Well dressing is back in village for its postponed 50th anniversary
A DERBYSHIRE tradition will be returning to a village later this month for it well dressing festival, marking its 50th anniversary celebrations which had to be postponed because of Covid.
Etwall’s well dressings began in 1970 and take place each year over the third weekend in May, which this year will be on Saturday 21, Sunday 22 and Monday 23.
Well dressing is the art of decorating springs and wells, or places where wells used to be located, with pictures made from natural growing things. This ancient craft is thought to have pagan origins developed from the age old fear and worship of water gods and spirits.
There were plans in place to celebrate 50 years of well dressing in Etwall at the 2020 festival but unfortunately the village was only able to mark this anniversary on a smaller, Covid-compliant scale, with a “Stay ay home Well Dressing” event for residents only. For this, households were encouraged to produce their own displays in front gardens and windows, which could be viewed by all villagers as part of their daily exercise routine.
This year, however, organisers are hoping that everyone will now come and enjoy the extra activities originally planned for that anniversary year, that have been carried over to this years festival, including flypasts by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster and an auction-off anniversary cake competition.
Eight well dressings will be on display this year either commemorating anniversaries or with topical themes. Among others, these will include both the poem and hymn themes used on the original two well dressings back in 1970 (This Green And Pleasant Land and All Things Bright And Beautiful); the Ukraine flag; and 200 years since the birth of author Anna Sewell, who wrote Black Beauty.
Both village churches will also have themed floral decoration.
All well dressings will be erecting at their locations by around 8.30am on Saturday, May 21 and will be ready for viewing by visitors from mid morning. There will be a blessing of the wells at 11.30am on the Saturday, at which a multi-denominational service takes place to officially open the festival.
Anyone interested in watching one of this year’s well dressings under construction can do so between Monday, May 16 and Thursday May 19 by phoning 07989 127013 for an appointment.
Also, those keen to try their hand at well dressing will be able to give it a go under expert supervision during Well Dressing weekend.
As usual the event will have a variety of family entertainment including: mini traction engine rides; a climbing wall; children’s fairground rides; live music; traditional dancing; puppet shows and various sports challenges and competitions.
There will also be an art exhibition by local artists, a large crafts fair, birds of prey, an Alpacas experience, a classic vehicle display, a well dressing archive display, a local history display and the popular Children’s Trail.
Visitors will be able to take a welcome break during their visit to sample the homemade food and refreshments on offer at various locations around the village.
Local interest writer Denis Eardley said: “Well dressings in Etwall started in 1970 when the Etwall Primary School’s parent-teachers association dressed a site near the old school well as part of its centenary celebrations.
“At the same time, Etwall Women’s Institute dressed the Town Well on the village green near the church. The money raised was used to help defray the costs of the school’s new learner swimming pool.
“Although a comparative newcomer to the ancient tradition of well dressing, Etwall is now up there with the best, not only for the actual dressing but also for the entertainment provided and the promotion of the event. Visitor donations, plus a percentage of the profits made on the various stalls and sideshows, have produced thousands of pounds for charities and deserving village causes.”
The beneficiaries of this year’s Well Dressings are: Umbrella Derby and Derbyshire Heath Fields PTA Egginton PCC (St Winifred’s Church)
Etwall Primary PTFA
Admission is free although donations are gratefully accepted.
There is free parking for cars and coaches.
It is open all day.
For more information, go to Webwww.well-dressing.co.uk or on Facebook searching for “Etwall Well Dressing Association”.