Latest Images by Dennis Thorley http://www.geograph.org.uk/ 2009-12-18T21:46:26GMT text/html 2006-06-16T13:43:10GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.066748 -1.735815 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/186919 See notes under Hands Well. text/html 2006-06-03T22:29:48GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.066754 -1.738799 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/180052 Tissington is a delightful Derbyshire 'estate' village well know for its annual well dressing ceremony that dates back to the 14th century and possibly earlier (see other images). Tissington Hall, a Jacobean Manor house, has been the home of the FitzHerbert family for over 500 years. text/html 2006-06-03T22:25:15GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.066744 -1.734322 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/180048 See notes under Hands Well text/html 2006-06-03T22:23:15GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.066748 -1.735815 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/180044 See notes under Hands Well. text/html 2006-06-03T22:20:43GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.065858 -1.740297 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/180042 See notes under Hands Well text/html 2006-06-03T22:18:03GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.067656 -1.740286 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/180039 See note under Hands Well. text/html 2006-06-03T21:57:59GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.068555 -1.740281 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/180006 See notes under Hands Well. text/html 2006-06-03T21:53:59GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 53.068558 -1.741773 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/179997 Tissington is known as the mother place of well dressing and visitors come from all over the world to witness the annual well dressing ceremony. This takes place on Ascension Day, when five attractive wells are dressed together with a children’s well. Well dressing is a custom found primarily in or near Derbyshire and, although the Church at one time banned the custom as water worship, the wells are often decorated with Christian themes. Well dressing is thought to go back to Pagan times, a ritual performed to give thanks for the supply of fresh water. Another school of thought claims that the Romans introduced the custom into Britain, the philosopher Seneca stating that – " where springs or rivers flow we should build altars or make sacrifices." Whatever the true origin, Tissington, recorded as dressing a well in 1349, is the oldest authenticated instance of well dressing in Derbyshire. It is probable that well dressing took place in 1350, in thanksgiving for the Tissington's escape from the Black Death, which was attributed to the purity of its water. See [[SK0680]] [[SK0387]] [[SJ9353]] [[SK1675]] [[SK2064]] for other examples of well dressing. See http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/WellDressing.htm text/html 2006-02-13T22:42:45GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 52.979795 -1.889747 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121779 Alton Castle from Red Road text/html 2006-02-13T22:40:51GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 52.979795 -1.889747 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121777 This modern building houses a gymnasium within the grounds of Alton Castle, a site now owned by the Birmingham Diocese of the Catholic Church who run the site as a Youth Retreat centre. text/html 2006-02-13T22:32:50GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 52.979795 -1.889747 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121763 Alton Castle sits on top of a hill overlooking the Churnet Valley, with spectacular views on all sides. The building, formerly a prep school, was built by the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury. It is neo-Gothic, designed by A.W. Pugin and completed in 1847. Its style is reminiscent of the Rhineland and it is surrounded by the ruins of the medieval castle (1176), now scheduled as an Ancient Monument. It has recently been refurbished by the Birmingham Diocese of the Catholic Church for over £1M and is now run as an education centre. text/html 2006-02-13T22:30:10GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 52.979795 -1.889747 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121761 Alton Castle sits on top of a hill overlooking the Churnet Valley, with spectacular views on all sides. The building, formerly a prep school, was built by the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury. It is neo-Gothic, designed by A.W. Pugin and completed in 1847. Its style is reminiscent of the Rhineland and it is surrounded by the ruins of the medieval castle (1176), now scheduled as an Ancient Monument. It is now owned by the Birmingham Diocese of the Catholic Church who run it as a Catholic Youth Retreat. text/html 2006-02-13T22:27:08GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 52.979795 -1.889747 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121758 1862 well head at the bottom of Horse Road Alton. text/html 2006-02-13T22:25:11GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 52.979795 -1.889747 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121753 Alton village lock up (or Roundhouse) was built c1830. It has a heavy studded door and no windows. text/html 2006-02-13T22:22:01GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/941 Dennis Thorley 52.988797 -1.904621 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121750 The Ramblers' Retreat, now a popular restaurant and tea room deep in the Churnet Valley, was once a lodge for the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury's Alton Towers estate.