The Country
The boundaries of the country are easily described. On the south and east it runs down to the sea; on the north-west it is joined by the Tickham. the country extends from north to south for eighteen miles and from east to west for twenty-four. Half of it or thereabouts is plough and woodland, and the remainder grass or downland. Prior to the war, grass was increasing to a very considerable extent, corn growing not being a very profitable enterprise, even in the “garden of England.” Really the East Kent country covers the whole of the south-east cornet of England, a line from Whitstable in the north to Ashford in the south being the extreme western boundary. the Military Canal at Hythe is practically the southern boundary, for there it joins Romney Marsh, which is only huntable by Harriers. Ashford is the centre of a fine grass vale and is the pick of the country. A great proportion of the country is rather cold plough, rather highly situated and with very thick and large woodlands plentifully interspersed. On the higher ground large, unfenced fields of arable land prevail, especially between Canterbury, Sandwich and Deal, where a good deal of the uplands is quite of the wold type. Many of the valleys are only a comparativelynarrow strip of meadow land with stiffish wattle hedges separating the fields and no sooner has the sportsman descended one hill than he has another to rise, a kind of country that makes great calls upon the stamina of the horse, and it may be added, tries the endurance of a man not a little.
The fences in these valleys, too, stake and bound principally, though of a negotiable character, are sufficiently formidable, and some of the stiles out of the woods take a bold man and a good bold horse to get over them with credit. There is also a fair sprinkling of grass about Acrise and Reindean. There is a little timber in the country and here and there a ditch or small brook. The best centres are Canterbury, whence the West Kent and Tickham are reachable, Dover and Folkestone. One feature of the country, or rather of the hunt, must not be omitted. It may be called a soldier’s hunt, for the military centres of Canterbury, Dover and Shorncliffe are all within easy reach of the country and so the fixtures are attended by large numbers of hard riding officers. For whatever the country is like the English officer must hunt. Rough it may be - what of that - he “joins the glad throng that goes laughing along” and makes the best of it.
The Horse
What sort of a horse should a man ride with the East Kent? That is a question admits of many answers. You will find one man who will tell you that a short-legged cobby horse will enable you to see all the sport there is to see in the woodlands and in the hills. Others again will tell you that you must have a well-bred horse to live with hounds across the vale, which, I should think, is sufficiently obvious to anyone.
With respect to the short-legged cobby hunter, who will let you see all there is to see in the woods and the hills nine days out of ten, I have a word of criticism to say. I will put it in the form of a question. What of the tenth day? What of that day when a stout fox on his travels makes for his distant home some twelve of fourteen miles off?When hounds go racing across the valley at their best pace, heads up and sterns down, and you are left standing at the top of the hill looking regretfully at the streaming pack, which you wisely do not attempt to follow, knowing the uselessness of such pursuit.
I do not envy you your ride home on your cob, thinking all the while what fun your friends are having in the low country. Depend upon it that it is best to ride a well-bred one, even in hill country. Only see to it that he is near the ground and handy. Personally I think from fifteen hands two and half inches to fifteen hands three and a half inches is the best height for such country as the East Kent, and for choice I should take a horse between the two extremes.
History
That the East Kent country was hunted well back in the eighteenth century is an undoubted fact, and that it was a regularly established hunt in the eighteenth century is also pretty certain, but there are no historical facts in connection with its early existence that are known. This is always to be regretted, for early history of every hunt has special interest for the sportsman.
It is not till the nineteenth century was well on the way that there is any historical fact to take hold of the East Kent. In 1814 Sir Henry Oxenden was the Master and his Mastership lasted until 1832, so that he was in office at least fourteen seasons, if not more. He was a man of curious theories about hunting and his pack consisted of spayed bitches, he having an idea that unsexed bitches were better on the line and had more drive than their sisters. there is, I think, nothing to show that Sir Henry Oxenden’s theory is a correct one, but, whether or no, he showed excellent sport during the fourteen years which he hunted the country.
He was succeeded by Lord Fitzwalter and Mr. William Deedes also had something to do with the hunting of the country, but whether it was in partnership with Lord Fitzwalter or on his own account, I am unable to say. I only know that he has hounds under his care at one time. Lord Fitzwalter and he, however they reigned, only held the reins of office for four seasons between them. Their term finished in 1832, when Mr. F. Brockman succeeded them and a long period of prosperity set in.
