Askham, Cumbria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Askham
Askham Bridge, River Lowther.JPG
The bridge over the River Lowther
Askham is located in Cumbria
Askham
Askham
Location within Cumbria
Population356 (2011)
OS grid referenceNY6813
Civil parish
  • Askham
District
  • Eden
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPENRITH
Postcode districtCA10
Dialling code01931
PoliceCumbria
FireCumbria
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
  • Penrith and the Border
List of places
UK
England
Cumbria
54°36′N 2°46′W / 54.60°N 02.76°W / 54.60; -02.76Coordinates: 54°36′N 2°46′W / 54.60°N 02.76°W / 54.60; -02.76

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,[1] decreasing slightly to 356 at the 2011 Census.[2] It is situated in the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park, 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Penrith.[3] Nearby are the remains of Lowther Castle, the site of the annual , a three-day event of country pursuits.

History and Culture[]

The primary landmark of Askham is Askham Hall, it evolved from a peel tower in the 14th Century and was passed to the Sandford family after the Helbecks and Swinburns. In 1575, Thomas Sandford had it enlarged. In 1828 it served as a rectory before being passed to the Lowther family in the 1830s - the used the hall as his residence following the closure of Lowther Castle in 1937. Askam Hall became a grade I listed building in 1968. After 2012, the Countess of Lonsdale converted it into a hotel.[4]

The manor was 'anciently' referred to as Ascum.[5]

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.[6]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ UK Census (2001). "Local Area Report – Askham Parish (16UF005)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Askham Parish (E04002514)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. ^ AA Book of British Villages. Drive Publications Limited. 1980. p. 35. ISBN 9780340254875.
  4. ^ "Askham Hall - the history of our historic hall in Cumbria, the Lake District".
  5. ^ http://www.edenlinks.co.uk/WESTWARD/ASKHAM/ASKHAM_HISTORY.HTM[bare URL]
  6. ^ "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

External links[]

Media related to Askham, Cumbria at Wikimedia Commons


Stub icon

This Cumbria location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""