THE NORTH DURHAM.

“RUN TO GROUND”

THE NORTH DURHAM FOXHOUNDS.

At one time that part of the County of Durham now hunted by the “North” and “South” Durham Hounds was hunted by the famous RALPH LAMBTON, who, from Lambton, hunted the northern portion, part of the season, taking his Hounds twice each season to Sedgefield, to hunt the southern portion.

He gave them up owing to a bad fall. He had shown wonderful sport, and when he retired sold his Hounds to LORD SUFFIELD, (who was then master of the Quorn,) for three thousand guineas.

On MR. LAMBTON’S retirement, a pack was formed and named the “Wynyard and Durham” Hounds, MR. “BILLY” WILLIAMSON having the management in the field. They were kept at Woodwell House, near Durham. In 1841, the then LORD LONDONDERRY took the pack and hunted the country, at his own expense, for two seasons. A bad fall caused him to retire. MR. WILLIAM RUSSELL, of Brancepeth, then took the Hounds, but gave them up at the end of his first season.

At a meeting held in 1844, on the suggestion of MR. JOHN HENDERSON, of Durham, it was decided to hunt the country as it had been hunted by MR. LAMBTON. Funds were raised, MR. RUSSELL’S Hounds purchased, and the pack named the “Durham County Foxhounds.” MR. HENDERSON taking the stable and kennel management, COL. TOWER being master in the field. COL. TOWER was succeeded by MR. WILLIAMSON, and after him came COL. JOHNSON. On COL. JOHNSON retiring, MR. JOHN HARVEY, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, took the management in the field; MR. HENDERSON still having the stables and kennels under his control. They continued for some years, showing capital sport, and in 1871 the country was divided and the “North” and “South” packs formed.

MR. ANTHONY L. MAYNARD, of Skinningrove, Yorkshire, and Newton Hall, Durham, took the north pack and remained master for fifteen years, showing excellent sport. After MR. MAYNARD’S retirement from the mastership of the “North Durham” the management was, for a short time, in the hands of a committee, and, in 1888, the Hounds were taken by MR. J. E. ROGERSON, of Croxdale Hall, who is the present master.

Though a fine country, the “North Durham” is in parts a good deal cut up by railways and collieries.