DCA PROJECTS – DUFFIELD WELL DRESSING
NEW for 2026!
It’s a Derbyshire tradition and this year we really are going to do it.
There is more information about the tradition of Well Dressing and when and where you can find them HERE
OUR WELL DRESSING
As you can see below, there will be quite a lot to do and we want to encourage you to help.
We hope to use one of the rooms at the Cemetery for the construction and will hold sessions when people can come and help over the early May bank Holiday weekend (1st-5th May). Please come and have a go….it is good fun
You can find some videos about making a well dressing on Facebook HERE
We plan to display the well dressing on Chapel Street Corner from 7th – 11th May.
The Duffield Well Dressing Design – by Lynne Hollingsworth
A bold simplified composition designed to read clearly from a distance. Strong shapes guide the eye through the scene, anchored by a focal point. Contrast is carefully controlled, with darker outlines only where needed between similar colours, and open edges in high contrast areas to keep the design clean and legible.
This is what we think we need to do, and when….. please help!! Contact: DCA@duffieldvillage.co.uk
| When | Task list | |
| In advance – NOW | List and collect non-perishable materials for outlining | In progress |
| List and collect non-perishable materials for infilling | In progress | |
| Collect non-perishable materials for outlining and infilling | In progress | |
| Work up design | Done | |
| Reinforce frame and add extra nails | Done | |
| Calculate how much clay will be needed | ~ 25kg or more! | |
| Source and, if necessary, purchase clay | Done | |
| Visit room at cemetery and confirm arrangements with Fay | Done! | |
| List and source equipment necessary for assembly | In progress | |
| List flowers for Petaling, identify sources and organise procurement | ||
| Sun 26th Apr | Soak frame | In progress |
| Start to puddle the clay | In progress | |
| Thur 30th Apr | Finish puddling | |
| Fri 1st May | Fill frame with clay, and smooth | |
| Prick out design | ||
| Outline design with non-perishable materials | ||
| Sat 2nd May Sun 3rd May Mon 4th May Tues 5th May |
Open days – Infill design – non perishable areas first
Open days – Infill design, leaving flower petals until last 4th May – Maggie’s Prosecco party – Infill design, leaving flower petals until last Prepare installation infrastructure and site. |
|
| Wed 6th May | Complete well dressing | |
| Complete site prep at Chapel St and frame support | ||
| Install Well Dressing at Chapel St, if ready (evening?) | ||
| Thurs 7th May | Install Well Dressing | |
| Dedication ceremony ( ~6pm ) | ||
| Thurs 7th May until Mon 11th May |
Display | |
| Tues 12th May | Take down & dismantle | |
| Recycle | ||
| Clean up |
Elements we need to make and some suggested materials to collect
- Outlines (need to be bold and dark) – coffee beans, black peppercorns, dried beans, dried lentils, wool etc leylandii buds maybe, alder cones (wrong time of year to collect these)
- Sky – Hydrangea petals (may have to buy them)
- River water – Bluebells
- Grass – Small leaves, moss, mauve rhododendron buds (?)
- Tree with apples – bark, parsley, red berries
- Flowers – use whole flowers
- Stone buildings, bridge –
- Roof tiles – small slate stones (in stock)
- Windows –
- Birds – black peppercorns?
- Sun – dried sweetcorn, dandelion flowers
Things we could collect now:-
- coffee beans
- black peppercorns
- dried beans
- dried lentils
- dried chickpeas
- dried sweetcorn
- wool – colours tbd
- bark
Things to collect later:-
- Hydrangea petals (would have to buy them) – sky
- Bluebells – for rivers
- Moss – for grass
- Leylandii – for grass
- Small leaves – for grass
- Parsley, berries – for a tree
- Whole flowers
- Dandelion flowers – for sun
- Rhododendron buds (mauve)?
- Lupins?
Any other ideas??
Please come and have a go….it is good fun.
Some of the DCA Exec members “helped” at Tissington in May 2024.
