Processing to Bisley Wells for a dressing ceremony

Woodpeckers reminded me that the Well Dressing would occur today in Bisley, because it is Ascension Day. She had found out the time for the event and realised she wouldn't be able to go because it conflicted with her work. I headed the three miles up the hill a bit early so I could stock up with some vegetables and eggs from the nearby farm shop, and then drove to the centre of the village. I walked towards the church and entered the graveyard through the playground of the Blue Coat School, where I found out that the time of the special church service was when Helena had thought the Well Dressing ceremony would be. The bells were ringing brightly summoning the revellers, including many of the brightly dressed school children. All the floral tributes were lined up against the stone wall of the playground. I went on foot to recce the route of the procession and the best vantage point at the actual Wells.

I blipped the Wells a couple of weeks ago, but today the weather was awful with very strong westerly winds and extreme gusts bringing short sharp showers. I suddenly realised there was just enough time to return to Stroud, pick up Helena and get back in time for the procession. So I did. She was a bit surprised and wasn't quite in a celebratory mood, but we arrived in time to watch the brass band lead the priests and the school children down the narrow streets to the site of the Wells below the church, which is sited on a knoll.

But by now the gusts of wind and rain were become constant and nearly torrential as the ceremony began. We didn't stay as we hadn't dressed properly, but we did get the flavour of the event,so maybe next year we can do it in proper sunshine. This shot is of the lead children carrying the main floral decorations which would be hung all over the wells. I am putting a couple of other shots on my blipfolio, which show the number of people in the procession and the wells when nearly all the flowers had been hung around the site.

I am putting a couple of other shots on my Blipfolio:

Bisley Wells dressing procession

Bisley Wells being dressed

Woodpeckers has also blipped the same scene from a different angle.

Here is a bit of background info about Bisley, in case you are interested:

'O YE WELLS, BLESS YE THE LORD: PRAISE HIM AND MAGNIFY HIM FOR EVER' - carved into the top of the Wells.

The Wells at Bisley have been in their current form since the Revd Thomas Keble restored them in 1863, which was in the same period that All Saints' Church, behind the Wells, was also restored, on the ancient site of a Saxon church. The original five spring outlets were added to with the two more that now run out to the sides of the crescent.

Bisley is famous for being one of the very few villages that performs a well dressing ceremony on Ascension Day each year, to give thanks for the waters. The procession through the streets of clergy and children in period costume, to the accompaniment of a silver band, is a spectacular sight.

The ceremony starts with the local schoolchildren and villagers taking part in a special service in the Church. As is customary, the two oldest boys and two oldest girls dress in the old Blue Coat school uniform, and along with all the other children and a brass band, process to the Wells carrying floral tributes: two stars of David, the letters that make up the word 'Ascension', the numerals of the current year, and the letters 'A' and 'D'. These are laid on the Wells, with smaller tributes, and after a blessing ceremony conducted by the vicar, are left for everyone to see.

Another local 'story':
It was Thomas Keble, Junior, who uncovered the mystery of the "Bisley Boy". This was the local lad who was substituted for the young Princess Elizabeth who was staying in Over Court next to the church. Having fallen ill, after her death she was buried in the garden and the boy grew up to become Elizabeth I, explaining why she never married and supplied an heir and always appeared with whitened face to disguise a male beard!