2010
NX9718 : Money for old rope
taken 15 years ago, near to Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

Money for old rope
One of a series of themed benches and tables along the Sugar Tongue; rope made from hemp had a limited life. When it wore out it was picked apart, recycled and used for caulking. The rope fibres were hammered into the seams between planks of a ship and hot pitch was poured over it to waterproof the ship. Of course you got money for the old rope. The phrase came to mean money for anything (seemingly) worthless.