GEE CROSS and DISTRICT WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

GEE CROSS COMMUNITY WELL DRESSINGS 2009

The Gee Cross & District Women’s Institute are pleased to report the success of yet another year’s community well dressing celebrations.

This year the event was ‘blessed’ with a sunny day with just the occasional light shower. Crowds of people followed Adamsons Band to each well display, and finally to Hyde Chapel for the community celebration service. During the service we were entertained by Dowson Primary School and Holy Trinity Primary School choirs, and songs by the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides of Holy Trinity Church and Hyde Chapel, followed by a selection of popular tunes by Adamsons Band.

‘The Bandstand in Hyde Park’ was the theme for the well dressing display at Booth’s well.

The bandstand was officially opened in May 1922 and is now Grade II listed on the national “List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest”.

The bandstand was originally surrounded by moveable glass partitions and played host to bands such as the Household Cavalry, Black Watch and local colliery bands. During the 1930’s the bandstand hosted two concerts every Sunday. It is now used on special events during the summer months.

GEE CROSS COMMUNITY WELL DRESSINGS - 20 JULY 2008

The Gee Cross & District Women’s Institute are pleased to report the success of yet another year’s community well dressing celebrations.

This year the event was ‘blessed’ with a sunny dry day, and crowds of people followed Adamsons Band to each well display, and finally to Hyde Chapel for the community celebration service. During the service we were entertained by Dowson Primary School and Holy Trinity Primary School choirs and a selection of popular tunes by Adamsons Band.

300 years of worship in Gee Cross was the theme for the W.I. well dressing display at Booth’s Well.

“Thank you” to everyone who helped in any way to make the day so successful, and to all the people who attended the event.

Previous Year's Events

The Gee Cross & District Women’s Institute, as part of their Millennium Celebrations, undertook to restore and preserve certain old customs and features of Gee Cross village.

Records at Stalybridge Library revealed that ‘well dressing’ celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820’s until round about 1878. The idea to revive these celebrations was welcomed with enthusiasm, particularly as several old wells in Gee Cross were still in existence. The two local primary schools, Dowson and Holy Trinity, were also eager to take part in the celebrations and so Booth’s Well near to the Grapes Hotel was decorated by the Women’s Institute and a further two wells in Joel Lane were decorated by schoolchildren. To add to the occasion, a brass band led the crowds to each well, and Clergy from the surrounding Churches gave blessings. The Band then led the procession of people to Hyde Chapel for a community service.

GEE CROSS COMMUNITY WELL DRESSING – 15TH JULY 2007

The Gee Cross & District Women’s Institute are pleased to report the success of yet another year’s community well dressing celebrations.

The wet weather did not deter the hundreds of people who turned out, complete with macs and umbrellas, to join in the celebrations. Adamsons Band led the crowds to each well display, and finally to Hyde Chapel for the community celebration service.

The Hymn “ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL” was chosen as the theme for the Women’s Institute well dressing display at ‘Booths’ well - The Hymn being one of about 400 Hymns written by Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander.

During the service we were well entertained with singing by Dowson Primary and Holy Trinity Primary School choirs, the Alder Community High School singers, and campfire songs by the local Guides, Brownies. Rainbows, Beavers and Cub Groups. Adamsons Band played a variety of popular music and accompanied the singing of Hymns.

“Thank you” to everyone who helped in any way to make the day so successful, and to all the people who braved the weather to attend the event.

Members of the Gee Cross & District Women’s Institute are pleased to report the success of this year’s community well dressing celebrations.

The event attracted hundreds of people who visited each of the 6 well dressing displays. The members and friends of the Women’s Institute created the picture of Alice in Wonderland’s ‘Mad Hatters Tea Party’ (The theme for the picture chosen because of the history of ‘hat making’ in the area during the 1800/1900’s. In Gee Cross several ‘hatting’ buildings/houses still remain, but of course are now mainly private dwellings).

The picture was produced in the traditional method of ‘petaling’ i.e. pressing flower petals and other organic materials into wet clay.

Adamson’s Band led the crowds to each well display, and finally to Hyde Chapel for the community celebration service. During the service we were well entertained with singing by Dowson and Holy Trinity Primary Schools choirs, the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows; music by Alder Community High School Orchestra; and Adamson’s Band.

The Gee Cross & District Women’s Institute wish to congratulate the schools and youth groups for their wonderful ‘well dressing’ displays. We thank each and everyone who has helped in any way to make the day so successful and also the people who attended the event for their support.

We look forward to seeing you all in July next year.

Year 2005 – ‘Peter Pan – 100 years’. The theme for our well dressing picture.

