Crows in a rowan tree, Buxton, Derbyshire. Photograph: Mark Cocker
The Rowan Tree, also known as the Mountain Ash, is common in Britain, both as a domestic garden tree and in the wild. As its name would suggest, it grows naturally at high altitudes and can also be found across Europe, parts of Asia and even into North Africa; being particularly common in cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is an elegant and attractive tree. It has clusters of white flowers in the spring and dense bunches of bright red berries in autumn, when its leaves turn from yellow to fiery orange, before they drop.
The Origins of the Wiggin Tree
However, it has deep magical and folkloric significance, just as much - if not more - than other, better known trees, such as the Oak and Yew. As well as the common names Rowan and Mountain Ash, it is also known as Quickbeam and Witchwood, the former being used by JRR Tolkien, as the name for one of his Ents, in the Lord of the Rings. In Derbyshire though, where it is easily found on rocky hillsides, the Rowan is known as the Wiggin Tree.
This name is considered to be a ‘linguistic artifact’ and is typical of how regional dialects can change the way we say things and, sometimes - as we shall find out, even their meaning. The name ‘wiggin tree’ is a regional, dialectical variant of the name ‘Wichen Tree’, which is common to areas neighbouring Derbyshire. Many would assume that this is itself a variant of the word ‘witch’, but this is not the case at all. The name originates from the Old English name ‘cwic-beám’, which meant ‘living tree’ and, eventually, evolved into the more modern name ‘Quickbeam’.
By the 19th century, the words ‘quick’ and ‘wick’ had become interchangeable in dialect; the original meaning of the names meant ‘living’ or ‘alive’. However, by this time, ‘whichen’ and its Derbyshire variant ‘wiggin’ became associated with ‘witch’. But this was no arbitrary change. Instead, it reflected a long-established reputation that the tree had for protection against malevolent forces and witches, in particular.
A Truly Magical Tree
The belief in the Rowan’s powers of protection and its ability to ward off evil are common to the whole of the British Isles and were subsumed into Christian practice and belief as well, as the new religion took over. The practices for utilising the Rowan’s protective powers were many and varied: a sprig of rowan could be attached to baby’s cot, to prevent fairies from taking it and replacing it with a changeling; it would be planted by a home, as protection from evil and crosses were commonly made from its twigs and carried as an amulet. In northern counties of England, Rowan was commonly used to protect cattle from spells and in the production of butter.
It is unclear where the belief in the Rowan’s extraordinary powers of protection come from, though many believe it is down to its physical characteristics, particularly the berries. Firstly, each Rowan berry has a five pointed star, a pentagram, at the end of the berry, opposite the stalk. The pentagram is an ancient and potent symbol of protection. The second aspect is the berry’s colour. The vibrant red of the berries has always been considered as a defence against magic.
Rowan berries. https://www.wildfooduk.com/wild-plants/rowen-mountain-ash-1/
The Rowan has strong roots - pun intended - in Viking mythology and is closely associated with the protector of the Viking pantheon, Thor. In one story from the Icelandic Prose Edda, Thor is tricked into travelling to the hall of the giant, Geirrod. During his journey, Thor is forced to cross the River Vimur, which is turned into a raging torrent, by the giant’s daughter. Thor is only able to get to safety by grasping the branch of a Rowan and pulling himself out of the flood waters. Because of this, the Icelandic proverb “The Rowan is the salvation of Thor” came to be and the Rowan became known as ‘Thor’s Helper’ - yet another of its many names. The Rowan’s ties to Viking mythology and magical belief is further strengthened by the fact that its wood was prescribed material for carving runes, for use in divination.
Thor crossing the Vimur. https://www.germanicmythology.com/works/CrossleyHollandART.html
The Derbyshire ‘Wiggin’
The uses of the Wiggin Tree are well-documented in Derbyshire and the Peak District, and very strongly enforce the belief in this remarkable tree’s ability to avert evil and, of course, witches. As mentioned above, two sprigs of Wiggin can be joined to form a cross and carried about one’s person, as protection from evil; in Derbyshire, this was known as a ‘Witch Wiggin’. A short tale from Calver tells of a man wanting to pass through a tollgate. To do so, he strikes the gate with a ‘Wiggin Stick’ and it immediately opens, to allow him through; much to the consternation of the old woman who guards it and proceeds to curse the man by saying “Away wi' thee, thou old devil, wi'thy witch wiggin!” Whether the old woman was a witch, the tale does not tell.
In the small settlement of Jordanthorpe, near Norton, on the outskirts of Sheffield, a great gale occurred in December of 1891. Much to the local’s dismay, it blew down an old Wiggin Tree, which had been planted over eighty years before, specifically to keep witches out of the butter churns. Further to this, it was advised that, if butter was not churning well, then a sprig of Wiggin should be tied around the churn. As further protection against witches, it was Derbyshire tradition that the handles of brooms should be made from Wiggin, so that witches could be swept out of the house.