Askham, Cumbria

Askham

The bridge over the River Lowther
Askham
Askham shown within Cumbria
Population 356 (2011)
OS grid reference NY6813
Civil parish
  • Askham
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town PENRITH
Postcode district CA10
Dialling code 01931
Police Cumbria
Fire Cumbria
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK Parliament

Askham is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 360, decreasing slightly to 356 at the 2011 Census.[1] It is situated in the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park, about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Penrith. Nearby are the remains of Lowther Castle, the site of the annual Lowther Show, a three-day event of country pursuits.

Many public houses, such as the 'Punch Bowl', have old beams with splits in them where coins are forced 'for luck'. This practice may be linked to examples, called 'Wish Trees', 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.

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches south to Bampton with a total population of 1,432.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  • Rodger, Donald, Stokes, Jon & Ogilvie, James (2006). Heritage Trees of Scotland. The Tree Council. P.87. ISBN 0-904853-03-9

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