Village Green Well 2014

The Village Green Well 2014 celebrates 100 years of the Brownies.

In 1914, 4 years after Baden Powell agreed to start the Girl Guids, younger sisters clamoured to become useful guides too. The Guide Association set up Rosebuds for younger girls aged 7-10 years. They didn't have a programme to follow like the Brownies of today but contributed to their local community by doing such things as collecting clothing and household items for the war effort. A rosebud was expected to know how:
The Union Jack is made up and how to fly it
To tie a reef knot, sheetbend, clove hitch, bowline, sheepshank and fisherman's knot

Three years later their name was changed to Brownies who were led by the "Wise Brown Owl". The journey has evolved, following footpaths to various interest badges, challenges and adventures. The motto "Lend a Hand" has been watchword for Brownies throughout their 100 years and they are still helping in their community. The promise has changed several times but the core of it remains the same "To do their best, and to help other people."

The symbols on their picture represent different aspects of Brownies:
The original Rosebud
The rose is for the Gardener badge
The dolphin for Friend to Animals Badge
The Hand for "Lend a Hand"
Everyone remembers jumping over the Toadstool!
Brown Owl
The modern Brownie

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

For photographs from earlier years and links to more information about well dressing see this link.

A contribution to
Monday Mellow Yellows;
Blue Monday;
Monday Murals.

Booths Well 2014

LEST WE FORGET

The Gee Cross & District Women's Institutes's 2014 theme for decorating Booths Well is commemorating the centenary of the First World War.

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

For photographs from earlier years and links to more information about well dressing see this link.

A contribution to
Monday Mellow Yellows;
Blue Monday;
Monday Murals.

Sunday Shadows: Adamson Band at Gee Cross Well Dressing

As the Adamson Military Band set off to lead the 2013 Gee Cross Well Dressing the sun cast a lot of shadows on the ground.

Two more photos from the day can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

For information about the Well Dressing visit Gee Cross Well Dressing 2013.

For more information about the band visit their own website.

For more shadows visit Shadow Shot Sunday.

Weekend Reflections: Gee Cross Well Dressing

Last Sunday was Gee Cross Well Dressing. The procession around the seven wells was led by the Adamson Band. The crowds gathered by the Grapes Hotel and across the road are all reflected in the bandsman's instrument.

More photographs and information about the event can be found at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2013.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Ralph Fold Well Dressing

Another photograph from last Sunday's Gee Cross Well Dressing.

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

Gee Cross Methodist Church stands on land which was once part of Ralph Fold. The farm's well was located behind the present building. This year's image depicts a rainbow which symbolises God's promise to Noah that "Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth".

There are seven stops on the parade around the wells (not all are genuine old wells) and 16 photographs from the event can be found at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2013.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: A is for Arnold Hill Well

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

Arnold Hill Well was dressed by the children of Gee Cross Holy Trinity Primary School who considered how lucky they were compared to people in poorer countries and created a jigsaw depicting the importance of "Making it fair and showing that we care".

Two more photographs of Arnold Hill Well are on Hyde DP Xtra.

Information and 16 photographs of this year's event can be found at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2013.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Booth's Well 2013

Yesterday was Gee Cross Well Dressing.

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

The WI dress Booth's Well. Their 2013 theme was Newton Hall. Built around 1380 it is one of the earliest timber framed buildings in the region. For many years it was encased in brick and used as a barn. When the farm buildings were being demolished in the 1960s the ancient cruck framed construction was revealed. Demolition was stopped and the building is now preserved. Excavations took place at Newton Hall in 2012 - see some of the things found there on Old Hyde.

There are seven stops on the parade around the wells (not all are genuine old wells) and 16 photographs from the event can be found at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2013.

A contribution to Monday Mellow Yellows.
Blue Monday and
Monday Murals.

Charles Dickens - 200 Years

Booths Well was dressed by members of Gee Cross and District Women's Institute as part of the 2012 Gee Cross Well Dressing.

"The Old Curiosity Shop" celebrates the bi-centenary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

More details on the Well Dressing with photographs of all seven wells visited this year can be viewed at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2012.

Other "C" posts can be viewed via ABC Wednesday.

With the CDPB portal still not up and running, contributions to the August 1st theme of numbers can be seen at CDPB Theme Day.

Adamson Band at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2012

At the weekend I posted a view of the Adamson Band reflected near the Village Green Well and closer view of a reflection in an instrument.

Here the band have marched down Joel Lane and are turning into Stockport Road.

For more information about the ceremony and a series of 16 photographs showing each well see Gee Cross Well Dressing 2012.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

Weekend Reflections: Adamson Band at Gee Cross Well Dressing

Last Sunday saw the Adamson Band leading the procession around the now seven wells that are visited as part of the Gee Cross Well Dressing ceremony.

For more information about the Well Dressing ceremony and a full set of photographs see Gee Cross Well Dressing 2012.

See another reflection of some of the band on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections

ABC Wednesday: A is for Arnold Hill Well

Arnold Hill Well is first stop on the annual Gee Cross Well Dressing Procession.

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

Arnold Hill Well was dressed by the children of Holy Trinity School. The children looked at inspiring people and stories from the history of the Olympic Games. They have been reflecting on Olympic values such as respect, excellence, friendship, courage, determination, inspiration and equality.

You can view 16 photographs from the 2012 Well Dressing at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2012.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday: V is for Voting

The time has come to vote for the best of Hyde DP 2011.

View the twelve contenders at Best of Hyde 2011 and vote for your favourite three photographs.

Voting closes 12 noon GMT, Friday 30th December 2011.

For more V posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Booth's Well 2011

As I promised last week here is a close-up of Booth's Well as dressed in 2011.

Booth's Well on Wych Road is decorated each year by the local Women's Institue. The design for 2011 was based on the wedding of the Owl and the Pussycat. It was 140 years ago that Edward Lear published his nonsense songs.

Three other wells can be seen Hyde DP Xtra.

Information about the history and format of the Gee Cross Well Dressing can be found on Gee Cross Well Dressing 2006.

Weekend Reflections in a Tuba

It was the Gee Cross Well Dressing last Sunday.

At the start of the procession it was raining heavily so everyone was huddled under their umbrellas.

As in previous years the Adamson Band led the procession around the Gee Cross Wells.

Despite the rain the horn of the tuba reflected a unique view.

You can see the whole of the instrument on Hyde DP Xtra and more of the band on Geograph.

I'll show you some of the wells next week.

Information about the history and format of the Gee Cross Well Dressing can be found on Gee Cross Well Dressing 2006.

More reflections can be found at Weekend Reflections.

2011 Well Dressing at Gee Cross

It was the Gee Cross Well Dressing last Sunday.

At the start of the procession it was raining heavily so everyone was huddled under their umbrellas. See them on Hyde DP Xtra.

Those of us without umbrellas got soaked. After the procession had set off, most of those not following went into the Grapes. Others huddled around Booth's Well.

I'll show you photos of the Adamson band at the weekend and closer views of some of the wells next week.

Information about the history and format of the Gee Cross Well Dressing can be found on Gee Cross Well Dressing 2006.