade, I decided with the well dressings I ought to cross the line and become a participant, so in 2022 I volunteered to help make the Rowsley well dressings and I’ve been back every year since.

‘It’s a curiously meditative process and you can easily slip into a sort of trance-like state applying flower petal after flower petal. But beneath the calm there’s an underlying current of shared panic – will the design be finished in time? Will we source enough blue hydrangea petals to complete the sky? It’s also physically demanding, spending hours hunched over the frame applying petals.

One element that struck Richard is the opportunity it affords local people to come together.

Holmesfield Photo: Glyn Williams ‘It’s a chance for regular volunteers to catch up – perhaps it’s the first time they’ve seen each other since working on the previous well dressings.

‘Conversations can quickly go very deep, involving all the ups and downs everyone experiences in life – bereavements, illnesses, children moving away (or moving back), holidays, successes, failures…’

While well dressing is rooted in tradition some participating communities are, due to societal changes, evolving too.

‘The well dressing normally raises funds for a local charity, although I’ve heard some sites say donations have been down in recent years as people don’t always carry as much loose change,’ explains Richard.

‘Some villages have moved with the times and introduced the opportunity to donate online by scanning a QR code displayed at the well.’

One thing which hasn’t changed is just how special well dressing is to our county’s people and communities.

‘When I observed the well dressings at Youlgrave, one volunteer told me, “I find it incredible people put so much effort into making something that lasts for such a short amount of time – yet we come back and do it again every year.”’ Richard continues.

Barlow Photo: Glyn Williams ‘She had grown up in Omskirk, Lancashire, but travelled to Youlgrave each year as her mother had grown up there and been one of the chief well dressing designers in her day.

‘Another lady I spoke to comes down from Glasgow every year to participate, having once been holidaying by chance in Youlgrave the week the well dressings were made and become hooked.

‘The well dressings are important for each community, and the teams take great pride in making them. I ended up on Channel 5 News in the wake of Chesterfield’s controversially wonky Princess Diana design in 2017. I’d gone along to photograph it as normal and the film crew were on the prowl seeking manufactured outrage.

‘I remember telling the reporter people in Derbyshire went to a lot of effort making these things and the national news ought to come and film every year, but they were only in Chesterfield to glorify in something having gone wrong, in that peculiar way British people seem to weirdly enjoy complaining and glorifying in something being a bit of a failure – none of which made it to the broadcast piece.

Holmoorside Photo: Glyn Williams ‘As I did point out in a bit that did make the final cut: it’s easy to sit on your computer and criticise something. It’s a lot harder to actually go out and produce something. So, kudos to the well dressers of Derbyshire for keeping an ancient tradition alive.’

In recent years, Richard sent out questionnaires to well dressing teams as part of his ongoing research into the tradition as practiced in the 21st century.

The final questions asked were: “What is the purpose of the well dressing for the village? Why do people produce the dressings each year? How do they benefit the village?”’

Harthill Photo: Glyn Williams Here are some of the responses.

Buxton:

‘The purpose is to maintain the unique Derbyshire tradition of Well Dressing in our community. Our team of around 50 volunteers love the process of producing the Well Dressings and the sense of pride when they are put in place and blessed each year. The wells are admired by many tourists who come specially to see them being dressed and once they are in place.’

Eyam:

‘The well dressing is a long-standing tradition that brings people together. People produce them for the pleasure of doing/enticing visitors and it raises money for Eyam societies. We feel pride in them.’

Holymoorside:

‘It’s a social opportunity for the well dressers, and a way to build a sense of community in the village. Most well dressers enjoy the collaborative creativity of it. We raise money for charity because our own costs are very low. It takes a lot of organisation and we need a lot of volunteers to make it work.’

Ault Hucknall:

‘Traditionally our well dressings have raised money for local charities, especially within the parish – e.g. Brownies, school, football club etc – but, more recently, for charities affecting people in the parish, such as Ashgate Hospice, Dementia UK, MacMillan, Stroke Association. We’re currently raising funds to purchase defibrillators.’

Fun and games at Tideswell Wakes Week Photo: Andrew Turner

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Between June 21-29, Tideswell Wakes Week will again welcome hundreds of visitors and locals to enjoy the Wakes festivities.

Originally, a Wake was a prayer vigil often associated with the patron saint of the local church. Gradually, in the 19th and 20th centuries, it became a secular summer holiday, particularly in the industrial North and Scotland. This tradition has now almost disappeared, but not in Tideswell.

‘Our church is dedicated to St John the Baptist. Traditionally we celebrate our Wakes Week in the last full week of June, which includes his birth date, June 24,’ says Andrew Turner, chair of Tideswell Wakes Festivities.

