Memorial Title

VE Day and VJ Day (Temporary)

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a war memorial well dressing commemorating the 50th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day outside the Wesleyan Reform Church at Bonsall, Derbyshire.

Images

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.

Locations

Last known location:
Roadside
Wesleyan Reform Church
The Dale
Upper Town
Bonsall
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
DE4 2AY

NGR:
SK 27212 58146
(From online digital mapping.)
(Map opens in new window.)

Location details:
The church is on the south side of the road at the western edge of the village.

Type

Overall type: Well dressing

Overall condition: Lost

Description:

A temporary Derbyshire well dressing display traditionally made from vegetation pressed into clay held in a wooden frame, but now often incorporating pebbles, beads etc. The dressing comprised an oblong panel depicting the Earth with a ragged cross, bread and wine superimposed, all mainly in blues, greens and yellows. At the head a frieze bore an inscription in white upright capital lettering on a yellow ground. To each side were broad margins bearing red crosses and poppies and a further inscription in white lettering, all on a yellow ground.
Below the dressing was a small separate oblong panel bearing the date in white numerals on a blue ground.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Well dressing	Various materials	c1200	c800	c40	Lost
Frame	Wood	c1200	c800	c40	Unknown
Supplementary panel	Various materials	c200	c400	c40	Lost
Frame	Wood	c2200	c400	c40	Unknown
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

IN HIS SERVICE

V V
E E

V V
J J

1995

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	Second World War (1939-1945)	Totals
Action or event	VE Day (8th May 1945) VJ Day (15th August 1945)
Number died	0	0
Number served and returned	0	0
Total names	0	0

Administration

Custodian: Not known

Local authorities:
From 1974: Bonsall Parish Council; Derbyshire Dales District Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History and Conservation

1972: The Bonsall Conservation Area was first designated. The well dressing was subsequently erected within its area.

Spring 1995: The dressing was designed, created and erected by members of the local community. Subsequently it was blessed by the local clergy and photographed by Glyn Williams and subsequently it was dismantled and the components salvaged for future use.

References

Further details of well dressings can be obtained from welldressing.com run by Glyn Williams.

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