Rolleston the huntsman, in a poetic account of a classic 30-mile Notts foxhunt in 1881

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To say the young Lancelot Rolleston of Watnall Hall was a keen horseman is something of an understatement. Before his near fatal injury during the Boer War in 1900 he was rarely off his horse. His war wounds seriously curtailed his ability to ride and for someone so dedicated to the sport it must have been a difficult adjustment.

Today's "Tale from Watnall Hall" looks at his hunting career and in particular one classic day in February 1881 which finds 33-year-old Rolleston in his element leading the hunting party over the rolling fields and heathland of north Nottinghamshire.

"Truth", a quarterly news/gossip magazine from January 3rd 1884 describes the presentation to Rolleston of the painting below by the Duke of Portland. Rolleston knew the Duke well as he had recently become Master of the Duke's "Rufford Hunt" and his wife, Lady Maud Rolleston, had organised elaborate soirees in the underground ballroom at the Duke's north Notts. home, Welbeck Abbey... 
"A presentation was made last week to Mr. L. Rolleston, late Master of the South Notts Hunt. A large muster of county notables assembled at Watnall Hall, where the Duke of Portland, on behalf of the hunt, presented Mr. Rolleston with a picture of himself and his hounds."

Rolleston in the centre, Miss Musters? side-saddle on the white mare
This painting hung in the Dining Room at Watnall Hall
It was sold to Mr.Birkin of Old Dalby when the hall contents were auctioned off in 1954

Lina Chaworth Musters in 1861
newly married
He was Master of Fox Hounds (MFH) for the South Notts Hunt (1876-1882) and the Rufford Hunt (1889-1900). It's a poetic account of an epic winter foxhunt, covering 30 miles of classic Nottinghamshire countryside, written by Lina Chaworth Musters (pictured left), wife of Rolleston's great friend and mentor Squire Musters of Annesley Hall. She was a writer and amateur historian, and a founder member of the Thoroton Society³ of Nottinghamshire. She published "Book of hunting songs and sport. Collected by Mrs. Chaworth Musters" from which this poem is taken. It provides a revealing insight into the life, conduct and society characters of the contemporary Nottinghamshire hunting scene.  Controversial today, fox hunting was the cornerstone of country life for all classes back in Victorian times. After the poem we'll examine at the characters mentioned then look at Rolleston's connection to horses in more depth...

"Gone away with the Rufford Hounds" 1897 by Wright-Barker

The characters described in the poem include the Colonel on his favourite horse Rocket, the famous Notts cricket captain Mr. Richard Daft (father to Notts County's Harry Daft) and George (really German) Shepherd, first whip and kennel huntsman to Mr. Musters, Mr. Rolleston and Lord Harrington successively, and deservedly respected by all in the South Notts country. 

Local cyclists will recognise the village names from Sunday runs - Bleasby, Gonalston, Oxton, Lowdham, Halam Hill and Pittance Park, a former royal hunting park which is where today's Center Parcs is.

So, one cold frosty morning in February 1881, the great and good of Notts and Derbys society gather outside the Magna Charta pub in Lowdham and a classic day's hunting unfolds. Best of all, the fox gets away... 


A long chase and the fox wins - Wednesday, February 9th, 1881.

The snow, and frost, and fog were gone, And "cheerly smiled the morn"; And many a sportsman's heart beat high, To hear the well-known horn.
To the Magna Charta, Lowdham, From far and near they come; Some kindred souls from Derbyshire, Across the river, some.

Then, as the phalanx moved along, The road to Bleasby Gorse²⁰, With a watchful eye I scanned them, Ev'ry man and ev'ry horse. 
Like a lovely chequered ribbon, The little pack advance; Fresh as paint, and bright as satin, They long to lead the dance. First comes Rolleston¹ upon Rocket, With a thoughtful huntsman's air; Taking counsel with George Shepherd², Neat and jaunty as his mare.

Family portrait of Col. Rolleston 1895
by Wright-Barker 
Next, noblemen in scarlet coats, And gentlemen in black, And ladies fair, and riders rare, And Lielly³ on a hack.
But Bleasby holds no customer - They cheer and "haicks" in vain. While we sit cooling visibly,  Predicting it will rain.
Halloughton Wood - "but shall we find here?" Some say doubtfully and low; Hark! that piercing scream is George's - Now then, Talent, you may go.

How they race to get a start - see, Straight at the fox they ride! And thrust and sputter in the ploughs, That skirt the Dumble side.

The route, Lowdham to Clipstone...
Up to Bleasby, out towards Morton, Then round through Southwell parks, Where o'er a gate Lord Petersham⁴, Had one of his old larks.
And Fillingham⁵, that crafty man, Here jumped a fence with glee; And Howett⁶ still, thro' good and ill, Is riding wild and free.
The doughty Daft⁷ is here o'erthrown, Not by Australian ball; But always quick on greensward, Hurries Peter to a fall.
The master's down and up again, And Rocket's pulling still; And Henry Smith⁸ is close behind. Sinking the Halam Hill.

But when the hounds swing left again, And past the Ash-Holts race, And circle right round Halloughton Wood, What tells at last is pace.
Tor oh! that eager morning field, So gallant and so gay. Now hounds seem running for their fox, Behold their sad array.

...onto Edingley, Inkersall and Pittance Park
(today's Center Parcs)
They scarce can trot, and far less jump, The prudent now go home, Never thinking that the best fun, Is only yet to come.
But who is here so full of cheer, A fresh horse full of ride, Squire Sherbrooke⁹ who has nicked them, Running the Dumble side.
For an hour and forty minutes, They have hunted through the plough - See, the fox lies down before them! They surely have him now.

Not a bit; for over Halam, On towards Edingley they stream; Onward, onward over Hexgrave, 'Tis a run we sometimes dream.
Now they're checking, we thank goodness. As we reach the welcome sand; Gallant Rolt¹⁰ has had a crumpler; Oxton's Squire embraced the land.

