Cottesmore Hunt
Encyclopedia
The Cottesmore Hunt, which hunts mostly in Rutland
, is one of the oldest fox hunts in Britain. Its name comes from the village of Cottesmore
where the hounds were kennelled.
The Cottesmore Hunt's origins may be traced back to 1666 when Viscount Lowther made the long journey by a road with his own pack of a pack of foxhound
s from Lowther Castle
in Westmorland
to Fineshade Abbey in East Northamptonshire. The Lowther family sold their pack to the Earl of Gainsborough
.
From 1696 to 1779 there had been a joint arrangement between the 3rd Duke of Rutland, Master of the Belvoir, and the Earl of Gainsborough, Earl Cardigan, Lord Howe and Lord Gower, to hunt one pack on a shared basis in the huge area from Belvoir southwards into East Northamptonshire. Hounds were moved between three different kennels, including Cottesmore, each season. The Gainsborough family withdrew from this joint Hunt in 1732 and took 25 couple of hounds that began to hunt the country later known as the Cottesmore.
In 1776 Tom Noel made an agreement with Hugo Meynell, first Master of the Quorn, known as the “Father of Foxhunting”. They agreed on boundaries between the Quorn and the Gainsborough pack, kennelled at Cottesmore, that enabled both packs to draw numerous coverts, including those at Owston, Launde
and Tilton
, nowadays well inside the Cottesmore country.
Sir William Lowther
bought the pack from the Gainsboroughs and hunted the Cottesmore country from 1788 until 1802 when he became Viscount Lowther. At first he rented Stocken Hall, but later rented Cottesmore House where he kennelled the hounds, and from which the pack derived its permanent name.
Sir William made the Cottesmore Hunt more widely popular. “Earl William ” and his staff wore hairy flat-topped hats, and it is believed Surtees
depicted them as “The Flat Hat Hunt”, with Lord Scamperdale as Master, in Mr Sponge's Sporting Tour.
The Cottesmore pack was purchased from the new Viscount Lowther in 1802 by Sir Gilbert Heathcote
of Normanton Park
. However, after only four years, William Lowther, the new Earl Lonsdale resumed his Mastership, and continuing in office for another 36 years. Sir Henry Sutton, Mr Henley Greaves, and Sir John Trollope provided a series of shorter Masterships up to 1870 when the Lowthers returned again.
During this time a large part of the country up to Whissendine
was loaned to Mr Tailby of Skeffington
who, with his own pack, hunted much of the country that later became the Fernie.
Col. Henry Lowther
, second son of the second Earl Lonsdale, became Master in 1870. Henry Lowther bought hounds from Tailby for £1,300. Henry lived at Asfordby
before moving to Barleythorpe
, north of Oakham
, which his father purchased for him as a hunting box. Henry, later created 3rd Earl Lonsdale, built lavish kennels and stables at Barleythorpe from 1872.
In 1904 new kennels and stables were built at Ashwell
, and are now listed buildings. The hunt's kennels moved to the other side of Ashwell parish in 2004.
Three warship
s of the Royal Navy
have been called after the Cottesmore hunt.
, together with some smaller areas of Leicestershire
and Lincolnshire
. Its country converges with that of its neighbours the Quorn
and the Belvoir (Duke of Rutland’s) in Melton Mowbray
which in its heyday was a magnet for foxhunters worldwide and now has the UK's only foxhunting museum.
by the Hunting Act 2004
, which came into effect in 2005, the Cottesmore claims that it continues to operate within the law, using a combination of laid trails and flushing to a bird of prey for the bird itself then to hunt. Since the ban the Hunt employs a golden eagle
.
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, is one of the oldest fox hunts in Britain. Its name comes from the village of Cottesmore
Cottesmore, Rutland
Cottesmore is a village in the north of the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. In terms of population it is the largest village in Rutland, and the third-largest settlement after Oakham and Uppingham. This is due in part to the presence of RAF Cottesmore.The Cottesmore Hunt takes...
where the hounds were kennelled.
History
Foxhound
A foxhound is a type of large hunting hound. Foxhounds hunt in packs and, like all scent hounds, have a strong sense of smell. They are used in hunts for foxes, hence the name. When out hunting they are followed usually on horseback and will travel several miles to catch their target. These dogs...
s from Lowther Castle
Lowther Castle
Lowther Castle is a country house in the historic county of Westmorland, which now forms part of the modern county of Cumbria, England. It has belonged to the Lowther family, latterly the Earls of Lonsdale, since the Middle Ages.- History :...
in Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
to Fineshade Abbey in East Northamptonshire. The Lowther family sold their pack to the Earl of Gainsborough
Earl of Gainsborough
Earl of Gainsborough is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation ended in extinction when the sixth Earl died without heirs...
.
From 1696 to 1779 there had been a joint arrangement between the 3rd Duke of Rutland, Master of the Belvoir, and the Earl of Gainsborough, Earl Cardigan, Lord Howe and Lord Gower, to hunt one pack on a shared basis in the huge area from Belvoir southwards into East Northamptonshire. Hounds were moved between three different kennels, including Cottesmore, each season. The Gainsborough family withdrew from this joint Hunt in 1732 and took 25 couple of hounds that began to hunt the country later known as the Cottesmore.
