The Celts worshipped water spirits and the custom of ‘well flowering’ or ‘well dressing’ is said to have developed from their practice of honouring the water spirits with flower garlands and tree boughs at springs and water courses. Tissington in Derbyshire is the first documented well dressing (1615) however this is a much more ancient tradition.
Before the advent of piped water, villages in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire White Peak area relied on spring water bubbling up from the limestone, and the practice of thanks giving for the continued flowing of the springs and wells became formalised in well dressing on an annual basis. During the period of religious upheaval (16th and 17th century) there was a stamping out of anything that hinted at pagan practice and many villages ceased in their well dressing. However as tolerance for such traditions relaxed during the 19th and 20th century there was a resurgence of the practice of creating flower pictures and placing the around the towns and villages in historic and significant places as well as springs and wells.
The tradition for the decoration nowadays is to use flower petals, mosses, leaves, beans and seeds pressed into clay which has been mixed with water and salt and is contained in wooden frames. Each village has its own techniques and devises its own themes from year to year. Here in Chapel-en-le-Frith the practice of well dressing has only been going since 1995 with just 2 wells, one at the Town Hall forecourt and one at Hearse House. The annual event brings many tourists to the town. There had been over 20 wells in Chapel-en-le-Frith but only Nanny’s Well survived. However most of the sites of the current well dressings are based on the former existence of a well in the vicinity.
The Bear Well is named for the performing bear which drank at this site on its way to the Fair being held in the Market Place in the centre of town.
More information about well dressing in the Peak District here.