British folk traditions

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There are many strange and unusual folk customs in the UK, some with very deep roots, others surprisingly modern. We'll be collecting them all here.

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Ancient London law requires a bale of hay to hang from a road bridge (www.ianvisits.co.uk)

submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Not really a folk tradition but enshrined in law. There's not a weird laws/bylaws community so this seemed like the most appropriate place.

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[–] NatakuNox 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Whenever the height between the river and the bridge’s arches is reduced, as it is at Canning Town, then a rule requires a bale of hay to be hung from a bridge as a warning to mariners. According to the Port of London Thames Byelaws, Clause 36.2, a bale of straw has to be placed under London’s river bridges “when the headroom of an arch or span of a bridge is reduced from its usual limits”.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Good sense rule. Keep it in the book. Simple as.

[–] NatakuNox -1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Maybe something more practical like a light now that we have the technology.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 22 hours ago

So... set the bale of hay on fire? Yup, yup, uh-huh.