THE MORPETH FOXHOUNDS

“A HALLOO FORWARD”.

In 1845, or 6, SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY gave up hunting the country which had previously been hunted by the old Northumberland, and his father’s Hounds. For some years it was hunted by adjacent packs. Eventually, however, the hunting of it was re-arranged, and the “Morpeth,” in 1854, was one of the new packs formed to hunt that portion called the “Wansbeck” District, with MR. JOHN COOKSON, of Meldon, as master. MR. COOKSON held the mastership for twenty years, showing excellent sport, and being in every way a popular master. In 1875 he resigned and was succeeded by his son, MR. J. BLENCOE COOKSON, who, from that time to the present, has held the management of affairs. He hunts the Hounds himself, and there is no more capable and popular gentleman huntsman in the country.

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