Squire Jack Musters¹⁹
of Annesley Hall
They've hit it off through Inkersall, Culloden's looming near; Sporting Skelton¹¹, thrusting Meeson, Look grave when they get here.
Pittance Park they now are skirting, Where our fox finds many a friend; 
Like the Coplow run of history, Without a kill we end.
Two of Thoresby's worthy scions¹², Two of Derby's sportsmen true¹³, One descendant¹⁴ of Jack Musters, Saw this fine run fairly through.
Francklin, Charlton¹⁵, Mills¹⁶ and Hibbert¹⁷, Who besides must others say, For I long had been defeated, On my little mare so gay.
Eleven miles from point to point, Full thirty all they ran; Let us drink their healths this evening - Fox and hound, and horse, and man¹⁸.

L. C. MUSTERS.


Who's who...
1. Lancelot Rolleston, Esq., master and huntsman of the South Notts.hounds from 1876 to 1882.
2. George (really German) Shepherd, first whip and kennel huntsman to Mr. Musters, Mr. Rolleston, and Lord Harrington successively, and deservedly respected by all in the South Notts. country.
3. John Liell Francklin, Esq., of Gonalston, late Master of Fox Hounds (M.F.H.)
4. The present (8th) Earl of Harrington² of Elvaston Castle, Derby, born 1844. Now hunting the South Notts. country, 1883. He also had his own pack the Harrington Fox Hounds.
5. George Fillingham, Esq., of Syerston, a well-known and thorough sportsman. .
6. Mr. Robert Howett, of Woodborough, a great promoter of hunting.
7. Mr. Daft, of Radcliffe, the celebrated cricketer.
8. Henry Smith, Junr., of the Grove, Cropwell Butler, a keen and hereditary sportsman.

Richard Daft, Notts cricketer who was on the hunt that day


The 8th Earl of Harrington leading the South Notts across the River Trent at Stoke Bardolph 1890

 
The 8th Earl of Harington in 1891


9. Henry Sherbrooke, Esq., of Oxton¹, who had been attending the Rufford Hunt meeting at Ollerton; and on his return, coming out to look for the hounds, by the greatest good luck fell in with them at this point.
10. Captain Rolt, a writer in the sporting papers.
11. Mr. Skelton, the steeplechase rider, and Mr. Meeson, a friend of Mr. Howett.
12. Lord Newark and his brother, Hon. Henry Pierrepont, who died the following year.
13. Lord Petersham and Mr. Palmer, of Stanton.
14. Miss Catherine Chaworth Musters.
15. Nicolas Charlton, Esq., of Chilwell.
16. Mr. Mills, of Burton Joyce.
17. Mr. Hibbert, of Nottingham,
The Bleasby Hall hunt
18. From Bleasby Gorse, the furthest point to the south, to Culloden plantation, near Rufford, eleven miles.
19. Squire Jack Musters - legendary master of several Notts hunts, he re-introduced hunting to Annesley Hall and brought up the young Colonel Rolleston after his father died. More information about that here
20. The famous Bleasby fox covert also gets a mention in a history of the village written by the Rev Henry L Williams in 1897 "Bleasby and its history"...  "No account of Bleasby would be complete without some mention of the famous Fox Cover—Bleasby Gorse—which in the view of some people is the justification of the existence of the place. Shortly after the Railway was made a new cover was established on Goverton Hill which still maintains its old reputation. The Hazleford Ferry Steeplechase Course, in connection with Lord Harrington's Hounds brings large crowds into the village. There is (I consider) a strong feeling of love to their parish amongst the inhabitants of the village, and a disposition to consider this one of the pleasantest spots in the country. The lanes and hedges are well kept, and in their season violets abound.".

Horseman…


Such was Rolleston's admiration for his horses that they were sometimes included in family wedding photos. Imagine the typical wedding picture composition with bride, groom and both sides of the family and there, off to the side posing proudly, is the Colonel with his favourite white horse! 

As an example of his enthusiastic horsemanship, he recalled in his Reminiscences that one morning in 1877 he set off on his horse and rode to see his cousins George and William at Maltby Hall in Yorkshire. He went up through Brooksbreasting and followed all the old bridleways up to Maltby, visited and rode back again. When he stood for MP of Mansfield in 1886 people recall that he rode to nearly all his hustings meetings there on horseback. He also rode in a few steeplechases and bred horses for stud at Wellow Hall near Mansfield. This is from the "Stallions" section of The Sportsman newspaper on Feb 12, 1902... 

"TO SERVE MARES THIS SEASON - "WELCOME", Bay Horse (1892), the property of and bred by L. Rolleston, Esq., Wellow Hall, Newark. "Welcome" is a beautiful bay horse, with great power and quality, standing 15 hds 2 1/2 in. on short legs. He has a beautiful temper, is a sure foal getter, and his stock are most promising. He is probably the best representative of famous hunting and steeple-chasing blood at the stud. He was got by Ellesmere out of Bertred, by Lamlash out of Miss Honiton (dam of Zoedone, Rufus and St.Galmier - Zoedone won the Grand National). Ellesmere was a noted hunter and sire of hunters. He was by New Oswestry, dam by Glenaloer, grandson by The Steamer, great grandson by The Emporer. New Oswestry and The Steamer were noted hunter sires in Shropshire. Bertred won two steeplechases, and carried Mr. Rolleston nine seasons. Fee 20 guineas [and usually 1 guinea to the groom]. Apply, Mr H Richards, Wellow Hall. Newark." 

Another classic chase - The Billesdon Coplow Run, Leicestershire in Feb 1800
by Charles Loraine Smith (1751–1835)

He was made Master of the South Notts. Hunt in 1876 and remained in that position for six seasons until 1882. During his Mastership he had built a new kennels for the Hunt at Gedling, but kept his own pack at Bulwell Hall at first then later at Rufford Abbey. Although money was still short, he made a donation to the county pack of £100 whereas Mr. Holden of Nuthall Temple only gave £5. 

After 1882 the Mastership of the South Notts. Hunt was taken over by the 8th Earl of Harrington, under whom it continued until 1917, and in 1889 Lancelot Rolleston became Master of the Rufford hounds until 1900. Watnall Hall became crammed with souvenirs of the chase - deer, fox and boars heads. He even went to hunt reindeer in Norway. Some of the reindeer heads were later on display in the Hall. He sometimes used to hunt in the woodlands around Watnall with Earl Cowper (pronounced Cooper) who owned most of Watnall. The staff of Watnall Hall recall the great hunting parties that were held there. They were great friends, but more often he indulged his sport in the Rufford area of the County. It must have been for the above reason that his love of hunting made him move to the Dukeries. Although retaining Watnall Hall as his "seat", he seems to have either bought or, more likely, leased another property about two miles from Edwinstowe, 

He was obviously well respected by his hunting companions. Mr. Leonard Jacks visiting Watnall Hall around 1881 notes that... 

