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BONSALL WELL DRESSINGS

 AND CARNIVAL

THE FEATURE

Well dressing is not unique to Derbyshire, but it is the county where the tradition is the strongest.  Almost all the wells dressed every year are either within the county, or only a short distance from the county boundary.

 

Visitors flock to Derbyshire year after year, not only to admire the dedicated work of the well dressers in producing such intricate, if short lived works of art , but to enjoy the  many events that take place at the same time in most towns and villages. Normally the wells are dressed for a period of three to eight days. It is best to try to visit during the first few days as the displays tend to deteriorate quite rapidly. The problem occurs when the clay dries out quickly, particularly in hot dry weather made worse if there is a wind blowing.

Bonsall's first Carnival and Well Dressing took place in 1927, when the event was organised by Fred Bunting the local primary school head teacher and Miah Doxey the owner of the village fish and chip shop. Although there have been some breaks notably during the Second World War. Wells are now regularly dressed usually on the last Saturday in July. Flowers are very plentiful at that time, ‘only things that grow’ being the traditional rule for well dressing in the village. 

PRESS RELEASE 2008

Bonsall Carnival, Bonsall, Nr Matlock Derbyshire

Date: Saturday 26th July 2008,  Further events during the week following

Chairman: Hazel Baldwin Tel: 01629 824724

Bonsall Village is once again staging it's legendary Carnival week which commences on Saturday 26th July. The proceedings gets underway on the Saturday at 1.15pm with the Carnival procession which proceeds past some of the village well dressings and creatively decorated houses. There will be a variety of different entertainment throughout the day including army assault course, abseiling wall, paint ball, story telling tent, kick boxing display and many other side stalls and attractions.  The evening entertainment will include live music from one of Bonsall's very own resident band, The Sinners.

Sunday's proceedings commence with the blessing of the wells at 2pm starting from St James' Church. Cream teas will then be served in the park where you will also be able to enjoy the delights of the Youlgrave Brass Band. During the evening, the acclaimed film 'Ratatouille' will be shown in Bonsall's canvas picture palace.

Further events throughout the week include on Monday at 6.30pm, lantern making in the village hall for the young and young at heart, a fun run starting at 7.00pm from the famous Bonsall Cross and also an equestrian event organised by local enthusiasts. On Tuesday at 6.15pm, the preliminary round of the 5-a-side football competition "kicks off" in the park. Wednesday's activities commence at 4pm with the children's sports event followed by the legendary wheelbarrow race which sets off from the The Pig of Lead at 7.00pm to climb the imperious Mount Clatterway. The walking treasure hunt begins at 6.00pm on Thursday from the village hall followed at 7.00pm by the bike race from the cross which caters for both the young and old. Friday's activities continue at 6.00pm with the final of the 5-a-side football match followed by the lantern procession and spectacular firework display at dusk. The week's festivities draws to a close at 2pm on the Saturday 2nd August with the judging and display of competition photographs in the village hall
 

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BONSALL CARNIVAL AND WELL DRESSINGS

Bonsall Well Dressings for 2008, run from Saturday 26 July - usually for a week. Sunday's proceedings commence with the Blessing of the Wells at 2pm starting from St James' Church No contact details have been supplied for the well dressings.  Bonsall Carnival, takes place on Saturday 26th July 2008, from 1.15pm. Further events during the week following. See the Press Release below.

Carnival Chairman: Hazel Baldwin Tel: 01629 824724

MORE INFORMATION ON BONSALL

 

Little groups of cottages huddled together on odd plots of land along winding streets add to the charm of this attractive scattered village. Click below for a special feature.

 

Bonsall Feature

WALKING

 

Enjoy a walk in the spectacular countryside that surrounds Bonsall.

 

Bonsall Walk

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Provides a wide range of features  with heritage trails and detailed countryside walks, through some of the most scenically attractive countryside in the UK.

 

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A special new sub-section has been added to this website, based on the Discover Derby Supplement, published by the Derby Evening Telegraph during March 2005. The most recent additions are:

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Every month an illustrated Newsletter is published giving details of:

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Newsletter

WELL DRESSINGS

A series of special features well dressing features including:

1. Introduction

2. History

3. Construction

4. Diary of Events