Well Dressed
Well dressing in Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Every Spring a number of small villages around Staffordshire & Derbyshire place a huge, handmade mural near the village well. Hours in the planning and making, these jaw-dropping temporary works of art, crafted from soft clay and organic materials such as petals, seeds and grass are not found in any other county.
The once common practise of well-dressing was frowned upon by the church, so the practise almost died out. But because the villages around the Peak district were quite isolated, the Celtic water blessing, fertility rite or whatever it was simply slipped on a cloak of respectability and were allowed to continue.
These days the astonishing and beautiful pictures are made by local parishoners, and often feature a traditional Christian theme.
Here’s a link to an online gallery of well-dressings, but they are best seen in person.
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