Re: Foxhunting in SD


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Posted by Robert Dilley on September 14, 2005 at 02:57:02 from 216.211.53.227 user rdilley.

In Reply to: Re: Foxhunting in SD posted by Charles on September 13, 2005 at 14:04:42:

I have hesitated to join this thread, in fear of the wrath of Peter H for discussing a topic he has deemed unsuitable; but I cannot resist pointing out that the Lake District huntsman would never ride a horse nor shoot a fox (for fear of hitting one of the hounds). I have taken the liberty of appending a short section from my doctoral thesis (which dealt with common lands in the former county of Cumberland).

... hunting in Cumberland was carried out on foot, as no horse could keep its footing over the rough fells. As suits the county of John Peel "It has been said that the Cumbrian is a huntsman by hereditary instinct," so the people of Braithwaite in 1690 must have been very untypical for the manorial court to have had to record that

whereas there hath been great complaint by the neighbourhood of Little Town Skelgill and Hawse End that several within that neighbourhood have been very negligent, when desired, to go to hunt the fox: were put in pain that all the neighbourhood that has any heaf-going sheep lying betwixt Hawse End and so as far as Yew Crag and so on back as far as Buttermere Hause shall upon notice given particularly send every one a man to hunt.

... [H]unting in Cumberland ... was, and remains, essentially a plebeian activity, much favoured by farmers (combining as it does an exciting chase with the disposal of an animal considered a nuisance). At Loweswater, according to Housman

As soon as harvest is in, an honest cobbler shifts his garb and becomes huntsman, and every second and third morning collects his dogs, and calls the sportsmen to the field: the cottagers climb the mountain's side, where they can view the chace, and without much exertion, enjoy the pleasure of the hunt: after which they retire with cheerful mind and invigorated constitutions to their peaceful homes, and do not end the day of sport in revelling and riot, like the sportsmen of the plains.

Caine reported two thousand following the Whitehaven Hunt in December 1787 — though they did end with a Hunt Dinner.

[None of the above should be taken as either supporting or opposing hunting with hounds. Merely explaining.]



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