Holymoorside Well Dressing

Holymoorside Well Dressing Holymoorside well dressers create traditional picture displays made of flowers and leaves each year from August Bank Holiday weekend for two weeks.

Well dressing is an ancient tradition from the Peak District of Derbyshire, England. Wells (usually springs, in fact) are decorated with a picture made from flowers and leaves pressed into clay-covered boards. Derbyshire well dressings are spread through the summer, with each village doing their well at the same time every year. Holymoorside is one of the latest (end of August), and largest. We us

e only flowers and leaves gathered locally from gardens and hedgerows. We re-use the clay and other materials. We create the well dressings on site in the open by the River Hipper on Cotton Mill Hill. The dressings are on display for two weeks starting the Saturday before August Bank Holiday Monday. Access is free at any time, and we encourage visitors to see our work, or to join in if they arrive while we are working! Construction starts one week before. Everyone gives their time for free, and any donations at the well are given to charity. Historic newspapers indicate that Well Dressing was well established in Holymoorside by 1848. Originally the Dressings were at the Whispering Well, a bountiful spring in the North-West of the village, but this was later incorporated into the municipal water supply. Well Dressing died out in Holymoorside around the turn of the century, but was revived in 1979, and has continued every year since.

Well Dressing costs very little (except time!) so most of the donations made at the well are passed on to another charit...
03/09/2026

Well Dressing costs very little (except time!) so most of the donations made at the well are passed on to another charity. This year we are supporting 'Save Holymoorside Mill Pond'.
Holymoorside Mill Pond, a cherished village spot since the late 1700s, has faced challenges after a drop in water levels and silt buildup. This has impacted the fish and the pond’s health, threatening its future. The Holymoorside Angling Club is working to de-silt the dam, restore native plants, and even bring back water voles with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Every bit of support can make a difference. Please consider sharing or donating to help preserve this special place for generations to come.

We are Holymoorside Angling Club, based just west of Chesterfield in Derbyshire. We ow… Mark Halksworth needs your support for Save Holymoorside Mill Pond

It was lovely to have so many people taking an interest in our well dressing at the Holymoorside Gala and Welldressings ...
30/08/2026

It was lovely to have so many people taking an interest in our well dressing at the Holymoorside Gala and Welldressings today. We created an extra one specially for the gala and had visitors of all ages joining in with the making.
Thank you to all who helped with this well dressing and gave us such positive feedback on our main well dressings.

2026 Well Dressings! Will be on display from now until 13 September, please come along and see the results of all our ha...
28/08/2026

2026 Well Dressings! Will be on display from now until 13 September, please come along and see the results of all our hard work!
Tea and cake will be available in the URC next door from 1.00 to 4.00pm Sat 29th and Bank Holiday Monday. And the Hoymoorside Gala returns on Sunday 30th! - Parade at 11.00, Gala starting at 12.00.

The signs have gone up and the children's well dressing is completed with the other two not far from completion. Join u...
26/08/2026

The signs have gone up and the children's well dressing is completed with the other two not far from completion. Join us for the Blessing of the Wells tomorrow (Thursday 27th) at 7pm.

It's another busy day at the Holymoorside well dressings with good progress being made. So much so that the children's w...
25/08/2026

It's another busy day at the Holymoorside well dressings with good progress being made. So much so that the children's well (not photographed today) is almost finished. Plenty still to do on the other two boards!

We've had lots of volunteers helping with our well dressings today and all three boards are progressing well. Thank you...
24/08/2026

We've had lots of volunteers helping with our well dressings today and all three boards are progressing well.
Thank you to all who have helped or contributed flowers and foliage.
We do still need more white and blue hydrangea and also a small amount of red photinia ( red robin). If you have any that you could spare, we would be most grateful.

Sunday activity at the well dressings.
23/08/2026

Sunday activity at the well dressings.

Does anyone have any blue or white hydrangea they can share please? I know it's been a bad year for flowers! We're happy...
22/08/2026

Does anyone have any blue or white hydrangea they can share please? I know it's been a bad year for flowers! We're happy to come and collect if you let us know where you are, or drop some off at the well dressing! Thanks very much!

Excellent progress today. Many thanks to everyone who's been helping!
22/08/2026

Excellent progress today. Many thanks to everyone who's been helping!

The sun shone and the crowds came round to watch or join in as a group of our well dressers created a well dressing feat...
18/04/2026

The sun shone and the crowds came round to watch or join in as a group of our well dressers created a well dressing featuring Chesterfield's crooked spire. This was part of the event organised Junction Arts, with the idea of doing a well dressing and running workshops initiated by Margaret of Spital Cemetery Well Dressers. Mary, one of the Holymoorside well dressers took up the idea, and ran workshops for individuals to design and make small well dressings.
The larger dressing is now positioned by the pump in the market square and will remain there for a week.
Thanks to all who offered their support and encouragement throughout the day.

Address

Cotton Mill Hill
Chesterfield
S427EJ

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Holymoorside Well Dressing posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category