Percieved as the luckiest of charms, the horseshoe was introduced into western culture by the Greeks, back in the 4th century.

The origins of the luck associated with horseshoes however, are found in Mayfield, Sussex, famous for the legend of St Dunstan, the son of Heorstan, a West Saxon nobleman, and Cynethryth, born in the village of Baltonsborough (near Glastonbury), about 910AD.

One day the devil dressed in women’s clothes decided to pay St Dunstan, a former blacksmith, a visit. The devil wanted to lead St Dunstan astray, but he saw through the devils disguise, and grabbed the devils nose with his red hot pincers. Satan soon got the idea he was unwanted, and soon scooted off!

The Devil later returned, again dressed as a woman, but the good St Dunstan again silently saw through his disguise. As Satan had asked for some new horseshoes, St Dunstan gave his customer what he wanted, as painfully as possible, until the Devil roared in pain.

St Dunstan released the Devil on the condition that he promised not to enter a place where a horseshow was hung.

Scottish legends tell of how a farmer shod a horse one night to find, the next day, a woman of the village (suspected of witchcraft) lying in agony with horseshoes nailed to her hands and feet.

Early religions considered crescent or u-shaped objects powerful signs, such as the Greeks who believed the horseshoe symbolised the crescent moon, which was regarded as a symbol of fertility.

Temples in Middle and South America were built with arched doorways. The Moors built mosques with arched doorways. Arched windows were built in the Middle Ages as a means of protection against evil. The crescent is venerated in the Middle East.

Horseshoes are also placed on the foremasts of sailing ships as a amulet for safe voyages.