“On a small table, embedded in velvet, there is the hunting horn, which was presented to Mr. Rolleston, a year or two ago, as master of the South Nottinghamshire hounds, by the followers of the hunt—a token, no less of their admiration of the master’s conduct in the field, than of their appreciation of his geniality and uniform courtesy. This responsible and trying post— for even fox-hunting has its trials and responsibilities, Mr. Lancelot Rolleston accepted, on the resignation of Mr. Chaworth Musters, a few years ago, and hunting men say that the country has never furnished better sport under any previous master.”

The hunting horn is still in the hands of his descendants, the Scott-Dalgleish family. 
The move to the Rufford Hounds was a very prestigious one and it took the Rollestons into the heart of the aristocratic Dukeries life. There are 2 more articles about that phase of their life and the gusto with which they took up the new challenge. His wife Lady Maud in particular sems to have loved the society balls and soirees and she was responsible for bringing back into use the famous subterranean ballroom at Welbeck Abbey for the Rufford Hunt ball...

The Rolleston's first subterranean ball at Welbeck Abbey

Grand dinner honouring Major Rolleston as he vacates Watnall Hall for Rufford in 1889


His entire hunting career starting at school and through University was written about in the Mansfield Reporter...

Mansfield Reporter - Friday 05 December 1890

THE RUFFORD HOUNDS. Mn. LANCELOT Rolleston had gained much reputation among gentlemen huntsmen long before he essayed to carry the horn with the Rufford. In very early says " Plantagenet " in Land and Water, day he started a pack of foot beagles at Wellington College, and hunted them, in defiance of scholastic discipline, with Mr. Moray Brown as his whipper-in. At Oxford he varied the monotony of classic studies by accepting the mastership of the Christchurch Beagles, and there many of the qualities that have since distinguished him were developed. Years afterwards, when the South Notts. county was vacant, he did not hesitate to accept office or to undertake hunting the hounds in person, though heavily handicapped by the fact that nearly every member of that hunt was ready to condemn anything that seemed like a departure from the methods practiced by Mr. Chaworth Musters, whose memory was still green among them all, and who was in their esteem; placed high above all contemporaries as the model of what a huntsman should be. Mr. Rolleston passed this trying ordeal successfully, and not only showed great sport in the field, but maintained in every characteristic the standard of hound excellence for which Mr. Musters pack was famous. His registration of the South Notts. Mastership in 1881 was regretted by many outside the limits of that hunt, and for several seasons the omission of his name from the M.F.H. list was regarded as a distinct loss to foxhunting. The lamentable sudden death of Mr. Harvey Bayly, however, placed the Rufford in a difficulty, which Mr. Rolleston solved by accepting the Mastership, and so long as he continues to hold that office he may be trusted to uphold all its highest traditions. Chroniclers do not record with trustworthy exactness the date at which the Rufford Hunt began an independent existence. We only know that iu the distant past its history was identical with that of the Grove, at first under the Earls of Lincoln, and then under various branches of the Lumley and Savile families, represented by four Earls of Scarborough and by two Squires Foljambe. About the time when Richard, sixth Earl of Scarborough, parted with his hounds to Mr. George Basile Foljambe, lie is known to have reserved part of the country formerly hunted by him and hie ancestors. That would fix 1822 as the year from which Rufford dates its existence as an independent establishment. The Earl continued to hunt the country until his death in 1832, when John, the seventh earl and a prebendary of York, seems to have resumed the responsibility of Mastership at Raiford, as an heirloom inalienable from the title to which lie succeeded. At all events, we find it recorded that not until his death, through an accident in the hunting field three years later, did the hounds pass from the Scarborough family into Lord Henry Bentinck's hands. This celebrity hunted the Raiford for seven years before he migrated to Lincolnshire, and assumed Mastership of the Burton, with which his name is more familiarly associated. Of the hounds he left behind him then nothing is known, but at any rate it is safe to say that none of the blood now exists, unless it has come back through descendants of Lord Henry Bentinck's Burton pack, which he founded mainly on purchases from Mr. Foljambe at the famous Grove sale of 1845. The modern history of Rufford begins with Captain Percy Williams, who took the Mastership in 1842 as lend Henry Bentinck's successor, and held it with increasing lustre almost to the day of his death. Nearly all the great hound lines that had been bred from generation to generation with great care by Captain Williams were scattered in 1872, when, at the end of Mr. Harvey Bayley's first term of Mastership, the pack was sold. By great patience, however, many of the old strains have been brought back since then, engrafted afresh on what remained of the original stock, and now they seem to flourish in undiminished strength. THE RUFFORD HOUNDS. Each day at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6th Elmslez_Lodge.

