Buxton well dressing festival started today, Sunday 6th July.

The rescue team was honoured with a magnificent display at the Higher Buxton Well.

Well dressing is a Derbyshire custom dating back to the Black Plague days of the 14th century giving thanks for the purity of the well water.  The first well dressing in Buxton was in 1840 and the custom has continued ever since with just short wartime breaks.  The plaques are made from wooden base-boards covered in local clay with an outline of the design then traced on.  Then the picture  comes to life as thousands of flower petals and other natural materials are pressed into the clay.

This year the Wells Dressing Committee are helping the team to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a truly stunning masterpiece of skill at Buxton Market Place.   The scene depicts a casualty, located by a search dog, being treated by team members whilst an RAF Seaking helicopter hovers waiting to transfer him to hospital.   The team’s 50th emblem, designed by 10 year old Bethany Griffiths of Chinley, crowns the display which is surrounded by silhouettes of mountaineering activities.

The well was blessed by Reverend John Hudgton on Sunday afternoon and will remain in place until the last day of Festival and Carnival events on 14th July.   Two other Buxton wells are also dressed, St Anne’s Well in the Crescent, and the Children’s Well, Spring Gardens, with equally magnificent displays of skill and patience.  Photographs cannot do these tableaus justice and they will deteriate with the weather so we urge you to visit them as soon as possible.  Making a donation to the Wells Dressing Festival will ensure that the tradition is kept alive for years to come.  Full details at the Well Dressing website.

We send a huge “Thank You” to the Festival Committee and to the small army of highly skilled and dedicated volunteers for honouring the team with this tribute.

Photo credits:  Right – The full tableau on Buxton Market Place.     Left top – Amazing detail with a helicopter pilot (Is that Prince William?) watching the events.     Left bottom – The relieved (or is it anxious) expression of the casualty.  Of course all our casualties will be called Petal from now on!           Below – Blessing of the Well led by Reverend John Hudgton.          Is it Megan our very own Search Dog?   Despite the displays, Buxton water is still freely available at St Anne’s Well