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Well Dressings in the Peak District

There seems to be no mention on this forum about well dressings in the Peak District- Derbyshire, Staffordshire and just across into what used to be North East Cheshire (now Tameside, Greater Manchester).

My home (place of birth) village of Gee Cross is one of those in Cheshire.

This is a local tradition, and one which any summer time visitor should see if they can. They are not known to have existed until the 19th century, but there is an opinion that they date back to being a thanksgiving for surviving the Black Death- which hit this area very hard (think the well known Eyam Village).

The wells are dressed with plant leaves on clay boards and the dressings are very artistic and creative.

This website lists where and when they happen- http://welldressing.com/

Gee Cross is interesting as there are now 3 sites- traditionally there was only one, at the Grapes PH. One of the new ones is only just below where we lived.

Posted by
1835 posts

Thanks for flagging this one up and reminding me isn31c.

Posted by
13942 posts

Oh, this is so cool! It looks like beans and flower petals on some of them! I love the Gee Cross one made by the Brownies. Very sweet!

Thank you so much for an insider peek!

Posted by
6318 posts

Pam is right; they’re lovely and so charming and unique! I like that idea!!!