Mansfield Reporter - Friday 26 April 1889
RUFFORD HUNT STEEPLECHASES. Stewards : The Duke of Portland. the Marquis of Hartington, the Earl of Harrington, Viscount Newark, Mr. A. Barnes. M.P.. Mr. J. B Barrow. Mr. Lancelot Rolleston. Colonel Welfitt. and Mr. W. Wilson. Starter: Mr. W. Vaughan Radford. Judge: Mr. R. M. E. W. Dodsley. lion. Secretary : 31 r. J. Middleton. Clerk of the Scales : Mr. J. W. Gregory WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24ra. This popular meeting always arouses • good deal of interest, and Wednesday's gathering was quite as numerously attended as the others that have pre. ceded it, though in some respects it probably was not quite so successful, as better fields have been seen, in at least two of the events, on former occasions. Nevertheless the sport was of an interesting character, and was enjoyed by the numerous company. Perhaps there was not such an influential attendance as usual, but the carriage enclosure was pretty fall, and amongst those present were Lord and Lady Harrington, Major and Lady Rolleston, Capt. Otter, Mr. A. Barnes, M.P., and party, Mr. C. H. Seely and party, Mr. J. B. Barrow and party, Mr. Hubbersty and party, Capt. Sherbrooke and party, Mr. Wilson, Capt. Tomlinson, Mrs. Fitzherbert and part•. Mr. Starkey (Norwood) and party, Mr. Jackson (Ashover) and party, Mr. Markham (Tapton) and party, Mr. J. W. Sharp, Mr. E. R. Leacroft, Mr. E. A. J. Maynard, Mr. R. DIodsley, Mr. V. H. Radford, Mr. J. W. Gregory, Mr. T. P. Wood (Chesterfield). Mr. W. Bryan, Mr. Young, &c. The general attendance was quite as large as usual, Sheffield. Nottingham, Mansfield, and Chesterfield contributing strong detachments. Before racing commenced an interesting ceremony took place—interesting, that is, to the members of the Rufford Hunt, and very pleasant to Sam Hayes, the popular huntsman, who after 15 years' service, eight of which have been passed as huntsman. is leaving to take the position of huntsman to the Atherstone, with which Hunt he has previously been associated. The presentation of a watch and chain was made to Hayes on behalf of the members of the Hunt, and the occasion lost but little of its importance through the unavoidable absence of Earl Manvers, who had been expected to make the presentation. The watch and chain, beautiful specimens of chronometrical and goldsmiths' work (by Dent, of London), will be shortly supplemented by a painting of Hayes on a favourite hunter, with counterfeit presentments of two couple of the best•known bounds in the pack. Hayes's connection with the Raiford is being severed on account of the new Master, Major Rolleston, hunting the hounds himself. The Rufford Steeplechase course is circular in form, including both arable and pasture land, with several stiff jumps. There is an awkward "double" at the top of a hill where a lane is crossed, and on descending the hill a natural brook has to be cleared, with a hedge on the landing side. Turning again tothe proceedings, the weather fortunately, though threatening, remained tine, but in consequence of the recent rain the going was somewhat heavy. The programme, as usual, embraced five events, and opened with the Thoresby Cup, for which five starters appeared. Mr. Ludlow's Lincoln, a previous winner over the Rufford course, was installed the favourite. and of the others Peter and Gameboy were also well backed, the last-named having, it will be remembered, recently won at the Loughborough meeting. He again ran well to-day, and beat the favourite after an interesting race. Out of an entry of six for the Hardwick Plate, three faced the starter, Irving Bishop, owned by Captain St. Lawrence, being so strongly fancied that he started an odds on chance. The race resulted in a series of fiascoes, as all three refused at the first obstacle, and Cover Point and Bloette also at the water. The favourite went away with a long lead, but when Cover Point was once set fairly going he made up • lot of lost ground, and in the end an exciting finish resulted in Irving Biabop winning by about a length. The veteran Comet followed up his previous successes at Heath by easily securing the Redford Hunt Cup, after making all the running; and the next event, the Welbeck Cup. given by the Duke of Portland, attracted much more interest. Six turned out, amongst them being Alex, who a few days ago won the point-to-point race in connection with the South Notts. Hunt. There was a good deal of speculation, and Alex left off favourite, whilst Rajah and Tidy were the best supported of the others. Backers were once more fortunate, as the favourite won comfortably at the finish, though only by a length, and he had as his nearest attendant Dick, the outsider of the party, who was ridden by his owner, Mr. Wilson, while Lord Harrington's representative finished a respectable third. The largest field of the afternoon turned out in the concluding event, the Derbyshire Cap, and Mr. Shaw's Vera Clifton was selected as having the best chance, while Gameboy, on the strength of his previous forward running, and Rhymney had also a strong following. The finish was confined to the three horses most supported, and after au interesting race the favourite, who was well ridden by Mr. Roden, won by a length from Rhymney. The proceedings concluded in good time, and the whole of the arrangements were, as usual, satisfactorily carried out by the various officials.



Notes

1 - Henry Sherbrooke of Oxton Hall by Leonard Jacks  in 1881 http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/Jacks1881/oxton.htm. Lina Chaworth-Musters the author of the poem was a Sherbrook from Oxton Hall. Henry was her brother.

2 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stanhope,_8th_Earl_of_Harrington

The Fox Hunting Earls of Harrington.
Although not the most popular of subjects today & a 'sport' which is deemed by many as cruel and unnecessary, it has been a popular pastime of the landed gentry & country people for the last several hundred years. Originating in Britain in the 16th Century in a bid to keep down vermin on farm land by using packs of dogs, in the 17th & 18th Centuries it developed into a sport as a result of the declining deer population & the sport of deer hunting that had gone on before. Foxes became the prey of choice with packs of hounds being trained specifically to hunt.
Several of the Earls were keen huntsmen, and it was said that the Earl's of Harrington's hunt during the time of the 8th Earl once held the distinction of being the largest pack in Britain & that the Earl himself was said to be a fine judge of horse & hound who possessed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the vast territory he hunted six days a week.
Following on from Charles Augustus, the 8th Earl, his successor Dudley Henry Eden Stanhope,9th Earl of Harrington or 'Old Whiskers' as he was affectionately called, was also a keen huntsman, as was Charles Joseph Leicester Stanhope, the 10th Earl. However in his case tragedy was to strike when in 1929 after being Earl for just two years he died as a result of falling from his horse while jumping a five barred gate.
Photographs -:
1) 'Old Whiskers' Dudley Henry Eden Stanhope (1859-1928) pictured outside Elvaston Castle with members of the hunt.
2) Hounds in the inner courtyard of the castle ( date not known)
3) Charles Joseph Leicester Stanhope 10th earl of Harrington (in foreground)



8th Earl of Harrington was also an accomplished polo player and invented papier mache goal posts!


The following article brings together the Rollestons, Musters and Harringtons...

JAN 1910 THE POLO MONTHLY
NOTABLE FOX HUNTERS IV. The Earl of Harrington, M .F.H.

