Ancient Customs

Ancient Customs. . , An ancient custom, Continu'd to this day , Oakham Castle is famous for its amazing collection of over 200 huge horseshoes. The tradition was described in 1722 by William Camden in "Britannia", his survey of Great Britain and Ireland:, "Every Baron of the Realm, the first time he comes through this town, shall give a horse-shoe to nail upon the Castle-gate; which if he refuses, the Bailiff of that manor has power to stop his coach, and take one off his horse's foot. But commonly they give five, ten, or twenty shillings, more or less as they please; and in proportion to the gift, the shoe is made larger or smaller, with the name and titles of the Donor cut upon it; and so it is nail'd upon the gate.", Five Bishops have donated horseshoes to Oakham Castle, as have seven Viscounts, fifteen Marquises, sixteen Dukes, eighty-seven Earls, and ninety Barons. Who will be next?, A Royal Tradition , As well as members of the nobility, the Hall boasts horseshoes from kings, queens, princes and princesses. , The earliest still in place is "an horse shoe, with the arms of England, being nigh in breadth a yard" which was commanded to be put up by Edward IV (1461-1483)., His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales, presented a horseshoe in 2003. His mother (Queen Elizabeth II), grandfather (George VI), great-great grandfather (Edward VII), and great-great-great grandmother (Queen Victoria) have all also donated horseshoes., Discover more... , Inside the hall is a life-size replica of Edward IV's horseshoe - you can have your photograph taken next to it!, A "Golden Shoe" presented by Lord Willoughby d'Eresby was stolen in 1846, only to be mysteriously returned twelve years later.