A better selection for the Mastership could not have been made than Mr Brockman, of Beachborough. A Kent man, he was the son of Mr. James Drake Brockman, and he was a famous sportsman before he carried the horn. The East Kent entered on a halcyon period indeed when he entered into office. The most tactful of men he tackled the game difficulty - and game generally is a difficulty in a hunting country situated within a short distance of a thickly inhabited area - and tackled it so successfully that foxes were found in abundance where hitherto there had only been game. Amongst other things he did, he imported French foxes into the country, a policy which has been criticised by some, but about which I have an open mind. He was very popular with farmers and covert owners, and he was a good sportsman as well as a good Master of hounds. A story is told of him that one September morning he went out cub hunting in breeches and leggings and a
He was succeeded by a man who was quite as popular, Lord Guilford, who hunted the country in princely fashion. he built kennels and stables at Waldershare, at a cost of some £30,000, and he hunted the country four days a week at his own expense. No better sportsman than Lord Guilford ever carried the horn. Mr. Brockman would seem to have passed on his excellent management of the country to his successor as well as his capacity for showing sport. He was very tactful in dealing with the game question, which as I have pointed out was a difficult one.
And so for nine years things went well with the East Kent, and then Lord Guilford resigned and took the Cattistock where, after three seasons excellent sport, he met with a fatal accident in the hunting field, and was mourned by the whole of England.
It should be mentioned that during the forty-seven years in which hounds were in the hands of Mr. Brockman and Lord Guilford, much was done in establishing the pack on a very high-class basis. Lord Guilford especially had a fine knowledge of hounds and hound breeding and wherever he went he made his mark as a breeder.
After Lord Guilford went to Cattistock, there were several short Masterships. First came Mr. F.J. Mackenzie, who got plenty of the worries of office in two seasons, and Mr. W.H. White, who was next in order, got plenty to satisfy him in a single season. Mr White was followed by a good sportsman in Mr. E.R. Sworder, who for eight seasons carried the horn and showed a fair average of sport though the critics said that he showed more to advantage later on in Hertfordshire. Capt. F. Fitzroy succeeded him, but he only held office a single season. he was followed by Mr. C.W. Prescot-Westcar, who carried on for three seasons. On his retirement, Mr. A.B. Worthington hunted the country for a season. Then ensued four seasons under Mr. L.E. Bligh, who retired in 1898 and Mr. Wilfred Baker White held office for a couple of seasons.
In 1900 Mr. H.W. Selby Lowndes came from the Bilsdale country and commenced a Mastership which is still in being. Mr. Selby Lowndes, who had shown excellent sport in the Bilsdale country, and who had done much to establish that country on improved lines, in which he was ably assisted by Mrs. Selby Lowndes, pursued the same policy in the East Kent country that he had done in the north.
He identified himself as much as possible with the everyday life of the people amongst whom he lived and over whose land he hunted. the consequences are far reaching. He has great influence in his neighbourhood and a practical result of this is that he has a good show of foxes and is thus able to show fine sport to those who pay his country - which has its difficulties, as have been pointed out - a visit.
In drawing these historical notes of the Hunt to a close I would point out one important fact. Of the history of the hunt it has been shown nothing was known prior to Sir Henry Oxenden’s Mastership, which commenced in 1814, just 107 years ago. During this period four Masters have ruled for a period of seventy-seven years, or practically for two-thirds of the time which the hunt has been in existence as a modern hunt. How much this means, especially when the Masters were of the type of Mr. Brockman, Lord Guilford and, if I may be permitted to say so, the present Master, it is difficult to say. it means for one thing the establishment of a sound hunting tradition, and how important that is in a country it is impossible to estimate.
There is another peculiarity about the history of the East Kent. From the year 1832, to the present day, a period of eighty-nine seasons, for seventy-one the Master of the time has hunted his own hounds. These periods are apportioned as follows:- Mr. Brockman, thirty-eight seasons; Lord Guilford, nine seasons; Mr. Sworder, eight seasons; and Mr. H.W. Selby Lowndes, twenty-one. It would be rash to say that this is a record, but it is at any rate unique.
A Few Hints
Perhaps the wisest advice that can be given to a hunting man is “Live in the country that you hunt in, and be of it. Enter fully into its everyday life and interests.” In other words, follow the example of the Master as much as possible and make the hunt your home. It may be - very possible it is - impossible for you to do this to the same extent as some can.
You, like the rest of us, have duties to perform and calls upon your time, and it may well be that you have not much leisure to spare over social amenities of the country. But do what you can; as the old Yorkshire proverb has it, you can always “show willing.” And it is astonishing how far a few pleasant words pleasantly spoken, will go.
And here it must be said that lavish entertaining is not meant. It is the kindly little attention, the thoughtful act and the genial manner which is appreciated by the man who lives in a hunting country, who would probably hunt if he could. Don’t forget that, it is an important factor. It is for the good of every hunting country that every man in it should have some interest in horse and hound and the way to bring this about is these little courtesies of everyday life which mean so much and cost so little.
