The dates listed may be impacted by the coronavirus outbreak and subject to change/cancellation
The custom of dressing wells with petals in clay originated here in the Derbyshire Dales.
- A list of Derbyshire well dressings can be found here.
- A list of open gardens in the Derbyshire Dales can be found here.
| Derbyshire Dales well dressing | 2020 date |
| Tissington CANCELLED | 21 - 27 May |
| Wirksworth CANCELLED | 23 - 30 May |
| Middleton by Youlgrave CANCELLED | 23 - 30 May |
| Monyash CANCELLED | 23 - 31 May |
| Ashford in the Water CANCELLED | 6 - 13 June |
| Norbury Primary School CANCELLED | 12 - 19 June |
| Wyaston & Edlaston | 13 - 19 June |
| Litton CANCELLED | 20 - 27 June |
| Tideswell CANCELLED | 20 - 28 June |
| Youlgrave | 20 - 25 June |
| Over Haddon POSTPONED | 27 June - 4 July |
| Bakewell CANCELLED | 27 June - 6 July |
| Matlock (Princess Diana Memorial Gardens) | 4 - 11 July |
| Pilsley CANCELLED | 9 - 16 July |
| Little Longstone | 11 - 18 July |
| Rowsley CANCELLED | |
| Matlock Hurst Farm | |
| Hathersage | |
| Great Longstone | 11 - 18 July |
| Stoney Middleton CANCELLED | 25 July - 2 August |
| Bonsall | |
| Bradwell CANCELLED | 1 - 9 Aug |
| Great Hucklow | |
| Taddington CANCELLED | 22 - 28 Aug |
| Foolow | 29 Aug - 7 Sep |
| Eyam | |
| Wormhill | 29 Aug - 5 Sep |
| Hartington | 12 - 19 Sep |
We advise checking the dates before travelling.
Origins
According to the welldressing.com website, the true origins of well dressing are lost in the mists of time.
Many sources suggest it developed from a pagan custom of making sacrifice to the gods of wells and springs to ensure a continued supply of fresh water. Like many folk traditions, it was later adopted by the Christian Church as a way of giving thanks to God for water.
Tradition has it that it took on a special significance in 17th century Derbyshire as various villages, notably Tissington, gave thanks for their deliverance from the Plague which had decimated another Dales village, Eyam.