NO branches of field sport dovetail more happily than hunting and polo. There is an affinity between the two which appeals very strongly to horsemen, and all polo players, with yery few exceptions, are riders to hounds as well. The Earl of Harrington's career is an example of how much genuine enjoyment can he derived from hunting in the winter and polo during the summer months. He is in the saddle practically all the year round, and even before the time arrives each spring to lay aside the horn for another season, he is usually busy preparing his handy ponies for the polo months.
I do not think I shall be challenged if I describe Lord Harrington as the doyen of modern polo players, and I shall be equally free from contradiction in expressing the opinion that there are few, if any, more popular Masters of foxhounds throughout the kingdom. Twenty-eight years have elapsed since he took oyer the command of the foxhounds in South Nottinghamshire which bear his name, and his lordship, even in the present season, is still acting as his own huntsman, going out five and sometimes six days a week from September to April. There are, of course, Masters of hounds who haye exceeded by many years Lord Harrington's term in office, but exceedingly few have been huntsmen of their own packs for so many
years together. More, Lord Harrington is still as active and as enthusiastic upon the sport as ever he was, so there is happily every possibility that he will continue in the office he unquestionably adorns for a good many seasons to come.
That, at least, is the hope of the hunting people of South Nottinghamshire . They owe a deep debt of gratitude to their Master for his disinterested and never-tiring efforts to provide sport for the greater part of three decades. He has kept the flag of foxhunting flying in a county where the sport did not always flourish . Between the years 1835 and 1845 what is now known as Lord Harrington's country was without a settled pack of its own . Nowadays the sport is as firmly established here as in any corner of the kingdom, and we are never likely in our time to see any cessation of foxhunting in South Notts . It is characteristic of the energy of the man that he increased the size of his country—and consequently the amount of his work—to a large ex-tent a few years ago . By an arrangement with Captain Frank Forester and the Quorn Hunt Committee he took over a large slice
of the Quorn country . This is known as the Charnwood Forest side,and extends from Loughborough to Leicester. In these days of motor-cars the problem of getting to far-off meets is not nearly so pronounced as it was in the old days, and Lord Harrington is enabled comfortably to coyer distances which would have been almost out of the question at the time when the covert hack was relied upon for getting to and from home . There is a distance of seventeen miles between Elyaston Castle and the Hunt kennels, and that used to mean many tiring journeys during the week, but Lord Harrington neyer made a trouble of it. The early history of the Harrington Hunt is much interwoven with the career of the three Messrs Musters.
Mr John Musters, the first of the family who is known to hunting fame, was practically the founder of the Hunt, whose Mastership he held from 1775 to 1805, and later in the pack's career came his son, Mr John Chaworth Musters, of whom " The Druid " spoke as " the undisputed king of gentlemen huntsmen . " Lord Henry Bentinck also set on record the exceptional brilliance with hounds of this Mr Musters. He was a naturally born huntsman, and the same may be said of his son, also named John Chaworth Musters, and the last of the three great M.F.H.'s of this family. He reyived the Hunt in 1860, and carried on its Mastership for eight seasons ere going to lead the Quorn. Only two seasons, howeyer, did the third Mr Musters remain in Leicestershire, and in 1871 he commenced a second term of Mastership in South Notts. One critic says of him " he had but to speak and hounds flew to him, and he could place them as he liked . " In knowledge of pedigrees and in judgement of type and style he was quite incomparable. In the field Mr Musters was " without a rival, " which I confess is a little difficult to realize in view of his immense weight, nearly eighteen stone. He could always " somehow or other " live with hounds. After him came Mr P. H. Cooper and Mr Lancelot Rolleston in joint Mastership for five seasons, and the last-named became sole Master in 1881.
A season later Lord Harrington bought the hounds from Mr Rolleston,and began his extremely successful official connexion with the Hunt. So keen a sportsman was undoubtedly the right man to fill a place preyiously occupied by Squire Osbaldeston, by the various members of the Musters family, and by Lord Middleton. He has maintained the high quality of the hounds. In breeding it has been his constant policy to go to the best working sorts, and the Meynell kennel has been often called upon . It was recently written of him that he has done more for Nottinghamshire in the last quarter of a century than anyone else. He has certainly set a great example to others in connexion with foxhunting.
A pioneer of polo, the Earl of Harrington soon won distinction in the galloping game. He was born in 1844, and was a spectator at Lillie Bridge of one of the first polo matches ever played in this country. The possibilities of the game appealed to him, but he did not take an active part in it until he went to Malta in 1875 ; polo was then growing into popularity there, and Lord Harrington easily acquired its rudiments. From Malta he brought home some good polo ponies, one of them, Awfully Jolly, making a great name in this country.His lordship soon took his place among the best players in England, and played on several occasions in the final for the Champion Cup, being in the Sussex County team which won the trophy
in 1892. In most of the other important tournaments he played a conspicuous part, and until comparatively recent years he was quite in the front rank, holding his own with such early giants of the game as the brothers Peat, Mr F . B. Mildmay, the late Mr John Watson, Mr Murietta and others. Lord Harrington was responsible for several of the improvements which haye been introduced in the game ; for instance, it was his suggestion which led to the general use of papier mache goal posts instead of the heavy posts which were employed when the game first began to take a hold in this country. After all these years nobody is keener about polo than Lord Harrington, and it grieved him very much when he had to stand down for the greater part of last season owing to an unfortunate injury to a knee, which prevented him from riding for several months . It is satisfactory to know that he has made a good recoyery from that injury, and all being well he will be seen once again at Hurlingham, Ranelagh
and Roehampton during the season of 1910. I know no man quite so clever as he is in Gymkhanas and military sports. The number of successes in this direction which he has won must be almost a record. Seldom he enters without carrying off one or more of the principal prizes. In addition to his own fine horsemanship and quickness, his ponies are trained to remarkable cleverness, and the combination has more than once proved irresistible . Lord Harrington has been a keen Yeomanry officer, and three years ago was presented with a handsome silyer equestrian statuette which bore the following inscription : "Presented to the Earl of Harrington by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Earl of Chester's Imperial Yeomanry on the termination of his command after forty years' service in the regiment. 1866-1905. "
In addition to hunting and polo the Earl of Harrington has enjoyed a good deal of yachting ; he has usually preferred small yessels,and he is a master in the art of sailing his own craft . He is a picturesque figure who, it is to be hoped, will long lead the field oyer a country and take an active part in polo. Charles Augustus Stanhope, eighth Earl, succeeded to the title in 1881, and in 1869 married the Hon.Eva Elizabeth Carrington, daughter of the second Lord Carrington,who is a keen sportswoman, and often goes out with the Harrington Hounds. 
A .W.C." 



