Tarporley Hunt Club
Encyclopedia
The Tarporley Hunt Club is a hunt
club which meets at Tarporley
in Cheshire
, England. Founded in 1762, it is the oldest surviving such society in England, and possibly the oldest in the world. Its members' exploits were immortalised in the Hunting Songs of Rowland Egerton-Warburton
. The club also organised the Tarporley Races, a horse racing
meeting, from 1776 until 1939. The club's patron is Charles, Prince of Wales
.
, the first president; John Crewe, son of the Rector of Barthomley
, and the Honourable Booth Grey, son of the fourth Earl of Stamford
, the first secretaries; Robert Salusbury Cotton
, son of Sir Lynch Salusbury Cotton
, of Combermere
; and George Wilbraham of Nantwich
, later of Delamere Lodge
. The first hunt was held on 14 November 1762.
The club met twice annually at Tarporley
, with each meeting lasting seven days, and the hunting in the early years largely taking place within Delamere Forest
. At first the club organised hare coursing
, but its focus had already begun to switch to fox hunting
within the first few years. Membership was limited to twenty in 1764, expanded to twenty-five in 1769 and later to forty. The club's headquarters soon became the Swan Hotel, which dates from 1769. In the founding set of rules, members were required to drink "three collar bumpers" after both dinner and supper, and, in the event of marriage, to present each club member with a pair of buckskin
breeches.
The original hunting costume was specified as "a blue frock, with plain yellow metalled buttons, scarlet velvet cape, and double-breasted scarlet flannel waistcoat, the coat sleeve to be cut and turned up" and was strictly enforced with fines of a guinea
per infraction. This changed in 1770 to a red coat, green velvet cape and green waistcoat, and modern club members are distinguished by their green collars.
The club used the first pack of foxhound
s in Cheshire, whose master was John Smith-Barry, son of the fourth Earl of Barrymore
, of Marbury Hall
. Among the hounds was the famed Blue Cap, which had beaten the hound owned by Hugo Meynell
, founder of the Quorn Hunt
, in a race held in 1762.
The first known idiomatic use of the phrase "to send to Coventry
" appears in the club book entry for 4 November 1765 relating to Barry:
After Barry's death in 1784, the hunt used a pack kept by Sir Peter Warburton
of Arley Hall
, which later became known as the Cheshire Hounds.
Members of the Egerton, Cholmondeley, Grosvenor and other prominent local families joined not long after the club's foundation. Among the many early members who were important in county or national affairs were Sir Philip Egerton of Oulton Park
; Richard Grosvenor
, first Earl Grosvenor, of Eaton Hall
; Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, first Viscount Combermere
, of Combermere Abbey
; Thomas Cholmondeley of Vale Royal
; and his son, also Thomas Cholmondeley
, first Baron Delamere
. Rowland Egerton-Warburton
, president in 1838 and later one of the club's few honorary members, was known as the club's poet laureate. He immortalised some of its members' exploits in his Hunting Songs, and also wrote a history of the club to accompany an edition of the verses.
including Crabtree Green, which had been used as racecourse since the mid-17th century. In 1776, the club held a sweepstake there with seven runners, and the contest became an annual event. In 1809, the Tarporley Races became a permanent fixture in the Racing Calendar. Originally, only horses owned or nominated by members could enter, but in 1805 or 1809, a silver cup was awarded for a "farmers' race".
After the enclosure of Delamere Forest in 1812, the races moved first to Billington's Training Ground, near Oulton, and then a few years later to Cotebrook, on a course by the modern A49
rented from Lord Shrewsbury. The races were originally flat; a hurdle race was introduced in 1848, but discontinued in 1856. In 1875, the race meeting, by then held in April and known as the "Tarporley Hunt Steeplechase", moved to Saighton Farm, near Tarporley
.
In 1877, the location again moved to the Arderne Estate on the outskirts of Tarporley, where a permanent steeplechase
course was later constructed. The event became very popular with spectators in the late 19th and early 20th century, who arrived by a special train. The members' race was ridden in hunting costume. Racing was interrupted by the First World War
, and did not resume until 1921. In 1926, the club formed a limited company, Tarporley Steeplechases, to run the meetings. The event attracted 10,000 spectators in 1937, but the races stopped after 1939 and never resumed; Tarporley Steeplechases was wound up in 1963.
