It is a ceremony rich in tradition and steeped in religion: the annual Court of Estrays, once commonplace across North Wales but now on the margins of agricultural history.

Created some 800 years ago to reunite farmers with stray sheep found wandering on Crown land, they thrived across the region right up to the 1980s.

Judges, usually prominent landowners, would swear on the Bible to listen equably to the pleas of farmers anxious to pay a small fine for their return of their sheep.

As the number of strays waned, however, so did the number of Courts of Estrays.

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In North Wales just one remains, in Denbighshire, held on alternate years in Gwytherin and Llansannan.

“At one time a sheep could walk all the way between Llandudno and Cardiff without coming across a fence,” said Allen Pugh, a retired detective sergeant who now presides over the Denbighshire Courts of Estrays.

“So there was plenty of scope for sheep to get lost.

“These days you see more fencing, and the number of strays has dwindled.”

Historic legacy of Edward 1

As steward of the Denbighshire courts, Mr Pugh holds a title redolent of the position’s former importance. He holds the - wait for it - “Office of Steward and Keeper of the Courts Leet, Liberties and View of Frank Pledge of the Lordship of Denbigh or Denbigh-land.”

Former holders include members of the Myddleton and Watkin Williams-Wynne families, and until 1850 their appointments could only be signed off by the monarch.

The position dates backs the creation of the Denbigh Crown Lordship by Edward 1 in 1282 as a reward to the Earl of Lincoln for helping to defeat Llywelyn, Prince of Wales.

Today the county’s Crown land stretches to 7,678 acres, much of it on the moors, offering plenty of scope of sheep to wander off.

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Held on the last Saturday in July, the courts are presented with sheep found by two bailiffs, one each for Gwytherin and Llansannan.

Even now, ceremony is important. First the Steward, then the three judges, take a bible in their right hand, kiss it and swear to uphold fairness.

After listening to arguments, usually over ear marks and pitch stamps, any sheep unclaimed are sold at auction.

Allen Pugh oversees St Asaph livestock market's cull ewe section
Allen Pugh oversees St Asaph livestock market's cull ewe section

A declining tradition?

This year the court was held in Llansannan, at Forge Uchaf. Just 12 sheep were put forward. Once, hundreds might have been presented: even in 2006 the figure was 34.

“Since then open land around Gwytherin has been fenced off,” said Mr Pugh.

“None were claimed this summer. But last year enough were claimed for us to make a profit from the fines.

“Unfortunately the expenses can be quite high, as we provide meals for around 30 people – farmers and officials - in the community centre.”

'A riot threatened to erupt'

Caernarfon’s Court of Estrays, held outside the NFU office, was once well attended, and until 1977 a similar court was held in the yard of the Hotel Back Row, Denbigh.

In 1908 this was the scene of a famous confrontation when a riot threatened to erupt over sheep seized by bailiffs.

During the court hearing, three farmers refused to pay their fines of four shillings per sheep. All three insisted their sheep had been impounded illicitly: the bailiff aroused suspicions when he admitted to receiving one batch from an anonymous source at a remote spot at 2am.

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One shepherd, Richard Griffiths of Beidiog Uchaf, Llansannan, was obstinate to the last, even allowing his sheep to be auctioned. Although more than 100 farmers were present, none bid. Surely, they wondered, it was no coincidence that the three farmers had lost nine sheep each!

Later, “total chaos erupted” and the police were summoned to clear the yard. The matter ended only when Richard Griffiths agreed to pay a reduced fine.

Courts still have a role

Mr Pugh became involved with the courts following his long association with the North Wales farming community as a rural police officer. For 16 years, until his retirement in 1993, he researched rustling and other agricultural crimes.

His greatest achievement came in 1987 with the publication of the original Meirionnydd directory of sheep ear markings, and later a similar one for Caernarfonshire.

Not only did they help prevent rustling, they identified stray sheep: Mr Pugh’s subsequent employment as a Court of Estrays steward was always a logical step.

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At the age of 76, Mr Pugh, of Abergele, now works for Jones Peckover at St Asaph market, checking in draft ewes.

Even in the era of double tagging and sheep EID, he believes the courts still have a role to play.

“We look upon them with pride and optimism that they will flourish for generations to come,” he said.

“Tags often get lost – and sheep will always stray.”