Letting the bad luck fall out

Many, many thanks for all the lovely comments and for your support and encouragement; I really appreciate your kindness.

Ramble alert :-D

I went to the Pitstone Green Museum today. It's a museum of rural life and is housed in the buildings of an 1831 farm. It's run by volunteers so opening hours are quite limited. It's a great little place and jam-packed full of all sorts of fascinating machinery and artefacts.

This is a roof beam in the farrier's workshop. There's two schools of thought about the horseshoe as a symbol of luck ; some people say that it should stand with the curve at the bottom to keep the good luck in, others that it should appear the way it's depicted here to let the bad luck fall out. I think the latter idea is not so well known but I guess this way round is the easiest and most accessible way to store horseshoes and it's the way round the horse wears them too.

Iron has long been regarded as having magical properties - maybe because of the way it can be transformed = shape changing, and its ability to be magnetised?? Consequently, the blacksmith/farrier was seen as a magical, awe-inspiring figure because of his ability to work the metal.

[Brian Baptie]

Great shot and some interesting thoughts on the horseshoes!!

[Carole Imes]

Interesting information, Alison. I love how you go out and visit all these neat historical places. We need to do more of that. Great photo!!

[👑 AnaZad]

Great shot and interesting information. I would love to visit such place.

[Jennifer C]

love your info, i had no idea that a farrier was considered magical! There's lots of good luck hanging there! Sounds like a great place to visit!

[elkehochban]

Fab shot!

[Jean Tookey]

A lovely shot. You can see the history in the in the barn. I have just asked friends what they think about hanging horse shoes and we agree with the curve at the top.

[Claire]

Lovely rustic shot, horse shoes always remind me of history not sure why; I like them 'upside down' as they remind me of a rainbow

[Milanie]

What an interesting history of horseshoes - and your shot is terrific. Love the way you caught the feel of the barn.with the hay and the great wall details. Super shot.

[Netkonnexion]

Wonderful work. Love the tonal play here and the scene is intimately olde worlde. Cool capture.

[Hamble]

I love the detail in this shot. I can almost smell the barn, they've made it look realy authentic.

[Jane]

Gorgeous shot and interesting write up... my horseshoe above my door is face upwards..... but this is food for thought ♥

[judith deacon]

Great image with lovely tones, textures and detail. I'm for letter the luck fall out (so much easire to hang that way!)

[carol white]

Great shot,the strands of hay make this look so authentic!!

[Jen Hudson]

Like the way you have composed the view of the horse shoes and the barn roof and beams. Sounds an interesting place. I had to look at the horseshoes on our brasses on leather straps and they all face downwards. Not heard about this before, you always give us great information in one way or another.