The recent post on stiles prompted one of our subscribers to remember part of an old nursery rhyme:
There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;
Her comment reminded us of a sight that we have seen several times while on some of the more popular walks in England, … money trees.
The first time we encountered a felled tree with coins hammered and bent into the wood, we assumed it was a one-of-a-kind find. Then we came across others. Some were covered with dozens of coins, and others so heavily covered that there was scarcely any room for more coins.
It seems that, according to legends that date back to the beginning of the 18th century, if a sick person stuck in a coin into a tree, their illness will be gone. Someone who pulls out the coin though, will become ill.
More recently it seems that people hammer coins into felled trees for good luck, similar to tossing a coin into a fountain, or dropping a penny down a wishing well. From the looks of some of these trees, it would seem that there are many lucky folks out there, though a bit poorer perhaps.
And the entire nursery rhyme:
Di
25 Jul 2016Too cool. Did you come across all of these in person or are some of them images of a “money Trees in England” google search after finding a couple? What neat folklore to have stumbled upon.
JeanMarie Randall
9 Jul 2016How delightful to remember an old poem. My father used to say, “money doesn’t grow on trees.” I’m so glad I have at last seen what I envisioned to be the contrary! Thanks for your wonderful wandering!!
Evelyn S.
17 Jun 2016Gotta try it! Haven’t felt so good the last couple of days!
Linda
7 Jun 2016Interesting and also very beautiful.
Brian Hudson
7 Jun 2016Very Cool. I hope you are Both doing well and having a wonderful time at your new location. Thanks for keeping us updated with your travels and awesome photos! We love seeing them. Take care and be safe. Love, Brian and John
Mike kelly
6 Jun 2016Typical Yorkshire folk .. You can never get money out of them !!
Very odd people indeed ..
Claudia
5 Jun 2016Never heard of or seen such a thing.
Kim
5 Jun 2016Now for a crooked cat! 🙂
Bonnie
5 Jun 2016This is crazy wonderful.
cathi
5 Jun 2016So much! ^_^
Debi Katzman
4 Jun 2016That is the coolest!