Memorial Title

Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Lost)

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a lost war memorial well dressing commemorating the work of the former Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, at Watery Hey Well between Valley Rd and Spring Vale Rd, Hayfield, Derbyshire.

Images

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.

Locations

Last known location:
Watery Hey Well
Footpath adjacent to
1 Springfield Terr
Valley Rd
Hayfield
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
SK22 2LT

NGR:
SK 04004 86737
(From online digital mapping.)
(Map opens in new window.)

Location details:
The dressing was on the east side of the footpath between Spring Vale Rd and Valley Rd.

Type

Overall type: Well dressing

Overall condition: Lost

Description:

A temporary well dressing tableau traditionally made from vegetation pressed into clay held in a wooden frame, but today often including pebbles, chippings, beads, fabric etc. The dressing comprised a square panel surmounted by an oblong panel and pediment. The main panel depicted a scene inside a makeshift hospital in a vaulted hall with Union Flags and Scottish Saltires suspended from the ceiling and nurses tending patients in the foreground, all in reds, blues, white, greys and browns. The pediment portrayed a nurse in white and grey dress standing before a red cross, with a brown battle-scarred landscape behind, and the oblong panel bore the date at the centre, in white numerals, and a form of winged 'QA' badge in yellow to each side, all on a blue ground.
The well dressing was displayed from 1st to 8th July, 2018 and was subsequently dismantled.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Mosaic	Plant material, stone, clay	c2000	c1500	c50	Lost
Frame	Wood	c2000	c1500	c50	Lost
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

2018

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	Non-specific military unit. *	Totals
Action	Not stated
Number died	0	0
Number served and returned	0	0
Total names	0	0
* The Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service was founded in 1902 as a unit of the British Army and existed until it became a corps in 1949 and was renamed the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Administration

Custodian: Not known.

Local authorities:
From 1974: Hayfield Parish Council; High Peak Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History and Conservation

Spring 2018: The memorial well dressing was designed and constructed by members of the local community.

1st July, 2018: The memorial was blessed by the local clergy.

1st July, 2018: The memorial was photographed by Glyn Williams

9th July, 2018: The dressing was dismantled and the components salvaged for future use.

References

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Comments

Well dressing details are available from the welldressing.com site run by Glyn Williams.

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