A UNIQUE RITUAL – The Derbyshire Well-Dressings
An ancient tradition is practised in ‘The White Peak’ region of Derbyshire. It is unique. Nothing in the world is like it. In a complex of caves and caverns deep in the Carboniferous limestone underground rivers carry their life-giving water. Because the rock is porous very little rainfall remains on the surface and ever since people have inhabited this rolling landscape they have depended on their wells to survive. So crucial are the wells that every community holds them with the deepest respect and love. These sentiments are reflected in the ceremonies which take place in every town, village and settlement during the Spring and Summer – the ‘Derbyshire Well-Dressings’.
Over the winter teams of locals come up with designs for the dressings. Traditionally these have been scenes from the Bible but now environmental concepts are becoming more popular. Once these are agreed and the weather improves the practical activities can begin.
The first tasks in the process are (traditionally) done by the men. Taking the large wooden frames out of storage they soak them in water. Then they dig the clay with which they fill the frames. The heavy work having been done the men then hand the frames over to the women. Every imaginable natural thing has been collected in readiness, be it pebbles, nuts, seeds, husks, wool, leaves or petals. Painstakingly and in a strict order the different materials are pressed into the clay. The most durable ones (pebbles/nuts) are used first, the most delicate such as petals are only gathered at the last minute so that they don’t decay before the actual day of the ceremony. The results are breath-taking. Each panel is a masterpiece of design and colour and, of course, produced with totally natural materials.
Some towns and villages have a number of wells and each one will have a unique dressing. Come the day the marching bands arrive, the dignitaries turn up, the community puts on its best attire and colourful, motley groups parade along the bunting-clad way towards the wells. There they are blessed and everyone has a good time. As you can imagine, there is keen competition between the different towns and villages and on just about every weekend during Spring and Summer there will be an event happening somewhere in The White Peak.
As a keen observer I visited many of the dressings in the 1980s and 1990s and tried to capture this truly remarkable tradition. One year I approached the good people of Ashford-in-the-Water and was able to follow all the stages in the creation of their dressings. It started one chilly morning in early Spring and ended in a joyful, sun-dappled day in high Summer with crowds of excited locals and visitors experiencing the power of an ancient tradition which bonds every condition of person to the land where they belong.
