ETWALL WELL DRESSING ASSOCIATION |
LOCATION Etwall is situated on the A516, approx 6 miles south of Derby and close to the A38 and A50 |
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Last updated 8th March 2010 Web Designer:Graham Gobell Copyright of Articles and Content: Graham Gobell Please note: The above pictures were taken by the web designer, if you have any photo's of the festival you would like published, please email the webmaster |
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What is well dressing and how is it done? Well dressing involves the decoration of springs and wells with pictures made from living plants and flowers, and usually happens in the summer and early autumn. So how is a well dressed? First take a wooden board, perhaps 4 feet wide, and over an inch deep. Some dressings take several boards, of different shapes and sizes. The board(s) are taken to the local river or pond and soaked for several days to ensure that they are really wet. Then they are covered with a layer of soft, wet clay onto which the artist etches the design. The outline is the first thing to be done, followed by the 'colouring in'. The materials used vary from village to village and depend also on the time of year that the dressing takes place. For instance, a village that dresses it's well in May may use blossoms and flowers whereas later in the year, seeds and berries are used as these are more plentiful. How long does it take? A well dressing can take up to 7 days, involving a team of local people. Unfortunately, it may then only last a week or so until the clay dries out and the flowers die. Then all is put away until next year. |
The above board is a “Demonstration Board” in its construction stages from the board
being laid with clay, design then placed on top of the board then pricked out
and decorated |
What is Well Dressing? |
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40 Years of Etwall Well-Dressing - 1970-2010 The 2010 Festival will be held on 15th -17th May 2010 |
This beneficiaries chosen for 2010 are Local Etwall Cricket Club (towards disabled facilities) Etwall Bowls Club (replacing vandalised seating) Regional Derby Kids Holidays (holiday for underprivileged children) 100th Derby Mackworth (Methodist) Scout Group (replacing camping equipment) |
Well Dressing Displays from 2009 Festival |
Charles Darwin by Etwall Women's Institute |
250th Anniversary of the Death of Handel by Residents, Grandchildren and Friends of Mill Meadow Way |
Votes for Women by The Bancroft Belles (This is the first time that the Bancroft Belles have displayed at the Festival) |
Food and Drink by The Blenheim Inn |
Cricket by Etwall Cricket Club (This is the first that The Etwall Cricket Club have displayed at the Festival) |
The Wizard of Oz by 1st Etwall Brownies & 3rd Etwall Guides |
Water, Water by Parents and Staff of Etwall Primary School |
External Links Please note that Etwall Well Dressing Association are not responsible for the correctness
of any web link and its content Hawk & Buckle Inn A Place to Eat and Drink on Etwall High Street Blenheim House Inspired dining and superb accommodation on Etwall High Street The Pinxton Puppets Indoor and Outdoor Puppet Shows (Fun and Educational Puppet Making Workshops) F.H. Sargent & Sons Real meat from a real farm J.B Events Food for all occasions WI Delights Sorry Des, but could not resist, this link is only available due to weather conditions, look into the sky and you may find them flying around, or on the neck of the bottles or bottle-tops |
40 Years of Man on the Moon by 155th Derby (Etwall) Scout Group |
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Attractions this year Large Craft Fair in John Port School Giant Scalectrix car track for boys (and girls) of all ages Drill display by Derby ATC Cadets Dog Show on Sunday Childrens Art Competition Morris Dancers Face Painter |