The Collection of the Wroth Silver

Just before sunrise on Monday, 11th November, Boughton’s Estate Manager, Sam Rees, represented the Duke of Buccleuch in one of Britain’s oldest traditions: The Collection of the Wroth Silver.

In this ancient tradition, representatives from each parish in the Knightlow Hundred step forward, place their dues in a centuries-old stone, and shout, “Wroth Silver.”

With origins stretching back over 800 years, this gathering once served as a land tax, paid to the lord of the manor. For those unable to pay, the forfeit was a white bull with a red nose and ears—a playful twist, believed to be introduced by the second Duke of Montagu, famed for his love of hoaxes!

Today, representatives of the parishes join early in the morning of November 11th to uphold the tradition. Following the ceremony, participants raise a toast to His Grace, the Duke of Buccleuch, with rum and hot milk, concluding the morning with a hearty cooked breakfast.