Religious well dressings in England’s Peak District are set in frames filled with soft clay and decorated with flower petals

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Well dressings, like this at Pilsley School, in July, are unique to the Peak District of England. Believed to date from pagan times, well - dressing was an ancient offering of thanks for the supply and provision of water in the predominantly dry limestone uplands. Originally this was the simple offering of floral tributes to the local well, but nowadays large wooden frames are filled with soft clay and decorated with flower petals. Wells are dressed every year throughout the region.

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Size: 4230px × 4163px
Location: Peaks District, England
Photo credit: © John Ruler / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: customs, district, dressing, england, english, europe, events, flower, flowers, pagan, peak, petals, pilsley, portrayals, pressed, projects, religious, school, traditional, travel, wells