. Charles, Prince of Wales
has been the patron of the club since 1980.
Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom
Hunting and shooting have been practised for many centuries in the United Kingdom and, in some areas, are a major part of British rural culture...
club which meets at Tarporley
Tarporley
Tarporley is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England....
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. Founded in 1762, it is the oldest surviving such society in England, and possibly the oldest in the world. Its members' exploits were immortalised in the Hunting Songs of Rowland Egerton-Warburton
Rowland Egerton-Warburton
Rowland Eyles Egerton-Warburton was a landowner in Cheshire, England. He was a devout Anglican in the high church tradition and a local benefactor. He paid for the restoration of his parish church and for the building of two new churches in villages on his estates...
. The club also organised the Tarporley Races, a horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
meeting, from 1776 until 1939. The club's patron is Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
Foundation and early history
The club was founded in 1762, pre-dating the Cheshire Hunt by a year. The nine founders included the Reverend Obadiah Lane of LongtonLongton, Staffordshire
Longton is a southern district of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and is known locally as the "Neck End" of the city. Longton is one of the six towns of "the Potteries" which formed the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1925.-History:...
, the first president; John Crewe, son of the Rector of Barthomley
Barthomley
Barthomley is a village and ancient parish, and is now a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 202. The village is situated near junction 16 of the M6 motorway and by the...
, and the Honourable Booth Grey, son of the fourth Earl of Stamford
Harry Grey, 4th Earl of Stamford
Harry Grey, 4th Earl of Stamford was an English peer, styled Lord Grey from 1720 to 1739.Harry Grey was born in Enville Hall, the eldest son of Henry Grey, 3rd Earl of Stamford. He was educated at Rugby and Westminster. In 1736, he married Lady Mary Booth, the only daughter and heiress of George...
, the first secretaries; Robert Salusbury Cotton
Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, 5th Baronet
Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton was an English politician. He was Member of Parliament for Cheshire from 1780 to 1796.He was one of the founders of the Tarporley Hunt Club in 1762.- References:*...
, son of Sir Lynch Salusbury Cotton
Sir Lynch Cotton, 4th Baronet
Sir Lynch Salusbury Cotton was a politician in Great Britain. He was Member of Parliament for Denbighshire from 1749 to 1774....
, of Combermere
Combermere
Combermere can refer to:*Combermere Abbey, Cheshire, England*Combermere Park, Cheshire, England*Combermere, Cheshire, a village in Cheshire, England*Combermere House, Nantwich, a listed building in Nantwich, Cheshire...
; and George Wilbraham of Nantwich
Nantwich
Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
, later of Delamere Lodge
Delamere Park
Delamere Park is an English housing estate with parkland situated in Cuddington, near Northwich, Cheshire.-General history:The Wilbraham family owned the manor of Delamere Park from 1784-1939. In 1784 the extremely wealthy and powerful Wilbrahams moved the family seat from Nantwich to Cuddington...
. The first hunt was held on 14 November 1762.
The club met twice annually at Tarporley
Tarporley
Tarporley is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England....
, with each meeting lasting seven days, and the hunting in the early years largely taking place within Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest or Delamere Forest Park is a wood in the Cheshire West and Chester area of Cheshire, England, near the town of Frodsham. It includes of mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland, centred at around , making it the largest area of woodland in Cheshire...
. At first the club organised hare coursing
Hare coursing
Hare coursing is the pursuit of hares with greyhounds and other sighthounds, which chase the hare by sight and not by scent. It is a competitive sport, in which dogs are tested on their ability to run, overtake and turn a hare, rather than a form of hunting aiming at the capture of game. It has a...
