The Berkeley Hunt (pronounced Barkley!) is said to be the oldest pack of foxhounds in England, harking back to the twelfth century. The pack is still owned by the Berkeley family. The Fifth Earl of Berkeley could hunt his hounds from Berkeley Castle to Berkeley Square in London and had kennels along the route. The season would start in Berkeley and progress to each of his kennels to London and then in stages back again to Gloucestershire. The present kennels date from the early eighteenth century.
The photos in this report were taken by Simon Clare on Boxing Day in Thornbury, an ancient market town in the west of England near Bristol, about 125 miles west of London.
The yellow coats with green collars and the running fox on the lapel—unique in hunting circles—worn by the Masters and hunt staff represent the outdoor livery of the Berkeley family. The ladies’ colors of navy and maroon represent the indoor livery.
The Berkeley has had many legendary huntsmen. In recent years Chris Maiden was huntsman for twenty-six seasons, succeeding Tim Langley*, who followed Harry Scott. Will Rawle showed wonderful sport and the great Thomas Oldacre was huntsman to the Fifth Earl of Berkeley. The present huntsman is Michael Little.
There are usually eighty to a hundred mounted followers on a Saturday and forty to fifty on a Wednesday. The hunt typically organizes over twenty events a year including its point-to-point races. They welcome four to eight school visits to the kennels throughout the summer from inner city schools. Hounds also visit an average of five shows over the summer months as well as providing help to its two branches of the Pony Club.
Today the hunting country runs from Gloucester to Bristol, and from the edge of the Cotswold Hills to the banks of the River Severn. The Berkeley hunt across some extraordinarily diverse country, offering exceptional cross country riding. Hounds go out from September to March twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
* Tim Langley’s book Good Morning…Good Night (Blackthorn Press, Grantham, 1987) is a delightful read about this huntman’s early life and subsequent career in hunt service.
Posted February 2, 2012
