Shrine of the Ford

Below the town, where the road comes down to the water, stands the shrine of the Fordmother, who watches over crossings. It is a stone hut with a lamp, and a basin of river water that is changed every morning and never let stand. Travellers leave a coin when they go out and a pebble when they come home, and the wall inside is packed with pebbles up to the roof beam. The custom is older than the town charter, and the charter names it.