A horseshoe was more than something worn by a horse.
In Northumberland, an old horseshoe could be a lucky find. People believed iron had the power to keep away trouble, and a horseshoe might be kept near a doorway or in a barn for protection.
But there was another bit of Northumberland lore.
If you found a horseshoe, look closely at the nail holes. The empty ones were sometimes counted to see how many years might pass before the finder was married.
So if you found an old horseshoe on the Whitaker farm, would you count the holes?
Look closely. You might want to know.
Take a piece of 1885 home with you. → Download the Lucky Horseshoe Maker File — it’s free.
Things You Might Find → | Own a Piece of 1885 →
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The Illustrator’s Vision—The maps and illustrations of Peckles-Wood Shire are inspired by the real landscapes, places, and traditions of Victorian Northumberland. Created for The Chronicles of Peckles-Wood Shire, they blend historical research with imagination to bring the world of Broken Sanctuary to life and invite young explorers to step into the Whitaker family’s adventure of 1885.