Well Dressing in Derbyshire and the Peak District 2006
Well dressing is one of Derbyshires best known, most popular and colourful customs. Well dressing dates back hundreds of years, and though there have been religious associations, the true origins remain unknown.
Well dressing is celebrated in more than sixty towns and villages throughout Derbyshire.
Each village taking part in this custom has its own jealously guarded version and designs worked out months beforehand are not revealed until the last possible moment.
Todays wells are decorated with flower petals, berries, moss, cones and seeds, which are pressed into clay held in a wooden framework. It is a difficult task combining hard work and artistic dexterity. The clay is cleansed of all impurities, and the frames are then soaked to prevent the clay from drying out. The frames often have rows of protruding nails which help to prevent the damp clay from falling away when the frames are standing.
Derbyshire and Peak District Well Dressing dates for year 2006
Date Town/Village Blessing Service Time Date
May
1-11 Newborough (nr Burton-on-Trent) 10.30 am 1st May
6-9 Waingroves (nr Ripley) 11 am 6th May
6-13 Milford (nr Belper) 12.30 pm 7th May
20-22 Etwall (on A516 nr Derby) 12 noon 20th May
20-21 Swanwick (nr Ripley) 11am 20th May
25-31 Tissington (on A515 Buxton-Ashbourne road) 11 am 25th May
27-29 Endon (on A53 Leek-Hanley road) 1.30 pm 27th May
27- 30 Wirksworth 10.45 am 27th May
27-30 Brackenfield (nr Ogston Reservoir) 6 pm 28th May
27-2 June Middleton-by-Youlgrave 6.30 pm 28th May
27-4 June Monyash (off A515 Buxton-Ashbourne road) 2 pm 27th May
June
10-18 Ashford-in-the-Water 3 pm 11th May
10-14 Ockbrook Moravian Church (nr Spondon) 2.15 pm 10th June
10-15 Ripley(off A38 from junction 28 M1) 11 am 10th June
11-18 Cressbrook (Monsal Dale) 2 pm 11th June
11-18 Marston Montgomery (nr Uttoxeter) 2 pm 11th June
17-22 Norbury Primary School (nr Ashbourne) 3 pm 16th June
17-22 Derby City 10 am 17th June
17-23 Mayfield (nr Ashbourne) 11 am 17th June
17-23 Kniveton 10am 18th June
17-24 Wyaston (nr Ashbourne) 2 pm 17th June
17-25 Tideswell 3 pm 17th June
17-25 Litton (nr Tideswell) 3 pm 18th June
18-28 Penistone (off A628 Barnsley-Manchester road) 2 pm 18th June
24-1 July Tintwistle (nr Glossop) 7 pm 23rd June
24-29 Youlgrave 2.30 pm 24th June
24-30 Rowsley (on A6 Bakevvell-Matlock road) 10.30 am 25th June
24-3 July Bakewell 2.30 pm 25 June
24-3 July Hope (on A6187 nr Castleton) 7 pm 25th June
24-1 July Over Haddon (nr Bakewell) 11 am 24th June
24-1 July Elmton (nr Creswell) 7 pm 23rd June
25-1 July Whaley Bridge 2.30 pm 25th June
29-5 July Peak Forest (on A623 nr Chapel-en-le-Frith) 7 pm 28th June
30-5 July Coal Aston (nr Dronfield) 1.45 pm 1st July
July
1-8 Old VVhittington (Chesterfield) 7 pm 30th June
1-3 VVessington (on A615 Matlock-Alfreton road) 10 am 1st July
1-5 Tansley (nr Matlock) 2.30 1st July
1-8 Hathersage (on A6187 Sheffield-Castleton road)
1-9 Old Tupton (nr Chesterf?eld) 10.30 am 1st July
1-9 Buxworth (nr Whaley Bridge) 2.30 pm 2nd July
1-9 Dore (nr Sheffield) 3 pm 2nd July
1-8 Chapel-en-le-Frith 12 noon 2nd July
7-14 Dronfield 11 am 7th July
8-12 Pleasley (nr Mansfield) 3 pm 9th July
8-14 West Hallam (nr llkeston) 1.30 pm 8th July
15-20 Aston-on-Trent (nr Derby) 11.15am15th July
8-16 Sutton Lane Ends (Macclesfield)
9-16 Buxton 2 pm 9th July
9-16 Bamford (on A6013 nr Ladybower Reservoir) 6.30 pm 9th July
9-16 Gee Cross (Hyde) 2 pm 9th July
