Askham, Cumbria

Askham is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. It is in the historic county of Westmorland. 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.

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

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.