In 1776 Tom Noel made an agreement with Hugo Meynell, first Master of the Quorn, known as the “Father of Foxhunting”. They agreed on boundaries between the Quorn and the Gainsborough pack, kennelled at Cottesmore, that enabled both packs to draw numerous coverts, including those at Owston, Launde
Launde
Launde is a civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, bordering Rutland. The parish is the site of Launde Abbey. It gives its name to an electoral division of Leicestershire that stretches all the way from Scraptoft, Thurnby and Stoughton, near Leicester, to the border with...
and Tilton
Tilton on the Hill
Tilton on the Hill is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire. It lies 2 miles north of the A47, on the B6047 to Melton Mowbray. Halstead civil parish was merged with Tilton in 1935, while the deserted medieval village of Whatborough was merged in 1994...
, nowadays well inside the Cottesmore country.
Sir William Lowther
William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale
William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale of the second creation KG was a British Tory politician and nobleman.-Life:...
bought the pack from the Gainsboroughs and hunted the Cottesmore country from 1788 until 1802 when he became Viscount Lowther. At first he rented Stocken Hall, but later rented Cottesmore House where he kennelled the hounds, and from which the pack derived its permanent name.
Sir William made the Cottesmore Hunt more widely popular. “Earl William ” and his staff wore hairy flat-topped hats, and it is believed Surtees
Robert Smith Surtees
Robert Smith Surtees was an English editor, novelist and sporting writer. He was the second son of Anthony Surtees of Hamsterley Hall, a member of an old County Durham family.-Early life:...
depicted them as “The Flat Hat Hunt”, with Lord Scamperdale as Master, in Mr Sponge's Sporting Tour.
The Cottesmore pack was purchased from the new Viscount Lowther in 1802 by Sir Gilbert Heathcote
Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 4th Baronet
Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 4th Baronet was a British Member of Parliament.Heathcote was the son of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 3rd Baronet by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Hudson...
of Normanton Park
Normanton, Rutland
Normanton is a village and civil parish on the eastern shore of Rutland Water in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England.Normanton Park was a seat of the Earls of Ancaster and an important centre of their estates. The stable block of their hall is now Normanton Park hotel...
. However, after only four years, William Lowther, the new Earl Lonsdale resumed his Mastership, and continuing in office for another 36 years. Sir Henry Sutton, Mr Henley Greaves, and Sir John Trollope provided a series of shorter Masterships up to 1870 when the Lowthers returned again.
During this time a large part of the country up to Whissendine
Whissendine
Whissendine is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland, England lying north west of the county town, Oakham.It has two pubs , a church, a former Methodist chapel, and a windmill. The Methodist chapel closed in 2009, the last service being held on 30 August.Whissendine Windmill, built in...
was loaned to Mr Tailby of Skeffington
Skeffington
Skeffington is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. It is situated east of Leicester on the A47 Leicester to Uppingham road, between the parishes of Billesdon and Tugby and Keythorpe....
who, with his own pack, hunted much of the country that later became the Fernie.
Col. Henry Lowther
Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale
Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale was a British nobleman and Conservative politician, the eldest son of Henry Cecil Lowther and Lady Lucy Sherard.He married Emily Susan Caulfeild on 31 July 1852. They had six children:...
, second son of the second Earl Lonsdale, became Master in 1870. Henry Lowther bought hounds from Tailby for £1,300. Henry lived at Asfordby
Asfordby
Asfordby is a village and civil parish in the Melton district of Leicestershire, to the west of Melton Mowbray on the A6006 road.The parish consists of Asfordby proper, Asfordby Valley and Asfordby Hill, which together have a population of around 3,000...
before moving to Barleythorpe
Barleythorpe
Barleythorpe is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is located about a mile north-west of Oakham.Barleythorpe Hall was a home of Lord Lonsdale and later an elderly person's home...
, north of Oakham
Oakham
-Oakham's horseshoes:Traditionally, members of royalty and peers of the realm who visited or passed through the town had to pay a forfeit in the form of a horseshoe...
, which his father purchased for him as a hunting box. Henry, later created 3rd Earl Lonsdale, built lavish kennels and stables at Barleythorpe from 1872.
In 1904 new kennels and stables were built at Ashwell
Ashwell, Rutland
Ashwell is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is located about three miles north of Oakham....
, and are now listed buildings. The hunt's kennels moved to the other side of Ashwell parish in 2004.
Three warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
have been called after the Cottesmore hunt.
Country
The Cottesmore country extends 18 miles north to south and 22 miles east to west and lies mostly in RutlandRutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, together with some smaller areas of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. Its country converges with that of its neighbours the Quorn
Quorn Hunt
The Quorn Hunt, usually called The Quorn, established 1696, is one of the world's oldest fox hunting packs and claims to be the United Kingdom's most famous hunt...
and the Belvoir (Duke of Rutland’s) in Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
which in its heyday was a magnet for foxhunters worldwide and now has the UK's only foxhunting museum.
Post-ban
Although the sport of foxhunting in its traditional form was made unlawful in England and WalesEngland and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
by the Hunting Act 2004
Hunting Act 2004
The Hunting Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The effect of the Act is to outlaw hunting with dogs in England and Wales from 18 February 2005...
, which came into effect in 2005, the Cottesmore claims that it continues to operate within the law, using a combination of laid trails and flushing to a bird of prey for the bird itself then to hunt. Since the ban the Hunt employs a golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
.