, but its focus had already begun to switch to fox hunting
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
within the first few years. Membership was limited to twenty in 1764, expanded to twenty-five in 1769 and later to forty. The club's headquarters soon became the Swan Hotel, which dates from 1769. In the founding set of rules, members were required to drink "three collar bumpers" after both dinner and supper, and, in the event of marriage, to present each club member with a pair of buckskin
Buckskin (leather)
Buckskin is the soft, pliable, porous preserved hide of an animal, usually deer, moose or elk or even cowhide tanned to order, but potentially any animal's hide,. Modern leather labeled "buckskin" may be made of sheepskin tanned with modern chromate tanning chemicals and dyed to resemble real...
breeches.
The original hunting costume was specified as "a blue frock, with plain yellow metalled buttons, scarlet velvet cape, and double-breasted scarlet flannel waistcoat, the coat sleeve to be cut and turned up" and was strictly enforced with fines of a guinea
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
per infraction. This changed in 1770 to a red coat, green velvet cape and green waistcoat, and modern club members are distinguished by their green collars.
The club used the first pack of foxhound
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 in Cheshire, whose master was John Smith-Barry, son of the fourth Earl of Barrymore
Earl of Barrymore
Earl of Barrymore is a title in the Peerage of Ireland created for David Barry in 1627/28. Lord Barrymore held the subsidiary titles of Baron Barry , and Viscount Buttevant in the County of Cork in Ireland...
, of Marbury Hall
Marbury Hall, Anderton with Marbury
Marbury Hall was a country house in Marbury, near Northwich, Cheshire, England. Several houses existed on the site from the 13th century, which formed the seat successively of the Marbury, Barry and Smith-Barry families, until 1932. An extensive collection of artwork and sculpture was housed at the...
. Among the hounds was the famed Blue Cap, which had beaten the hound owned by Hugo Meynell
Hugo Meynell
Hugo Meynell is generally seen as the father of modern fox hunting, became Master of Fox Hounds for the Quorn Hunt in Leicestershire in 1753 and continued in that role for another forty-seven years . Meynell pioneered an extended chase at high speeds through open grassland...
, founder of the Quorn Hunt
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...
, in a race held in 1762.
The first known idiomatic use of the phrase "to send to Coventry
Send to Coventry
To send someone to Coventry is a British idiom meaning to ostracise someone, usually by not talking to them. To be sent to Coventry is to be regarded as absent. It is often used by children to bully others, and can be used to punish people who, for example, refuse to join a strike...
" appears in the club book entry for 4 November 1765 relating to Barry:
Warburton Baronets
The Warburton Baronetcy, of Arley in the County of Chester, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 27 June 1660 by Charles II for George Warburton, of Arley Hall, Cheshire, whose great-uncle had been Sergeant at Law and a Justice of Common Pleas in the time of Charles I. The...
of Arley Hall
Arley Hall
Arley Hall is a country house in the village of Arley, Cheshire, England, about south of Lymm and north of Northwich. It is home to the owner, Viscount Ashbrook and his family. The house is a Grade II* listed building, as is its adjacent chapel. Formal gardens to the southwest of the hall...
, which later became known as the Cheshire Hounds.
Members of the Egerton, Cholmondeley, Grosvenor and other prominent local families joined not long after the club's foundation. Among the many early members who were important in county or national affairs were Sir Philip Egerton of Oulton Park
Oulton Estate
In the early 18th century the Oulton Estate consisted of a manor house and a formal garden surrounded by farmland in Cheshire, England. Later in the century the farmland was converted into a park...
; Richard Grosvenor
Richard Grosvenor, 1st Earl Grosvenor
Richard Grosvenor, 1st Earl Grosvenor , known as Sir Richard Grosvenor, 7th Baronet between 1755 and 1761 and as The Lord Grosvenor between 1761 and 1784, was a British peer, racehorse owner and art collector...
, first Earl Grosvenor, of Eaton Hall
Eaton Hall
Eaton Hall may refer to:* Eaton Hall, Cheshire, England, a private country house owned by the Duke of Westminster* Eaton Hall in King City, Ontario, Canada, a Norman-style chateau converted to a public hotel...
; Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, first Viscount Combermere
Viscount Combermere
Viscount Combermere, of Bhurtpore in the East Indies and of Combermere in the County Palatine of Chester, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1827 for the prominent military commander Stapleton Stapleton-Cotton, 1st Baron Combermere...
