Tissington is most famous for its' annual Well-Dressings. This ancient Derbyshire custom possibly had its earliest origins in Celtic earth-worship, when votive offerings were made to water spirits. The Romans, too, looked on certain water sources as shrines, decorating them with greenery and flowers. Nowadays, the newly-dressed wells receive a Christian blessing as the basis of this unique floral tradition, which brightens up many villages.
In Tissington, it was revived in 1349 after the village escaped a terrible outbreak of the Black Death that wiped out almost half the population of Britain. Today, it serves as a means to raise money for local charities.
In Tissington, it was revived in 1349 after the village escaped a terrible outbreak of the Black Death that wiped out almost half the population of Britain. Today, it serves as a means to raise money for local charities.
There are several wells in the village, which clusters around the lovely Tissington Hall. The village has been the home of the FitzHerbert family for over 400 years and it is their splendid Jacobean residence at the Hall that forms the centrepiece of the beautiful picture that is Tissington. The church of St Mary is raised up above the village and has a splendid Norman tower and has many fine memorials to the FitzHerbert family. Most of the village is still part of the Tissington Hall estate.
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