Members of the clergy and visitors process to bless the well dressings at Tissington, Derbyshire, UK

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Members of the clergy and visitors process to bless the well dressings at Tissington, Derbyshire. Well dressings are produced to give thanks for the gift of water using only natural materials and may date back to pagan Celtic times, although now adopted by the Christian church. Well dressing is thought to have occurred in Tissington since 1348-9 when villagers escaped the Black Death that was raging in the surrounding countryside and believed this to be because of the purity of the village water supply. The wells are blessed annually on Ascension Day.

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Size: 2112px × 2816px
Location: Tissington, Derbyshire, UK
Photo credit: © Richard Bradley / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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