13-16 Upper Langwith (nr Bolsover) 9.30 am 13th July
13-20 Pilsley (nr Bakewell) 7 pm 13th July
14-21 Dronfield Woodhouse 6.30pm 14th July
14-23 Millthorpe (nr Holmesf?eld) 7.30 pm 14th July
15-20 Belper 1.50 pm 16th July
15-22 Heath (nr Chesterfleld)
15-22 Great Longstone 2pm 15th July
15-23 Holmesfield Children's Well 3.15 pm 14th July
15-23 Cutthorpe (nr Chesterfield) 6.30 pm 14th July
15-24 Grindon 4.30pm 15th July
15-22 Whitwell (nr VVorksop) 2 pm 15th July
15-23 Little Longstone (nr Monsal Head) 1.15 pm 15th July
15-23 Ault Hucknall, Glapwell, Rowthorne 2 pm 15TH July
16-23 Hayfield (nr New Mills) 2 pm 16th July
29-30 Heage Windmill (nr Ripley) 1 pm 29th July
22-25 Barlborough (nr junction 30 M1) 7 pm 21st July
22-31 Stoney Middleton (on A623 nr Calver) 3 pm 22nd July
29-4 Aug Bonsall (off A5012 nr Matlock) 2 pm 30th July
August
5-14 Bradvvell (off A6187 nr Hope) 7.30 pm 6th Aug
10-18 Great Hucklow (off A623) 7 pm 10th Aug
17-22 Barlow (nr Chesterfield) 6.30 pm 16th Aug
19-26 Taddington (off A6 Bakewell-Buxton road) 2.30 pm 19th Aug
24-31 Holymoorside (nr Chesterfield) 7 pm 24th Aug
26-2 Sept Foolow (off A623 nr Eyam) 1 pm 26th Aug
26-3 Sept Wormhill (nr Buxton) 7.15 pm 26th Aug
26-2 Sept Eyam 2.45 pm 26th Aug
September
2-9 Longnor (on B5053 nr Buxton) 6 pm 3rd Sept
2-10 Wardlow (off A623 nr Tideswell) 2.15 pm 3rd Sept
9-16 Chesterfield 10 am 9th Sept
9-17 Hartington (off A515 Buxton-Ashbourne road) 3pm 9th Sept
Visit Wells in the Making
Date Town/Village Contact Tel:
April 2006
24-29 Newborough, 10 am-12.30 pm & 2pm-4.30pm most days, telephone for details Tel: 01283 575057
May 2006
23-24 Tissington, 9 am-5 pm venues within village Tel: 01335 352200
1-5 Milford, 2 pm-6 pm (12 noon-4 pm on 2nd) in Undercroft, Milford School Tel: 01773 822537
3-5 Waingroves, 12 noon-4 pm & 6 pm-8 pm in Methodist Church Tel: 01773 570428
20-21 Etwall, 'have-a-go' at well dressing, 11 am-4 pm in tent on village green Tel: 01283 223443
22-26 Endon, 10 am-5 pm in marquee in field near Black Horse Inn Tel: 01782 503494
21-26 Middleton-by-Youlgrave, 10 am-8 pm in shed on playground in village square Tel: 07739 827217
22-26 Monyash, from 7 pm - 10pm in garages behind Lathkill Cottage, Church Street Tel: 01629 812778
22-26 Wirksworth, 9 am-7 pm in Methodist Church Community Room off Wood St Tel: 01629 824169
24-25 Brackenfleld, 11 am-4 pm in Church Hall, The Green Tel: 01629 534806
June 2006
3-9 Ashford-in-the-Water, various times in various venues as signposted Tel: 01629 813005
5-9 Ripley, 10 am-4 pm at Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall, Market Place Tel: 01773 841488
6-10 Marston Montgomery, 7.30 pm-9 pm in Coronation Hall in centre of village Tel: 01889 590646
12-16 Litton, approx 10 am-12noon &2pm - 4pm & 6pm- 9pm in Litton Village Hall Tel: 01298 871569
12-16 Derby City, 10 am-4 pm in Guildhall Theatre Clubroom, Market Place Tel: 01332 255802
12-16 Tideswell, 10 am-12.30 pm & 2 pm-8 pm in Hardy House, Hardy Lane Tel: 01298 871615
14-15 Kniveton, 10am - 4pm at Green Farm Tel: 01335 344091
17-24 Whaley Bridge, 10 am-6 pm in marquee beside Canal Wharf building Tel: 01663 734436
19-23 Rowsley, 10am - 12noon &1-4pm &7-9.30pm pm in garages of Peacock Hotel, Church Lane Tel: 01629 734427
21-22 Elmton, 9 am-12 noon, 2 pm-4 pm and 6 pm-9 pm in Old School Room Tel: 01909 720035
20-22 Tintwistle, 10.30 am-7 pm in Parish Council Offices, 99 Manchester Road Tel: 01457 861500
21-23 Hope, 9 am-9 pm in Loxley Hall, Market Place near St Peter's Church Tel: 01433 621312
