THE PYTCHLEY.
“FULL CRY”
THE PYTCHLEY FOXHOUNDS.
“Come, I’ll show you a country that none can surpass
For a flyer to cross like a bird on the wing,
We have acres of woodland and oceans of grass,
We have game in the autumn and cubs in the spring.
We have scores of good fellows hang out in this shire,
But the best of them all is the galloping squire.”
—Whyte Melville.
With these sketches I can only give the merest outline of the history of this famous pack. Those who desire to know more of it and its glories, I would advise to read “The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present,” by the late MR. H. O. NETHERCOTE. He tells us that in the records of the village from which the “Pytchley” Hunt derives its name, there is to be found, in the times prior to those of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, the name of one “ALWIN THE HUNTSMAN,” evidently a person of great importance, whose duty it was to destroy wild animals frequenting the adjacent forests. Old Pytchley Hall was built in the reign of QUEEN ELIZABETH, by SIR EUSEBY ISHAM, and the manor was held of the king by its ancient Lords, on the condition that they should “furnish dogs, at their own cost, to destroy the wolves, foxes, polecats, and other vermin in the counties of Northampton, Rutland, Oxford, Essex, and Buckingham.” The old house was pulled down in 1829.
At first the farmers in the neighbourhood kept a Hound or two each, and joined together occasionally to kill a fox; next, a few couples were kept by small squires who could afford the expense, and they joined packs. About 1750, JOHN GEORGE, EARL SPENCER, removed his Hounds from Althorpe to the village of Pytchley. A club was formed at the old Hall, and the knights of the “White Collar” made it their quarters. LORD SPENCER divided the county into two parts; hunting the woodlands and the east one part of the season, and the west the other. LORD SPENCER died in 1783, and his son, also JOHN GEORGE, who became First Lord of the Admiralty, took the mastership and held it thirteen years. The “Pytchley” at this time attained a high degree of popularity. LORD SPENCER retired in 1796. MR. BULLER then took them for a short time, and afterwards they were taken by MR. JOHN WARDE. Kennels were built at Boughton, near Northampton, by MR. WARDE, and the Hounds taken there, and the club at Pytchley was closed.
In 1808, JOHN, VISCOUNT ALTHORPE, afterwards Chancellor of the Exchequer, became master, and again took them to Pytchley. The club was revived and was at this time in the zenith of its glory. It is known how LORD ALTHORPE, despite his political duties, was devoted to the hunt. He spared neither trouble nor expense in the improvement of the pack. He used to post horses at convenient distances on the road, and would frequently ride from London to Pytchley, after his duties were over, to hunt the next day. A bad fall in 1817 caused him to give up the Hounds at the end of the season. He was succeeded by SIR CHARLES KNIGHTLEY, who retired at the end of his first season, and SIR BELLINGHAM GRAHAM became master.
About this time the old Pytchley club ended its days Kennels were built at Brixworth, and the Hounds taken there, and, as MR. NETHERCOTE says: “The old things passed away and the modern history of the “P. H.” may be said to commence. The club ceased to exist, and even the white collar for a time disappeared.” Since then the “Pytchley” hunt has, however, “gone on its way rejoicing.” Many masters have come and gone, amongst them MR. J. C. MUSTERS, who brought his own Hounds from Nottingham. Then SQUIRE OSBALDISTONE, whose Hounds were afterwards sold for £6,440 at Tattersall’s, and afterwards MR. WILKINS, MR. GEORGE PAYNE, THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD, MR. T. SMITH, SIR FRANCIS GOODRICHE, MR. PAYNE again, LORD ALFORD, HON. FRED VILLIERS, LORD HOPETOUN, HON. FRED VILLIERS and HON. C. CUST, CAPTAIN ANSTRUTHER THOMPSON, MR. J. A. CRAVEN, MR. NAYLOR, MR. HERBERT LANGHAM for ten or eleven years, and now, for the third time, EARL SPENCER is again master.
Amongst the famous names of huntsmen who have been with the “Pytchley” are DICK KNIGHT, CHARLES KING, DICK ROAKE, CHARLES PAYNE, and, now, WILL GOODALL.
The beginning of 1878 will long be remembered in the “Pytchley” country, and by followers of the hunt. In the January of that year HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA came, and stayed at Cottesbrooke Park for six weeks, to hunt with the “Pytchley.” She won the hearts of all in the country. The most elegant and accomplished horsewoman in the world, with CAPTAIN MIDDLETON as her pilot, she was always in the first flight. She was attended by a brilliant suite, who were all very popular. This was just before EARL SPENCER gave up the Hounds at the end of his second mastership. Her Imperial Majesty presented his Lordship with a large picture of herself on “Merry Andrew,” a favourite hunter of Her Majesty’s.