The theme – Peter Pan – was chosen in celebration of 100 years of the wonderful tales of Peter Pan, Wendy, John and Michael and their remarkable journey to a magical land – NEVERLAND. The author of Peter Pan books, J.M.Barrie, made a most generous gift of the rights of ‘Peter Pan’ to Great Ormond Street Hospice for Sick Children.

Year 2004 – ‘Werneth Low’ The theme for our well dressing picture.

The theme ‘Werneth Low’ was chosen in thankfulness for the blessing of open spaces - where people can find peace and relaxation, and children can safely play. In 1921 the people of Hyde and district raised over £14,000 to purchase Lower Higham Farm and surrounding land “to be kept for ever as an open space” in tribute to the 710 men of this area who perished in the first World War. Hyde’s main war memorial (the Cenotaph) was built and officially opened on the 25th June 1921. The land and farm (now a Visitor Centre) are held in trust by the Hyde War Memorial Trust.

The side panels on the picture show a selection of the flora and fauna to be found in abundance on and around the Low.

What started out originally as a Women’s Institute Millennium celebration has now become an annual community event, organised by the local community.

Year 2003 – ‘Captain Clarke’s Bridge’. The theme for our well dressing picture.

The Clarke family of Hyde Hall was a well respected family, and responsible for the building of several bridges over both the River Tame and the canal during the 18th Century.

Capt. Hyde John Clarke, an upright and honest man, took a great interest in the colliers and work hands at the mills in the area, and was one of the principal forces for the maintenance of law and order. He was the moving spirit in the erection of St.George’s Church where, in later years, several of his children were interred.

Our picture shows Captain Clarke’s Bridge situated at the bottom of Woodend Lane, Hyde. Tameside Canals Limited renovated this “roving” bridge in conjunction with Tameside MBC Agency as part of the Manpower Services Commission Programme. The bridge was opened by Mr.A.Thompson MBE, of British Waterways Board on the 25th June 1986. Captain Clarke’s “roving” bridge was designed in such a way that a horse pulling a canal boat did not have to be unhitched whilst the boat progressed under the bridge.

The flower designs on the side panels are typical of the “roses and castles” artwork found on traditional canal boats. The brilliant colours and symbols have been the hallmark of working boats on the canals for over a hundred years.

Year 2002 – ‘The Tales of Beatrix Potter’ The theme for our well dressing picture

The theme this year celebrates the 100th anniversary of the production of the first of Beatrix Potter’s delightful tales – the Tales of Peter Rabbit. The centrepiece shows Peter Rabbit in Mr McGregor’s garden. “First he ate some lettuces and some French beans, and then he ate some radishes”. The book was produced with coloured pictures as the first of the series of little tales that have now become so popular throughout the world. The side panels of our picture contain characters from other Beatrix Potter tales, including Jemima Puddleduck, Jeremy Fisher, Miss Tiggy Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin. The royalties from her books enabled her to buy Hill Top Farm, and acres of land in the Lake District, which were left to the National Trust on her death in 1943. Beatrix Potter’s parents, grandparents and other family members who originated from Glossop, Stalybridge and Dukinfield are buried in family vaults at Hyde Chapel.

In addition to the Guide Groups, the local Scout Groups were now involved in our event and after another successful year, plans went ahead to include Alder Community High School in the Celebrations for the Year 2003.

Year 2001 - ‘The Green Linnet’ The theme for our well dressing picture.

“The ‘Green Linnet’, as it was affectionately called, was a double-decker tramcar run by the Joint Board of Stalybridge/Hyde/Mossley/Dukinfield Tramways - one of the early forms of public transport in Hyde and Gee Cross between the 1920’s and the end of May 1945 when, in the interests of public safety, tramcars were withdrawn from public service. Many people will also remember the local “bobby” and the lamplighter, also featured in our picture.

Year 2000 – ‘Jerusalem’ The theme for our well dressing picture.

Blake’s hymn ‘Jerusalem’ is sung at the beginning of each of our monthly meetings, and so it was a natural choice for the theme of our first well dressing picture. We were able to combine the words of the hymn with local scenes, i.e. mountains green, pleasant pastures, clouded hills, England’s green and pleasant land (Werneth Low), and dark satanic mills (Gee Cross Mill).

This reintroduction of Well Dressing celebrations to Gee Cross was a tremendous success and plans were soon being made for it to become an annual event. The local Guide Brownies and Rainbow Groups were also keen to get involved. Sites of other wells (wells no longer in existence) were identified. These sites are now used each year by the Youth Groups.

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