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WELL DRESSING AT
MIDDLETON BY YOULGRAVE |
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24 May -
31 May 2008 |
Well dressing at Middleton by Youlgrave 2008
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This year 2008 the chosen
central theme of the Middleton by Youlgrave well dressing is
'Farming'.
A
coin collection is made at the site of the well in Middleton
by Youlgrave and donated to local charities.
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Well dressing is a Derbyshire custom in Peak District
villages. Panels of clay are prepared and then soaked in the
old sheep wash in Middleton Dale for a couple of weeks. Thousands of flower
petals, leaves, seeds, mosses and lichens are used to create
a picture. The panels are laboriously decorated by pressing
the individual items into the clay. The work by several
villagers extends to five days. Photographs
from 2007 well dressing
The panels are erected and blessed at the sites of the
village wells to celebrate the gift of water for the village
communities. The well dressings are now annual tourist
attractions and often incorporated into a carnival week in
many villages. |
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The old well is opposite
my studio in the village square. In 1876 the village water
supply was embellished by a stone surround.
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In May
2007 the well was refurbished and repaired. Ironwork
within the stonework had corroded, expanded and seriously damaged the
ball finial and some of the stone columns and panels.
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The eight photos below
of well dressings from previous years are the copyright of
Barry Crowley who has kindly given his permission to use
them on my website. Barry is an ornithologist and
photographer who has regularly visited the area and my
studio over many years.
You will see that I am
missing two years (2001 and 2002) reference photographs. If you have
a photo of Middleton by Youlgrave well dressings from these years
then please contact me.
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
all 9 years
Locals refer to their village as
Middleton by Youlgrave omitting the 'e' in Youlgreave as it appears
on the official road sign and maps.
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