Derbyshire and the English Peak District are noted for the quaint and picturesque custom of well dressing, and thanks to local tourism initiatives, it's never been more popular. But where did it begin, and in which other Peak District places do watery legends hint at our pagan, water-worshipping past?



From mermaids' pools to Victorian spas and petrifying wells, water has always figured large in travellers' tales of Derbyshire and the Peak. Folklore reveals both a sunny and a dark side to how our ancestors viewed the primal element.



This book takes a dip into the watery lore, legend and curiosities of well dressing country.