Wrothsilver

Wroth Silver is Britain's Oldest Annual Ceremony

Recorded as 'ongoing' 1170 AD and still going strong!

Held every Martinmas Eve* before sun rising, make this a 'web site favourite' and come next 11 November.This year in 2023 that is a Saturday (in 2024 it will be Monday 11th). The ceremony is not held on Sundays, we hold it on the Saturday.


A new breakfast venue!

The Half Moon in Wolston will open its doors at 6.00 am for you to prepare yourself with rum and hot milk.
Then off to Knighlow Hill. The Ceremony will happen at first light (usually about 6.45 or when the Agent to the Duke can read the words) and then all back for breakfast.
Breakfast tickets need to be bought in advance from The Half Moon at £15.50 and include rum and hot milk for the Toast and a church warden pipe plus tobacco in the dedicated smoking shelter.

We need you at the stone on Knightlow Hill in Warwickshire, England before dawn. Anyone may attend. The Wroth Silver Ceremony starts when it is just possible to read the Charter of Assembly. That is usually about 6.45 am but may be altered by the weather.

Notes for first timers - Pdf file

Some who attend will have prepared themselves with a warming tot of rum and hot milk before-hand, the bar at The Half Moon usually opens at 6.00 am.

Then we all return for a lovely cooked breakfast (pre-booked tickets**) to The Half Moon in Wolston and to Toast His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry in the traditional way with rum and hot milk, recieve churchwarden pipes (tobacco and matches in the smoking shelter), hear speeches from the Agent to His Grace, David Eadon - longest continuous attendance ever and the organizer, Last year was his 85th consecutive attendance (an all time record - if you condider he visited in 'sprit' in 2019), The Mayor of Rugby, wearing his full regalia (one of the few occasions in the year when it is worn) and hear this years creation from our own poet, and to have the opportunity to buy 'Wroth Silver Today' - the book of the ceremony,.

* That is the 11 November except when it falls on a Sunday when we celebrate it on the previous day, the Saturday, so you can put it in your diary for years ahead!

** the advertisement usually appears in The Rugby Advertiser 3 to 4 weeks before and tickets are available to purchase (£15.50 per ticket in 2023) including a rum and hot milk to drink the health of His Grace and a churchwarden pipe - tobacco available) from the bar at The Half Moon Tel 024 7704 6803, thehalfmoonwolston@outlook.com before the day. The 2005 advert and the article in the following weeks Rugby Advertiser. SEE NOTE ABOVE!

Contact: info@wrothsilver.org.uk

This is the official web site of the ceremony which is supported by His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry

Boughton House His Northamptonshire home and Drumlanrig Castle his Dumfriesshire home.

Frequently asked Questions about the ceremony

Pictures of the ceremony

Historical pictures

Other related links

And of course a link to one of the ceremonies great supporters and the countries leading Folk Lore specialist. Many thanks Doc for your support and encouragement over the years see the Doc Rowe Collection