Before sunrise on 11 November, representatives of 25 Warwickshire parishes gathered on Knightlow Hill in Ryton-on-Dunsmore to observe one of Britain’s oldest surviving customs in the dark and misty rain.
Centuries-Old Tradition and Payment
The wroth silver ceremony is at least 850 years old, with written records first appearing in 1170. It requires the payment of annual rent to the landowner, the Duke of Buccleuch, amidst the background noise of traffic from the A45.
During the event, the duke’s appointed agent reads a charter listing the parishes. Representatives step forward one by one in the darkness to drop their coins into a hollowed stone called the Knightlow Cross, uttering the words, “Wroth silver.” Members of the public also participate by dropping in their own coins.
Tenants are reminded that the traditional penalty for failing to pay is “a white bull with red nose and ears”, or a “fine of 20 shillings for every penny owed”. The brief ceremony lasts only around four minutes.
The rents have remained unchanged for centuries, ranging from a halfpenny to eleven-and-a-half pence, a sum that prompts ironic “Oohs” from the crowd. The Duke of Buccleuch still receives the collected rent, which this year amounted to £16.22 in equivalent modern currency.
Fellowship and Modern Changes
While other ancient traditions draw significant attention from folklorists, wroth silver has persisted largely unnoticed, likely due to its short duration and very early hour. For many attendees, the primary draw of the gathering is the fellowship.
The ceremony concludes with breakfast at the Royal Oak pub in Brandon, which opens its doors at 6am to serve early risers rum and hot milk. This is followed by speeches and a recitation of a poem, though the traditional invitation to smoke churchwarden pipes has long since vanished.
Certain changes have proven unavoidable over time. Decimalisation eliminated the halfpenny, which artificially altered the payment amounts, and rising costs continue to impact the post-ceremony celebrations. Additionally, leadership has shifted as David Eadon of Rugby, whose family supported the event for over 150 years, retired and passed responsibilities to William Waddilove.
Regular participants continue to find reassurance in gathering with both old friends and newcomers to repeat the traditional cry of “Wroth silver!”