3 - Thoroton Society and Lina Chaworth-Musters

Lina was one of the founders of the Thoroton Society , whose indexed searchable archives are currently being put online here 
Lina's Chaworth family history is here

4-  An older hunting poem that mentions Watnall Hall is by Francis Noel Clarke Mundy 1739-1815
Quoted from his poems Needwood Forest and the Fall of Needwood, With Other Poems...

The Papplewick Coursing, from Watnall
My master Noon and Marton 'Squire
Left Rolleston's comfortable fire,
After good eating, drinking, sleeping,
(Upon my word there's brave housekeeping.)
Spite of rough roads and eastern fogs,
To try the stoutness of their dogs;
They ride, they shout; you'd think it thunder'd;
Then damn their bloods and bet five hundred.
See how the Rev. sets up his shoulder!
Down a steep hill there's no man bolder.
Ah! far fam'd Belle! and is it thy lot
To be outstripp'd by hook-nosed Pilot?
And thine from Phillis, high-bred Pet,
A piteous belly-full to get.
See, Ashby winks, — Sir Robert smiles,
Yet, sure enough, they ran four miles.
Look at the 'Squire! since I was born,
I ne'er saw visage so forlorn;
His chin, when Pet could scarcely waddle,
Dropp'd to the pummel of his saddle,
He snapp'd his man; abus'd his pack;
(Indeed I'd never take them back);
Crept from the shame of the comparison;
And laid the fault on poor Jack Harrison;
While full of pedigree and blood,
Stables would screen 'em, if he could.

How the proud countenance of Noon
Glows, spreads and brightens like the moon!
They who ne'er saw his face before, Sir,
Might swear he was a desperate courser;
Go, happy man, on Sherwood reckon'd
No less than Robin Hood the Second;
Go, but first breathe thyself and mare;
(I never saw a puffier pair)
Go to Winstanley and to Farnham;
('Gainst unbelief I beg to warn 'em)
Go, and henceforth unanswer'd brag
Of the mixt blood of thee and Blag;
Go, but first take the yielded laurel,
To crown the May-pole at Mountsorrel.

NB 
The Rev is C. Holden.
Blag.] A great Courser in the Vale of Belvoir.
Mountsorrel.] Where Mr. NooN then lived, and where there is always a very conspicuous May-pole.

Analysis (ai): The Papplewick Coursing by Francis Noel Clarke Mundy is a satirical poem that humorously depicts a fox hunt. The poem compares societal standings and manners in a lighthearted way. It is written in an archaic style with a heavy use of punctuation, providing a glimpse into the language and customs of Mundy's time. Compared to his other works, this poem is less emotionally driven and more focused on social commentary.

Rolleston's friend and fellow hunter/magistrate Viscount Galway of Serlby Park, north Notts wrote "A pack of foxhounds" by Galway, Vere Arundel Viscount. First published in 1920 .

How the new steam-powered ploughing techniques affecting foxhunting...
Steam ploughing was not popular with the local fox hunts as it left deeper furrows that were difficult to gallop over. This was no doubt tolerated though as most of the fox hunting gentry owned the tenanted farms benefitting from the new technology including Lancelot Rolleston of Watnall Hall, a keen huntsman. The 1882 book "The Hunting Countries of England" laments the passing of the horse-drawn plough... "Where it used to be thought enough that the mere crust of the sound firm soil should be disturbed, the steam plough now tears through to the depth of a foot and to a difference of pleasure and possibility of riding that may be imagined." 

Mr. Wilson Roberts, of Bewdley, used to go very well over Leicestershire some years ago, in the late Lord Forester's time, and, like his Lordship, generally possessed some good Shropshire horses of the old Snap blood. Colonel Rolleston [L6] also went well over the same country, and particularly on his famous horse Spot.
https://archive.org/details/huntingreminisce00nimr/page/288/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=notts

From "The Hunting Countries of England" 
THE HUNTING  COUNTRIES OF ENGLAND, THEIR  FACILITIES,  CHARACTER,   AND   REQUIREMENTS 
A   GUIDE   TO  HUNTING  MEN. 
By   BROOKSBY. 
Volume  I. PARTS I., II, AND III. 
1882

THE  SOUTH  NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Just north of the more fashionable countries of the Shires comes that of South Notts. On the roll of its history appear many names whose celebrity, confirmed in more notable spheres, was first established here. Mr. John Chaworth (grandfather of the present J. Chaworth-Musters) hunted it in 1805. Mr. Osbaldeston held it about 1810. Lord Middleton (grandfather of the present) had it for some years, and in 1823 presented the country with a pack purchased from Mr. Chaworth for 1000 guineas, and gave them most of the horses besides — Mr. Lancelot Rolleston (father of present master) taking the reins of government. Mr. Dansey hunted it for a few seasons commencing in 1830, and, though no rider, showed excellent sport. The kennels were then at Lowdham. It was afterwards retaken by Mr. Chaworth — or, rather, Chaworth- Musters, as he had then become — who hunted it till 1844; after which the country remained vacant till taken in hand by his grandson, Mr. John Chaworth- Musters of our day. After undergoing a few minor changes, the Hunt is now in the joint hands of Lancelot Rolleston (son of the above) and Mr. P. H. Cooper, who have built the present substantial kennels. 

But apart from its association with names of renown, the South Notts has merits of its own. Certainly, it is not a flying grass country ; it boasts of no resort of fashion ; and attracts few strangers ; while in many parts it has to contend against a teeming manufacturing population ; and some of its best ground is only now in process of being opened up. But it has a strong body of county residents to lean upon ; and it meets with staunch and substantial support from the whole society corporate within the fold of the city of Nottingham. It has good foxes and plenty of them; capital grounds for making hounds, and innumerable excellent walks for rearing its puppies — the last virtue constituting not only a point of .excellence in itself, but a proof that the farmers really love fox-hunting. It is chiefly plough, and the greater part of its area is hilly; but it generally carries a fair scent, and hounds work well over it. 