21-23 Youlgrave, times by arrangement at various venues in village Tel: 01629 636341
26-27 Peak Forest, 10am - 4pm & 6pm - 9pm in Stuart`s Barn Church Lane Tel: 01298 24056
27-30 Old Whittington, all day next to church in Church Lane Tel: 01246 450897
26-30 Buxworth, 9.30 am-dusk at Navigation Inn adjacent to Bugsvvorth Basin Tel: 01663 750478
27-30 Dore, 2 pm-5 pm at Scout Hut, Rushley Road Tel: 01142 360332
26-30 Old Tupton, 10 am-8 pm (with breaks) in garage opposite Royal Oak (A61) Tel: 01246 863311
28-30 Chapel-en-le-Frith, from 9 am in Hearse House, Market Street Tel: 01298 815291
July 2006
11-14 Hayfield, 10am -12 noon & 2pm - 5pm & 7pm - 9pm in Royal Hotel Car Park Tel: 01663 742112
10-13 Dronfield Woodhouse, 9 am-5 pm in Methodist Church on Holmesfield Road Tel: 01246 416915
3-4 Pleasley, approx 10 am-8 pm in Pyddock Room, St Michaels Church Tel: 01623 810732
11-14 Aston-on-Trent, 7.15 pm-8.30 pm in Scout Hut, Chellaston Lane Tel: 01332 792434
5-7 Sutton Lane Ends, 9 am-9 pm in The Scout Hut, Church Lane Tel: 01625 618579
12-14 Whitwell, from 7 pm in Scout Guide Hut, Welbeck St. Recreation Ground Tel: 01909 722388
5-8 Gee Cross, 9 am-5 pm in Hyde Chapel in centre of village Tel: 0161 368 1951
6-8 Buxton, 9 am-8.30 pm (till 5 pm on Sat) in St John the Baptist Church (A53) Tel: 01298 24201
6-14 Cutthorpe, 10 am-5 pm at 4 Common Lane, nr Merry Lads Pub Tel: 01246 201478
8-13 Millthorpe, 9 am-5 pm on site atjunction of B6051 and Millthorpe Lane tel:01142890089
10-11 Upper Langvvith, 10 am-5 pm at The Old Hall Scarcliffe Lane Tel: 01623 743241
11-14 Holmesf?eld, 9 am-noon, 1.30 pm-3.30 pm in garden next to Angel Pub Tel: 0114-289 0356
10-14 Little Longstone, 10.30 am-7 pm at Home Farm (opposite the troughs)
10-14 Belper, from 7 pm at Belper River Gardens Boathouse Tel: 01773 823226
18-20 Barlborough, 10 am-4 pm & 7 pm-9 pm in Church Institute, Church Street Tel: 01246 810578
19-20 Stoney Middleton, 11 am to dusk in garage of Moon Inn (off A623) Tel: 01433 631590
26-29 Chadkirk Chapel, 11 am-4 pm (10 am-12 noon Fri) in Chadkirk Chapel
August 2006
1-4 Bradvvell, 2 pm-5 pm & 7 pm-9 pm at various venues in village Tel: 01433 620222
13-16 Barlow, 6 am-8 pm on site on B6051 opposite Old Pump Pub Tel: 0114 289 0310
14-18 Taddington, 10 am-5 pm venues signposted Tel: 01298 85396
21-23 Holymoorside, 9 am-9 pm on site opposite Recreation Ground near Bull Pub Tel: 01246 569177
22-25 Wormhill, 10 am till late (till 12 noon Fri) at Hargate Wall Farm Tel: 01298 871023
23-25 Eyam, 9.30 am- evening garage on corner of Hawkhill Road in Old Smithy Tel: 01433 630599
28-1 Sep Wardlow, 11 am-5 pm in Wardlow Village Hall Tel: 01298 872091
29-1 sept Longnor, 11am- 1pm & 2pm - 4pm in the cottage in church street Tel: 01298 83495
September 2006
4-9 Chesterfield 9am - 5pm in Rykneld Square next to Crooked Spire church Tel: 01246 345777
If visiting to see the 'well dressings in the making' you are advised to ring to confirm someone will be there.
For photos of 2004 Well Dressing in Derbyshire please see Derbyshire Well Dressing 2004 Photographs.
For photos of 2005 Well Dressing in Derbyshire please see Derbyshire Well Dressing 2005 Photographs.
For photos of 2006 Well Dressing in Derbyshire please see Derbyshire Well Dressing 2006 Photographs.
For further informatiom please contact one of the tourist information centres which can be found at Tourist Information Centres
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