Hunt history

The South Wold Hunt is a small, friendly hunt in the heart of the Lincolnshire wolds. The South Wold Hounds are currently being hunted by Mr Nick Ashcroft, who is also Master. The hounds are hunted over a varied country which includes part of the Lincolnshire Wolds and the Marsh. The country extends from Market Rasen Racecourse in the North West to the coast in the East. Woodhall Spa is at the South West of the Hunts' country.

The South Wold was founded in 1823 by the Hon. George Pelham (the younger brother to Lord Yarborough). In the mid 1850's the South Wold built the Kennels at Belchford, near Horncastle. During the Second World War the Agricultural Executive occupied the kennels and so the country was temporarily split and hounds were kennelled at Aswardby on the Eastern side and Edlington Hall on the Western side. The pack were united again in the 1948/1949 season and hounds returned to the kennels at Belchford where they remain today. The South Wold Hounds are hunted every Saturday and most Tuesdays throughout the season.

The South Wold Hunt (Masters etc...)

1713 Mr. Charles Pelham, Sir John Tyrwhitt and Robert Vyner hunted the country with a joint pack, which shortly after became able property of Mr Pelham. He continued to hunt country including the N.E corner of Lincolnshire,now known as the Brocklesby. He died in 1963.

1763 - 95 Charles Anderson (nephew to Charles Pelham) created Baron Yarborough and founder of Brocklesby Hunt; hunted the South Wold with the Brocklesby. He died in 1816.

1795 - 1820 Country hunted by scratch pack of Harriers and wandering packs.

1810 - 13 Squire Osbalderston hunted the South Wold in the spring from the Burton country.

1820 - 22 Mr. Brackenbury from Scremby hunted the country with a pack of hounds known as the Gillingham. In 1822 the kennels were moved to Hundleby.

1823 - 26 Hon. George Pelham,younger brother to Lord Yarborough, hunted the country. The pack was named the South Wold and George Pelham was the founder of the South Wold as it is known today. John Walker was put on as Huntsman. (He later joined Sir Watkin Wynn and remained with him until his retirement.) NOTE - letter written in 1873 to Mr. Sewell of Legbourne Abbey recounting famous South Wold run in 1823.

1826 - 27 Lord Kintore

1827 - 29 Mr. Brackenbury

1829 - 31 Sir Richard Sutton hunted the South Wold in conjunction with the Burton.

1831 - 33 Capt. Freeman from The Vine brought his own hounds and hunted the country. He then sold his hounds to Mr. Parker.

1833 - 35 Mr. Parker from the Worcester country hunted the South Wold - he then sold his hounds to Mr. Charworth Musters.

1835 Mr. Heanley (Henly) hunted his own pack, which he later sold to Sir Richard Sutton.

1841 - 43 Mr. J. Charworth Musters (from South Notts) hunted his own hounds.

1843 - 52 Mr. Shaw Hellier (from N. Warks) brought his own hounds, and from Harrington Hall (where hounds were kennelled), he hunted the South Wold. Huntsman was Bullen.

1852 Mr. Henley Greaves (from Cottesmore) hunted his own hounds.

1853 Mr. Cooke.

1854 - 78 Committee of management - Capt. Dallas Yorke of Walmsgate, Chairman and Acting Master. Kennels built at Belchford and Jack Morgan engaged as Huntsman. 1865 Capt. Fox became Chairman. 1878 committee rule ceased.

1878 - 80 Mr. Crowder appointed Master.

1880 - 1920 Mr. E. Preston Rawnsley appointed Master and hunted hounds. Charles Gillson put on as 1st Whip, Frank Goodhall 2nd Whip. Gillson was followed by Gosden, and Goodall by Littleworth. 1902 Mr. Rawnsley was joined in Mastership by Mr. J. St. Vigo Fox until 1909, then Rawnsley was joined by Sir William Cooke. 1914 Sir Charles Bertnick succedeed Sir W. Cooke, bringing some of his hounds.

(1810 - 1926 Special mention must be made of the Walkers of Spilsby, whose family were Hunt secretaries for over a century. William Walker for 47 years, followed by son George, his Grandson Edward, and Great-Grandson Major George Walker for 40 years. he was then followed by Col. Beaumont Walker.)

1920 Mr. J. W. Ramsden joined by Maj. Tom Jessop.

1922 Mr. J. W. Ramsden joined by Capt. Edward Ramsden upon the Major retiring.

1924 Mr. J. W. Ramsden continued alone and E. Littleworth put on as Huntsman. (1926 Col. B. Walker Hon. Sec. died, the last of the Walker family, Hon. Secs. since 1810. Maj. Noel Stewart, DSO., of Partney Hon. Sec.) 1927 - hunting days reduced to three. H. Loman replaced Littleworth as Huntsman. Maj. Jessop acted as Hon. Kennel manager.

