Tissington - Well
Dressings
w/e 27 May 2007
All
this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
As the information board in the village says, Tissington is the
home of well dressing in Derbyshire. Several theories about the
origin of the tradition are proffered; one that it was adopted
as a thanksgiving by the Christian religion from pagan beginnings
following the Black Death of 1350 when pure water from the wells
kept the population healthy while all around, neighbouring settlements
were succumbing to the disease. Another is that it dates from
a great drought in 1615 when the water from Tissington's wells
never failed. The truth is probably a combination of all the
theories but no-one disputes the fact that the decoration of
wells began in Tissington and even though the tradition has now
spilled over into some neighbouring counties, it is still an
almost exclusive Derbyshire happening.
Crowds of people descend on the village each Ascension Day when,
following a church service, the congregation visits each well
to sing a hymn and witness the  blessing
of the waters by the Vicar. There were still a goodly number
of people in Tissington the following Tuesday when all these
images were captured but as another of those guide books says,
"The trouble with Tissington is that it is too perfect,
and to avoid the crowds you'll have to visit mid-week."
To visit Tissington at any time is a worthwhile experience -
yet another book describes it "the most beautiful village
in the Peak District" - but the bonus at the end of May
is that you also get to see the decorated wells. And that is
what we'll do now starting at Hands Well in the north of the
village and working round in an anti-clockwise direction.
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We'll begin our look at Tissington's decorated wells at Hands
Well which is at the junction of Rakes Lane and Chapel Lane.
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A much smaller display on Rakes Lane at the Children's Well depicts
St George and the dragon.
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This grand display appropriately called Hall Well is also on
Rakes' Lane opposite Tissington Hall.
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Around the corner in The Avenue is the Yew Tree Well and this
picture shows that not all the visitors to Tissington reach the
village by coach or car.
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The Town Well continues the Tissington tradition as the majority
of the wells have a Biblical theme. Other towns and villages
in the county that have well dressing ceremonies often have Biblical
themes too but also have more contemporary designs.
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The final well is in a garden off Chapel Lane and goes by the
name of Coffin Well, so called I believe because of the shape
of the water receptacle.
Click for Tissington
- Village Views
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