- Askham, Cumbria
infobox UK place
country = England
static_
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latitude= 54.60
longitude=-02.76
official_name =Askham
population =
shire_district=
shire_county=Cumbria
metropolitan_borough=
metropolitan_county =
region=North West England
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= NY5123Askham is a village and
civil parish in the Eden district ofCumbria ,England . According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 360. It is situated in the eastern edge of theLake District National Park, about five miles south of Penrith.Nearby are the magnificent remains ofLowther Castle , the site of the annualLowther Show , a three day event of country pursuits.Many public houses, such as the 'Punch Bowl' in
Askham , near Penrith in Cumbria have old beams with splits in them where coins are forced 'for luck'. This practice may be linked to examples, called 'Wish Tree s', often Hawthorns which are traditionally linked with fertility, as in 'May Blossom'. The trunk and branches in these cases are covered with hundreds of coins which have been driven through the bark and into the wood. The local traditions are that a wish will be granted for each of the coins so treated (Rodger 2006). Another local custom is the throwing of coins from the bridge onto a boulder that lies below the water level. Getting the coin to stay on the rock gives the thrower 'good luck'. These are examples of 'Touch Pieces '. Obvious connections exist with water generally and the practice of throwing in coins to seek 'favours' of the water spirits.References
* Rodger, Donald, Stokes, John & Ogilve, James (2006). Heritage Trees of Scotland. The Tree Council. P.87. ISBN 0-904853-03-9
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