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Photos of the 2002 Etwall Well dressings
Here you can see the famous well dressings
which take place every year. This year the well dressings were on show
May 18th to May 20th. The wells are located in various places around the
village. The pretty village of Etwall is very popular during this event
which attracts many thousands of people, not only to see the Wells but
to see the exhibitions and displays.
If you have a chance to go and see any derbyshire well dressings I would
highly recommend it!
Most well dressings are of a similar form. Near the well will be a large
wooden frame containing a picture made out natural materials. The predominant
material is petal leaves. The technicalities of the construction is that
the wooden frame is full of nails, a little like a bed of nails. Into
this frame is spread clay, about 25mm (1") thick. The clay is 'puddled'
- a process whereby the well dressers walk over the clay in much the same
way as grapes used to be pressed. This has the effect of softening the
clay and removes stones, grit & twigs. A little salt is added to the
clay to assist with its water retention. Then the image is marked out
with seeds, small stones, or coffee beans, in much the same way a child's
colouring book looks. Then the coloured images are filled in with petals,
Hydranger are good for blue skies, moss for greens and bark for trees
and buildings. No self respecting well dresser uses any paint whatsoever.
It will take a proficient well dresser about seven hours to attach all
the petals. They are laid like tiles so that any rain will run over the
petals and off the bottom of the picture.
There is no definitive explanation as to why they were started.
It is thought that they originated in pagan rituals or sacrifices to water
gods as a thanks for past supplies and a request for continuing future
deliveries. The scarifies are thought to have been replaced by the colourful
decoration as a tribute to the gods. It is known that the Romans made
similar offering to their gods and one theory says that they probably
brought this custom to Derbyshire.
Unfortunately, no similar custom exists in modern Italy. So, the most
favoured theory has the custom originating before the Romans and that
is was a Celtic custom that managed to survive the successive invasions
of Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans.
What
is more certain is that the early Christian Church absorbed the pagan
rite
into it. The early Christian Church has an history of absorbing rather
than suppressing pagan customs. Why else is Christmas day so close to
the shortest day. In pagan times this was a time of rejoicing as the days
would now get longer. Thus, most modern day well dressing coincides with
religious festivals with the pictures depicting a biblical or moral theme. |