, of Combermere Abbey
Combermere Abbey
Combermere Abbey is a former monastery in Combermere Park, between Nantwich and Whitchurch in Cheshire, England, near the border with Shropshire.-Topomony:...
; Thomas Cholmondeley of Vale Royal
Vale Royal Abbey
Vale Royal Abbey is a medieval abbey, and later country house, located in Whitegate, between Northwich and Winsford in Cheshire, England.The abbey was founded in 1270 by Edward I for monks of the austere Cistercian order...
; and his son, also Thomas Cholmondeley
Thomas Cholmondeley, 1st Baron Delamere
Thomas Cholmondeley, 1st Baron Delamere was a British peer and Member of Parliament.-Background:He was the son of Thomas Chomondeley , Member of Parliament for Cheshire...
, first Baron Delamere
Baron Delamere
Baron Delamere, of Vale Royal in the County of Chester, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1821 for Thomas Cholmondeley, a former Member of Parliament for Cheshire...
. Rowland Egerton-Warburton
Rowland Egerton-Warburton
Rowland Eyles Egerton-Warburton was a landowner in Cheshire, England. He was a devout Anglican in the high church tradition and a local benefactor. He paid for the restoration of his parish church and for the building of two new churches in villages on his estates...
, president in 1838 and later one of the club's few honorary members, was known as the club's poet laureate. He immortalised some of its members' exploits in his Hunting Songs, and also wrote a history of the club to accompany an edition of the verses.
Horse races
George Wilbraham, one of the club's original founders, purchased an estate in Delamere ForestDelamere Forest
Delamere Forest or Delamere Forest Park is a wood in the Cheshire West and Chester area of Cheshire, England, near the town of Frodsham. It includes of mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland, centred at around , making it the largest area of woodland in Cheshire...
including Crabtree Green, which had been used as racecourse since the mid-17th century. In 1776, the club held a sweepstake there with seven runners, and the contest became an annual event. In 1809, the Tarporley Races became a permanent fixture in the Racing Calendar. Originally, only horses owned or nominated by members could enter, but in 1805 or 1809, a silver cup was awarded for a "farmers' race".
After the enclosure of Delamere Forest in 1812, the races moved first to Billington's Training Ground, near Oulton, and then a few years later to Cotebrook, on a course by the modern A49
A49 road
The A49 is a major road in western England, which traverses the Welsh Marches region. It runs north from Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire via Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Whitchurch, then continues through central Cheshire to Warrington and Wigan before terminating at its junction with...
rented from Lord Shrewsbury. The races were originally flat; a hurdle race was introduced in 1848, but discontinued in 1856. In 1875, the race meeting, by then held in April and known as the "Tarporley Hunt Steeplechase", moved to Saighton Farm, near Tarporley
Tarporley
Tarporley is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England....
.
In 1877, the location again moved to the Arderne Estate on the outskirts of Tarporley, where a permanent steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
course was later constructed. The event became very popular with spectators in the late 19th and early 20th century, who arrived by a special train. The members' race was ridden in hunting costume. Racing was interrupted by the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and did not resume until 1921. In 1926, the club formed a limited company, Tarporley Steeplechases, to run the meetings. The event attracted 10,000 spectators in 1937, but the races stopped after 1939 and never resumed; Tarporley Steeplechases was wound up in 1963.
Modern club
The club still meets twice a year at the Swan, though it now largely takes the form of a social club or dining society. It sponsors a cup at the Bangor-on-Dee racesBangor-on-Dee racecourse
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Bangor-on-Dee near Wrexham, Wales.It is a left-handed National Hunt racecourse, and doesn't have a Grandstand.- History :...
. Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
has been the patron of the club since 1980.
Sources
- Bevan RM. Tales of Old Delamere Forest (CC Publishing; 2005) (ISBN 0 949001 24 4)
- Local History Group, Latham FA (ed.). Vale Royal (The Local History Group; 1993) (ISBN 0 9522284 08)
Further reading
- Fergusson G. The Green Collars: The Tarporley Hunt Club and Cheshire Hunting History (Quiller Press; 1993) (ISBN 1870948890)