Stoney Middleton Well Dressing - 2008

2.42.00pm GMT Tue 8th Jul 2008

The Main Well in 2007

We are delighted that Cate Hunt, our District Councillor, has agreed to open the wells this year at 3pm on Saturday 26th July in the Nook. Cate is an active councillor, living on our doorstep, who takes on local issues and works for her community.

Cate says:-

"The first Well Dressing I ever saw was Stoney Middleton 1948. I think there were two wells that year, but my memory does let me down sometimes. I do remember I was very impressed. Since that time I have seen many wells at Stoney Middleton, but never thought I would have the honour of opening the Well Dressing Celebrations.

"I asked my friend Ted Shimwell (son of Oliver Shimwell and grandson of Ted Shimwell who inaugurated the first Well Dressing in Stoney Middleton in 1936) when were wells first dressed? He said that decorating wells with garlands and throwing coins in as a thank you for a reliable source of clean water was a very ancient custom, possibly Celtic in origin, and was later adopted as a Christian celebration. This is why some wells are given saints names, like St Anne's Well in Buxton. These ancient people valued a reliable source of good clean water, something we tend to take for granted in this country today. We are used to water at the turn of a tap, but it only takes the supply to be cut for a few hours, or a hose pipe ban to be put in place, and we soon realise its value. One of our most precious commodities is our water.

"The idea of decorating wells with pictures was started by the Victorians and as far as I know it only takes place in Derbyshire. The art of Well Dressing is passed down from generation to generation. Dressing the wells is something the whole community can get involved in. Some jobs like clay puddling, designing of the wells, pricking out the design are very skilled jobs, but petalling can be done by everybody. It's not a difficult job, but time consuming, so the more willing hands the better.

"First on the boards are the beans, seeds, mosses etc. that will last, then from Wednesday onwards the petals are put on, and then Friday night the boards are placed at the wells. If you have helped it is with pride you look at that little bit you have contributed, which always looks better than when you were doing it.

I am delighted to have been asked to open the Stoney Middleton Well Dressing celebrations. I hope both residents and visitors enjoy the week of activities."

Cate Hunt