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Askham (Eden)


 

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. It is situated in the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park, about 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.

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Visit the page: Askham, Cumbria for references and further details. You can contribute to this article on Wikipedia.
Lowther Castle Askham Civil Parish Askham Bridge Askham Hall Askham Parish, Westmorland, 1848 Church of St Peter, Askham Punchbowl Inn, Askham The Queen’s Head, Askham
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The Green at Askham
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Old houses in Askham
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Askham Bridge and St Peter’s Church, Askham
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Topiary, Askham Hall
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Askham Village Green
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Cottages in Askham
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Askham Hall Farmhouse
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Cottages in Askham
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Lower Green, Askham
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Lowther Castle
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Lowther Castle
- Overview About Lowther Castle Map Street View   Lowther Castle is a country house in the historic county of Westmorland, which now forms part of the modern county of Cumbria, …
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Village centre, Askham
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Wikipedia: Askham, Cumbria
County: Cumbria

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