Wells and Well Dressing

It is believed that when a person visits a wishing well it is possible to change ones luck and attract a desire by placating the spirits that dwell there, usually by leaving an offering in the form of a coin placed in the water. However another method is after having formed an image in your mind of what you want, the wisher must then stoop and drink from the wells water which they have gathered in the palm of their hand three times, without speaking, at the same time revolving the wish in their mind during this process. The wish must not be told to anyone, no matter how close, until the wish has been accomplished, otherwise the faith which you have formed with the spirit of the well will be breached and ill fortune and disaster will follow.

An ancient overgrown well not far from Gradbach Mill and the Backforest. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

In Derbyshire wells have more significance than on the other side of the border in Cheshire, this is thought to be due to the geology in Derbyshire, many villages have in fact been built upon the limestone which can be found in abundance here, and with only a thin layer of top soil any rain which fell here would seep through the soil and limestone rock to the underlying subterranean cistern that underlies the limestone. In this area springs were vital and many hill settlements that were founded in Derbyshire were invariably sited around natural springs which emerged out of the limestone, so if the spring was to fail during a drought the village itself would be threatened.

St.Bertrams well, where its healing waters appear from the limestone close to the village of Ilam. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

It is thought that due to the importance of these wells and their life giving waters, that the ritual of well dressing came about. Especially worth mentioning is Tissington well which due to the purity of its water was able to sustain the population of the village during the Black Death of 1348-49, and also the waters kept flowing during the prolonged drought of 1615.

The art of Well Dressing is a means of decorating springs or wells with natural objects to form pictures and designs as a thanksgiving for the gift of water, although Pagan in origin, these days well dressing has strong religious links and three out of four pictures created usually have a religious theme.

The photograph above and below are an example of well dressing which has taken place outside Grindon church at the site of a well, the picture as can be seen is of Nelson Mandela and has been created using flower petals stuck onto a base of wet clay. The photograph below shows the well in the foreground which appears to be overgrown, this seems to be rather odd as the reason for well dressing is supposed to be a celebration of the well and its life giving waters, and yet this well seems to be forgotten and neglected! Photos by Gary Tacagni.