Wroth Silver Rent: An annual fee paid to the agent of the Duke of Buccleach, lord of the manor of Knightlow. The tradition can be traced back to 1170, which probably means it can really lay claim to being fairly ancient. At dawn, local people gather around a hollow stone on Knightlow Hill (near Ryton on Dunmore, Warwickshire) to pay their annual fee - those who fail to do so have to pay a fine of either 20 shillings, or give up a white bull with red ears and a red nose (these sound like the cattle version of the hunting dogs of Lord of Annwn in the first tale of the Mabinogion).
After the ceremony, which takes place of 11th November (Martinmas Eve), and with everybody no doubt freezing cold, the payees retire to a local inn for warming drinks of milk and rum, and some good food as well, no doubt. Some sources claim a clay pipe, made especially for the occassion is also smoked at this time.
The fact that cattle formed part of the fine, and that stone itself sits on a mound, that may or may not be a tumulus (local legend has it that it is the grave of a giant Danish warrior called Colbran who was killed by Guy of Warwick, points to this having very old origins indeed. The name wroth itself may deride from Rother Hryder, meaning cattle money... or may be a corruption of wrath, the payment being for a past misdemeanour on the part of one of the 25 parishes that take part.
Stir-up sunday: Traditionally the start of the run-in to Christmas, held on advent Sunday. Everyone takes a turn to stir the christmas pudding, which is made with 13 ingredients. One for Jesus and 12 for his disciples. This is also the last sunday of the church year. The current credit crunch might decide whether or not you add a silver sixpence, or a shiny tuppence!
I will leave Courts Leet and Baron, and the Admission of the Lord Mayor for another time.
Find out more:
- http://www.carryontours.com/Calendar/novembercustoms.htm#wroth
- http://www.docrowe.org.uk/index.html
- http://www.wrothsilver.org.uk/Faq.htm
Now that we are in December, I will try and keep on top of things.
Coming soon: Screaming skulls, Woden's walks.
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