Dear Ian
There has long been a tradition in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
of planting a rowan tree, or mountain ash, at the entrance to mines or
mine-shafts to ward off evil or malign spirits. They were also planted
at the doors of houses and other dwelling places as well as in church
yards.
Cheers
Peter Davidson
Curator of Minerals
Department of Natural Sciences
National Museums Collection Centre
National Museums Scotland
242 West Granton Road
Edinburgh EH5 1JA
Tel + 44 (0) 131 247 4283
Fax + 44 (0) 131 220 4819
e-mail [log in to unmask]
http://www.nms.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Ian Forbes
Sent: 27 January 2009 17:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Matters vegetable
Dear list members
And certainly round here in the North Pennines mountain ash, or rowan,
had
a strong association with protection against witches. It was common to
plant one on your boundary to keep witches away, and sprigs of rowan
were
hung in the doorways of stables to stop spirits entering and spooking
the
horses.
Friends have remarked on the number of rowan trees to be found within
the
circle of the stone wall protecting old shafts.
Is this because trees could take root here and flourish without being
grazed off by stock, or is there an underlying superstition which led to
planting of trees over shafts?
Fascinating to speculate...
Ian
Be Green - Think, Don't print!
Killhope - Sustainable Tourism Gold Winner - One North East Tourism
Awards
2007
Ian Forbes
Manager
Killhope - the North of England Lead Mining Museum
Adult and Community Services
Durham County Council
Upper Weardale
Co Durham DL13 1AR
Tel: 01388 537505 Fax: 01388 537617
www.killhope.org.uk
Killhope - the Family Friendly Museum of the Year
Bernard Moore <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: mining-history <[log in to unmask]>
26/01/2009 22:54
Please respond to
"The mining-history list." <[log in to unmask]>
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Subject
Re: Matters vegetable
Dear All,
I have just realised an error, and must correct same without delay since
I
don't want to be responsible for wrong info..
When I stated in my last, "I have noticed - in Mid-Wales anyway - that
Silver Birch used to be common around old shafts", this should have read
Mountain
Ash - a tree with plentiful red berries that must be a distinct 'draw'
for
certain birds. Was/is very plentiful and predominant in the area around
shafts/adits in the Mid-Wales area - with a few secondary species
sometimes that I
can't remember the name of at short notice!
Regards, Bernard
”The world's greatest dressmaker.” Jean Muir: A Fashion Icon.
http://www.nms.ac.uk/jeanmuir
National Museums Scotland, Scottish Charity, No. SC 011130
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