The position of the South Notts may be described as having the Quorn along its southern edge, the Meynell on the west, the Belvoir on the east, and the Rufford on the north. Its boundaries follow the Trent along the south-west from Belper nearly to Nottingham, and the streams of the Smite and the Devon all up the east. Its other limits are defined by custom rather than by nature, and are correctly set down on the chart; though Mr. Stanford's rendering of the neutral corner of Sherwood Forest (in the north) must not be taken as too strictly accurate — Thieves' Wood, though claimed by the South Notts, being kept exclusively for the Rufford, and Haywood Oaks being also a place of meeting for that pack. Nottingham and Derby may be said to furnish a base to the country, which for practical purposes, again, may be divided thus — 
First, there is the strip of Derbyshire, running up the length of the country between the river Derwent and the coalpit valley of the Erewash, and resembling in character much of the best ground of the Meynell ; secondly, between the valleys of the Erewash and the Leen are the Woods on a soil of loam upon limestone; in a third parallel section is the tract of light sandy ground where once grew the Forest of Sherwood (the name being still retained) ; fourthly, there is the clay of the open Oxton country ; and fifthly, there is the low-lying ground on the south bank of the Trent, known as the Vale. 

Three days and a bye-day being the weekly work for the hounds, Monday is allotted to the Woods, Wednesday to the Oxton country and the Forest, Friday to the Vale, and Saturday (the extra day) to Derbyshire or to any district that may seem to require a visit. All north of the Trent is more or less hilly; only the southern Vale being flat and unbroken. For a visit to the South Notts, Nottingham is the most central quarter; though Derby, too, commands one side of the country, and has the Meynell besides. Each is about three hours from London (St. Pancras or King^s Cross for either) ; and the travelling sportsman might well take his horses on to either place, after having tasted the sweets of the chase from Leicester en passant. With the completion of the railways in progress (promised at a very early date) Nottingham will find itself within distance, by morning train_, of all that Melton commands,, and will on any day be able to join in with the Quorn, the Belvoir, and the Cottesmore on their best ground. That foxhunting is popular in Nottinghamshire is apparent enough at the covertside — where, perhaps, as large fields assemble as in any Hunt which does not resent the application of the term "Provincial." 
This popularity extends in a rather embarrassing degree to the countless hordes of workmen whose hands produce the wealth of Nottinghamshire. The sound of the horn, or the barest chance of hearing its music, has a magic effect on these good people ; and coal and iron and cotton hose may look after themselves whenever hounds are in the district — one and all of these "merrie men" leaping forth as gaily to the note as ever did bold Robin's followers in these same jolly green woods. Thus to draw coverts in the neighbourhood of where tall chimneys grow thickest, it is often necessary to make a descent from far away, and take these sportsmen unawares. 

Kennels have been lately built at Gedling, where there is a station on the Great Northern Railway, and which is as nearly as possible the centre of the country. Mr. John Chaworth-Musters used to keep them till about Christmas at Annesley, and afterwards at Wiverton. It is a curious little coincidence that the present masters of the three Nottinghamshire packs, the South Notts, the Rufford and the Grove were all initiated in their calling through the medium of carrying the horn at Oxford with the Christ Church Harriers. 

You may see a good deal of sport in the South Notts country on a second-class horse; but as elsewhere you will never see the best of it well on a bad one. The hills are severe ; the woods are deep ; the Oxton district is heavy, and so is the Vale. The latter is strongly fenced ; but, curiously, more falls are got on the sand of the Forest than anywhere else. For, as on other light wold, hounds travel at a great pace over it when the soil is moist. It has the reputation of bearing only easy fences — which are disregarded accordingly. But these fences grow stronger yearly ; and, treated thus lightly, are apt to retaliate by turning over the rash sportsman, who, forgetful of the pace, has been taking liberties with them, and with his horse. 

Taking the days of hunting in detail^ we have Monday in the Woodlands — a series of large woods commencing beyond Annesley in the north, and covering an area so large that it is very difficult indeed to drive a fox right away from them. They are separated from each other only by strips of grassland; and a fox, by moving from one to the other, finds scope enough to keep hounds at a distance, till his circle is narrowed and he is too tired to go. They are much broken by hill and dale ; but within their rides are deep and wet. The Annesley Woods, belonging to Mr. Musters, run into those of Lord Cowper and Mr. Rolleston — the whole being in consequence more often denominated collectively the Annesley Woodlands. They are great strong coverts, full of foxes — the largest wood being that of High Park, which is a hundred and fifty acres in one piece. Then there are Park Springs, Morning Springs, William Wood, and Annesley Forest Plantations ; the last being an extraordinary fastness^ covering, in all, as much as two hundred acres with gorse and young trees — and requiring toil and perseverance in drawing. The meets for these woodlands are Linby Cross, Linby Windmill, Annesley Park, and Lodge Farm — Annesley. The best chance of a run from the Annesley Woodlands is for a fox to take across to Watnall (some three miles of open), or to round that place and keep on to Wollaton — either line being fairly good, and presenting a course of light plough and nice fences. Moving southwards, we find the area of the woods narrowing about Nuthall and Strelley — both in extent and capacity. 

Lord Middleton's woods at Wollaton are fine coverts, and the prospects of sport promise well — great efforts towards a supply of foxes having been set on foot. Their proximity to Nottingham, however, renders it impossible to hold a meet in the immediate neighbourhood — and it is customary to work southwards from the Annesley Woods in an afternoon. 