1929 Lieut. Col. J. E. Mundby, C.M.G., D.S.O. (M. Clifton on Teme).

1930 Committee management

1932 Division of pack:

Mr. J. W. Ramsden, Maj. W. H. Rawnsley, Mr. H.

H. Hartley - Mon/Thurs country with kennels

retained at Belchford. Bert Turnerhunted hounds

with James McBride as Whipper-in.

Miss D. Brackenbury (Scremby) and

Maj. Jessop (hunted hounds) - Sat/Weds country

with Maj. Newman as amateur Whip with Harry

Wharton.

1933 Miss D. Brackenbury and Maj. Jessop hunted whole country. Jessop carried the horn.

1935 Miss Sandars of Goulceby House. Arthur Harris as Huntsman.

1937 Miss Ena Adams, Jt. Master with father, Mr. Norman Adams (from Eglington).

1938 Miss Adams carried on alone. Arthur Harris retained. Since E. P. Rawnsley's Mastership, there was continuance of Brocklesby blood in hound breeding, but this period noted for it's strong infusion of West Country strains.

1939 Country temporarily divided. Miss Brackenbury maintained nucleus establishment at Aswardby, taking over the Eastern side. Fred Brackenbury, Leslie Butcher, Jack Bell, George Baggaley and Fred Brooks ran the Western Side. Portions of Blankney and Burton countries loaned. 15 couple of hounds kennelled at Edlington Hall. Leslie Butcher hunted hounds. Belchford Kennels were occupied by the War Agricultural Executive.

1945 Mr. Frank Dawson took over the Eastern side joined by Maj. Newman the following season. Hounds kennelled at Burwell.

1947 - 48 Mr. Donald Burt and Mr. J. Wightman Jt. masters on Eastern side. Hounds returned to Belchford.

1948- 49 Pack united again under the Jt. Mastership of L. Butcher, D. Burt and J. Wightman. Hounds hunted 3 days a week. D. Burt hunted hounds with E. Wiltshire as Kennel Huntsman and W. Pinney 2nd Whip.

1949 - 50 Mr. Burt and Mr. Wightman were Jt. Masters. Hunt staff remained.

1952 - 55 Committee took over for 3 years - J. Wightman, F. Dawson, D. Martin, W. H. Heath and F. Brackenbury.

1956 - 57 Mr. E. de L. Cazenove was Master.

1957 - 58 Maj. W. Jessop and Lt. Col. R. B. Jessop took over as Jt. Masters. Maj. Jessop hunted hounds with Clive Rose as Kennel Huntsman and Whipper-In.

1963 Maj. Jessop retired and Col. Jessop was was joined by his wife and George Rye.

1966 - 69 Mr. Gilbert Smith of Ranby Hill

1966/67 season suspended from 7th Nov. -

5th March due to Foot and Mouth Disease.

1969 - 71 Committee Management

1972 - 79 Mr. and Mrs. W. Pinney Jt. Masters. Mr. Pinney hunted hounds and M. Carnell was Whipper-In.

1980 - 88 Committee Management - Mr. C. B. Dobson Acting Master and Chairman, R. H. Booth joining him from 86 - 88. J. Cooke as Huntsman with P. Jackson as Whipper-In, followed by Jonathan Cooke.

1988 - 91 Mr. T. Martin Trollope-Bellew (Master, as are those who follow)

1990 - 99 R. M. Booth (ceased in 91) , M. Ollard (ceased in 93), J. Grant (joined 91 - ceased 94), J. B. Morton (joined 91 - ceased 97), Mrs. C. Ollard ( joined 93 - ceased 99), W. S Crane (joined 96 - 99), A. G. Sinclair (joined 97 - ceased 99).

1999 - 2002 A. Crowther (Acting Master)

2002 - 4 Mr. M. J. Barclay (ceased 03), Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Crane, Mr. R. Finney and Mr. J. B. Morton (both joined 03)

2004 - 5 Mr. N. J. Ashcroft, Master Huntsman with P. Astle as Kennel Huntsman.

2005 - 6 Mr. N. J. Ashcroft, Master Huntsman, with C. Roarke as Whipper-In.

2006 - 7 Mr N. J. Ashcroft, Master Huntsman, with R. Mowbray as Whipper-In

2007 - 8 Mr N. J. Ashcroft, Master Huntsman, with R. Mowbray as Whipper-In