‘We’re fortunate to have a committee of local enthusiasts who, aided by a team of willing volunteers, keep the events of the week safe. Together, they decorate the village, marshal the events and parades, organise treasure hunts, and collect generous donations, raffle prizes and sponsorship.

‘The week starts on “Little Sat’day” with the Blessing of the Wells. At Tideswell in 1946, after a lapse of over 50 years, Oliver Shimwell revived the tradition of dressing wells. He was possibly the foremost exponent of the craft.

Mini traction engine in Tideswell Photo: Andrew Turner ‘Under his expert direction, a team produced many great well dressings and not only for our village. He created well dressings which have twice graced Dean’s Yard, Westminster Abbey, and another for the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral.

‘After he retired, Paul Fletcher, who had learned the craft from him, took over. In turn, he passed the baton to Elaine Chapman; thus, the tradition continues.

‘Tideswell is noted for the impeccable execution of magnificent designs. People come to stay in the village just to take part in the making of the floral dressing.’

Throughout the week there are events and activities for all ages, including, but not limited to, Tideswell Fell Race (June 20); Village Rounders and ‘Rock&Bowls’ – a competition with musical entertainment – (June 25); Big Wakes Quiz at the Star at 9pm on June 26.

Litton Photo: Glyn Williams Tuesday 24 June is Litton Night, with events including Tug of War, Classic Cars, and entertainment from Cressbrook Band.

Tideswell’s magnificent 14th century church, known as The Cathedral of the Peak, welcomes visitors from all over the world, whilst in Fountain Square Church there are exhibits of artwork and local history from village groups.

‘The highlight is the Carnival Parade on “Big Sat’day”, June 28,’ continues Andrew.

‘The parade assembles near the village centre and at 3pm Simon, the bandmaster, marks the start of the procession by banging his bass drum. Then, with Tideswell Band following, he sets the parade off around the village.

‘This year the procession includes musical entertainment from The Fianna Pádraig Pipe Band, Loxley Silver Band, 5th Leek Scout Band and decorated floats, all interspersed with carnival royalty, vintage tractors and walking fancy dress. The entries seem to get more ingenious every year. And we mustn’t forget the precision routines from Bill Weston’s amazing Billerettes!

‘As night falls, our Torchlight Procession wends its way through the streets, led by Tideswell Band, who play a unique jaunty Morris Dance tune called Tideswell Processional, a traditional handkerchief dance, which is a sight to behold.’

Tideswell Wakes Festivities is a not-for-profit organisation run by unpaid volunteers. The committee is responsible for arranging this annual event. Profits made during Wakes Week are distributed to charities and organisations within Tideswell and the local area.

WHERE TO SEE WELL DRESSINGS

Tissington

May 27 – June 1

Cressbrook

June 8-15

Edlaston

June 14-20

Flash

June 14-21

Ashford-in-the-Water

June 14-22

Biddulph Moor

June 14-22

Youlgrave

June 21-27

Litton

June 21-28

Ockbrook

June 21-28

Swanwick

June 21-28

Hope

June 21-29

Over Haddon

June 21-29

Tideswell

June 21-29

Bakewell

June 28 – July 6

Hayfield

June 28 – July 6

Rowsley

June 28 – July 6

Derby

June 29 – July 6

Buxton

July 4-13

Coal Aston

July 5-10

Aston-upon-Trent

July 5-11

Hathersage

July 5-12

Wadshelf

July 5-12

Crich

July 5-13

Matlock

July 6-12

Chapel-en-le-Frith

July 11-19

Dronfield Woodhouse

July 11-19

Charlesworth

July 11-20

Belper

July 12-17

Bamford

July 12-19

Great Longstone

July 12-20

West Hallam

July 12-20

Whitwell

July 12-20

Tansley

July 13-19

Peak Forest

July 16-26

Pilsley (near Chesterfield)

July 17-20

Rowthorne

July 19-26

Heath

July 19-27

Clowne

July 26 – August 2

Bonsall

July 26 – August 3

Stoney Middleton

July 26 – August 3

Wingerworth

August 2-9

Bradwell

August 2-10

Great Hucklow

August 7-16

Barlow

August 13-20

Taddington

August 16-22

Eyam

August 23-31

Wormhill

August 23-31

Foolow

August 23 – September 1

Chesterfield

September 13-21

Longnor

September 7-14

Hartington

September 13-20

Glossop

September 20

Whaley Bridge

September 28 – October 5

Every effort has been made to provide correct dates. For more information – and to view well dressings throughout the years – visit the excellent welldressing.com. Our thanks to Glyn Williams for providing his photographs of last year’s events.