Wednesday taking the Sherwood Forest and Oxton side, brings us into two distinct varieties of country — the former being a thorough wold, generally hard on the surface, and never deep, even in the wettest weather — the latter all clay land, of which a certain amount is allowed to carry grass. On the whole, the Wednesday country is considered the most reliable district for sport. It holds a good scent (varying according to soil and degree of rain, in addition to the ordinary wide mutabilities of "the phenomenon") ; 

its coverts are of reasonable size ; and its fences are good and fair — while across tlie Forest you may gallop as freely as on old turf. As regards fences, it should be noted that throughout the South Notts territory they are all of a plain and simple nature, and to be taken at a fly. Oxton itself is the great centre point of this district, and is the property of Mr. Henry Sherbrooke — one of the best and oldest supporters of the Hunt. His coverts are Epperstone Park (a strong and very holding wood), Oxton Bottoms (a long bed of swamp and reeds), and Graves Lane, a wood which is held as neutral with the Rufford. Meeting at Gronalston and Lowdham, hounds get on to Mr. Francklin's property, to draw Thistley Coppice, Bleasby Gorse (one of the best coverts of the South Notts), Hallaughton Gorse and Wood — the Wood being neutral with the Rufford. Thurgarton Priory, by the death of whose proprietor, Mr. Milward, the Hunt has lately lost one of its most valued members, is a meet for the same coverts. Woodborough is the fixture nearest to the Kennels : and from it they have Mr. Heymann^s good Gorse, Ploughman Wood, Bulcote Wood, and Gedling Wood, and Mr. Howett has planted a new gorse on his stud-farm in this neighbourhood. Heymann's Gorse is a most favourite draw. It has round it a considerable extent of grass, with strong fences. It always holds a fox, and generally gives a run. On the site of the old Forest, Sherwood Lodge is advertised for Mr. Seeley's coverts — Cockliffe Hill Gorse (another good place) Ramsdale Gorse, and the plantations round the House. Bestwood is the property of the Duke of St. Albans^ and lias large coverts round ttie Park^ for which, foxes appear to evince no great fondness — and the same may be said of Papplewick. Newstead Abbey, (formerly the residence of Lord Byron) however, has generally a fox or two in Mr. Webb^s coverts. 

On Fridays the South Notts are in the Vale, i.e, south of the Trent; where there is much heavy plough; interspersed, however, with patches of good grass. It is not a good scenting district ; and, though bordering on some of the best of the Belvoir country, foxes have not of late years travelled in that direction as often as might be wished. The abundance of material for riot is another objection, as interfering considerably with the work of hounds. Nearest to Nottingham is the meet of Eatcliffe-on-Trent, from which they have Edwalton Hill (consisting of wood, thorns, and gorse), Bridgeford Gorse (both of these belonging to Mr. Musters), Tollerton, with its two little woods ; Cotgrave Gorse, Mr. E. Smithes Gorse (the same good sportsman also owned Harlequin Gorse, from which Mr. Musters had his great run about 1872) Marshall's Hill, and Blackbery Hill (the latter the property of Lord Manvers). Colston Basset, the seat of Mr. Knowles, has its Gorse, together with a newer one called Blanche's Gorse — from either of which a nice gallop into the Duke's country may be hoped for. A line by Key Wood (Mr. Knowles's property in Belvoir territory) and thence into the Hickling parish would in this case be the desideratum. From Colston Basset hounds would draw on to Cropwell Hoe Hill, also Mr. Musters's — whose place at Wiverton is the next meet. His coverts here are Smite Hill Gorse (neutral with the Bel voir) _, Langar Lane End (strong thorn and gorse), the Moats, and the new plantation near the House ; also Cropwell Hoe Hill_, and Cropwell Lings nearer to Bingham. East of the ISTottingham-and- Grantham Road is the estate of Lord Carnarvon_, which extends to Shelford, but contains no coverts of any importance — foxes bearing scarcely their fair proportion to hares and other game. From here the south bank of the Trent - in some places a considerable height above the river - forms a narrow and almost continuous strip of covert nearly to Newark, and is a very difficult piece to draw, hounds having scarcely foothold. Meanwhile, the field riding above have the advantage of a beautiful and extensive view over the landscape north of the river. After Shelford comes East Bridgeford, where Mr. H. Martin keeps up the memory of his friend, the old ^' Jack Musters,^^ by steadfast care of the foxes. On the Flintham estate (Mr. Hildyard's) there is generally a litter or two — his coverts being the Barley- holme, Coronation Covert, and a portion of the Trent bank. At Hawkesworth, close to the Coronation Covert, are a couple of small and useful spinnies. South-east of these is Sibthorpe Gorse, on the property of the Duke of Portland — ten strong acres of gorse and thorns, and close to Shelton, where lives the Rev. Banks Wright, in sight of whose blue leathers we have often been only too glad to live through a gallop. Mr. Eillingham^s estate at Syerston has small coverts and an artificial earth which is often occupied. Stoke owns occasionally ; and between here and Newark remains little but a few osier beds, and the presence of a keen fox preserver in the person of Mr. Ripon Brockton. 

With good foxes and a good scent the Vale should be the best part of the South Notts country; but foxes have not run with vigour of late seasons hereabouts. Chances of sport will improve much when the neighbouring coverts of the Quorn and Belvoir are once more occupied with old seasoned foxes. Turning, in conclusion, to the strip of Derbyshire that runs up the west of the South Notts country, and which is always visited on a Saturday, we again find ourselves on a different description of ground. Small grass inclosures and pleasant flying fences give to this part quite a Meynell type. It is only during the last few years that all this territory has been reopened for foxhunting ; but, the ice having once been broken, it would appear as if all antagonism were happily melting away. For their work here hounds are brought by train from Gedling to West Hallam or Breadsall — from either of which stations all the coverts can be reached, and which are, consequently, usually named as the meets. From West Hallam they draw Lady Wood, the property of Col. Newdigate (in whom the Hunt has a good supporter), Shipley (a covert of some extent), Hopwell (where Mr. E. Pares is throwing all his energy into resuscitating his share of this Derbyshire district), and the Dale Plantations. Locko has hitherto been withheld from the Hunt by the present owner. From Breadsall they work Horsley Carr (a splendid fastness — being a large valley of rough natural covert). Cloves Wood, and Hays Wood (all three belongings to Mr. E. Sitwell — one of the mainstays of the South Notts in this part) ; and they have also Coxbench Wood and Chaddesden Wood. 

Right in the north of the Derbyshire province the Hunt have a small covert of Mr. Jessop^s_, and Bloomer Wood (a fine wild covert of the Duke of Portland's). From these a fox will occasionally run across to the Annesley Woods), or he may even strike upwards to the Derbyshire Hills. Mr. Musters has also planted a gorse near here. Other coverts hereabouts are Brook Hill Gorse (Mr. Coke's), Langton, and Newton Wood (Lord Hartington's good covert) — the meet for these being Middlebrook Bridge, on Selston Common, whence the choice offers of drawing- the above or turning to the Annesley Woods. 

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