The East Kent country is a famous agricultural district and the farming interest should always be well supported by hunting men. Never more was this necessary than at the present time, when covert and not very honest attacks are made on the agricultural interest for purposes which are not very creditable. Fox-hunting depends on the farmer, and although ninety-nine times out of a hundred the farmer is a good sportsman himself and that his leaning is towards the sports of the field, remember that we, as hunting men, have no right to presume upon that. We should remember what we owe to the farmer, and do all in our power to help forward his industry, and support his shows.
Then again, the East Kent, as I have pointed out above, is a military district. Officers are frequent and keen followers of the pack, and I have known in my time of non-commissioned officers who could hold their own when hounds ran hard and straight, and when a sporting commanding officer sent them out to do a little breaking and training in the hunting field as has happened upon occasion.
Now it may well happen - as a matter of fact it does happen frequently, especially in these days of heavy charges for everything - that many a young officer who has only limited stud, gets far less hunting than he would like or has time for. If, then, you are well-to-do and can afford it, mount a few officers during the season. Remember that barrack life is not very cheery and that these gallant fellows are giving up the best part of their lives for your benefit.
There is one part of the social subject which I touch on with some reluctance. In many countries “Men” - and women too - “hunt now who ne’er did hunt before,” and to them I would say a word, hoping they will take it as it is meant. Let them beware shyness and self-consciousness. There is a shyness which expresses itself in loud self-assertion, which is the worst shyness of all By all means they must avoid that. But if they would be welcomes by the old hands, they must show themselves to be courteous and forbearing and willing and ready to do little kindnesses. An anecdote showing how not to do it may make a fit conclusion. A gentleman was riding from the station to which he had boxed, to meet a famous pack of hounds. On the bridle road to the fixture he overtook one of the lately exalted ones and politely saluted him. The result was a haughty stare. Two or three others came up at the time and they stared. “Why comes this prophet amongst us?” one expected to hear every minute. So the gentleman jogged on till he came to a gate, when, as soon as he had opened it they crowded past him, leaving him to shut it. He jogged past them again, and as he got near the next gate he found they were hurrying up for him to act as lacquey for them. So he just jogged up to the gate and jumped it and like Bunyan’s Pilgrim, he went on his way and saw them no more.WILLIAM SCARTH DIXON.
The Biography of Selby Lowndes
This and linked pages will grow into an archive of material, pictorial, literary and factual about the East Kent Hunt. It is not an official East Kent archive and in no way represents the views, opinions or policies of the Masters.
This first page contains material from the biography of Selby-Lowndes, one of the most famous masters of the EKH, which was published in the 1930s.
The East Kent Hunt 1814 Frederick Brockman Master from 1832 - 1870 Henry W. Selby-Lowndes Mid Kent Staghounds Whipper-Ins 1908
The East Kent Hunt dates back to the eighteenth century although records are lacking prior to Sir Henry Oxenden’s time (1814). Sir Henry hunted a noted pack of spayed bitches for 14 years.
Mr. Frederick Brockman was Master for 38 years. He was credited with creating a fine spirit and encouraging the love of fox-hunting among the farmers, villagers and indeed all classes in East Kent. He was also noted for a wicked sense of humour.
“He asked all his tenants to a rabbit shoot with beagles. He gave them all a drink before they started and put a little jalap into each glass. When they reached the wood, a ladder was provided, and each man made use of it in turn to ascend a tree, there to await the rabbits. The ladder was then removed until some time later, and they were left with no possible means of descent!”
It was during this period that Old Norris was retained.
The painting, by Stephen Pearce was commissioned in April 1866.
Mr. Henry W. Selby-Lowndes was Master of the East Kent Hunt from 1900 until 1930. He took up his post on 1.5.00 and, like Mr Jorrocks, was “desperate anxious to make a start”. His first hunt with the East Kent was a cubbing meeting on 22nd August at Acrise. He took the doghounds out at 4am. His diary states:
“Found a strong litter in Acrise Wood. Scent fair. Bustled round the wood for half an hour and away, having changed on an old fox. A cracker for twenty minutes before we could stop them. Came back to Acrise, but cubs had made themselves scarce. Found in adjoining shave and ran with an improved scent in cover back to Acrise and rattled him sharply for thirty minutes and killed. Satisfactory morning. Young hounds entered well. Home at ten o’clock.”
And so began a career that was to last for thirty years. Future expansion of this site will include more tales of the redoubtable Selby-Lowndes, a man with a reputation for strong views and stronger language. Suffice to say that he was:
“No feather-bed and motor-car Master and during his first cubbing season he had often twelve miles and more to travel to five o’clock fixtures, which necessitated him rising at two o’clock and walking to kennels (two miles) in top boots, to make a start with hounds at three o’clock. Yet after a long morning’s cubbing it was no uncommon thing to find him playing in a village cricket match in the afternoon.”
Selby Lowndes hunted with the Mid Kent Stag Hounds from time to time. The biography recounts tales of astonishing hunts including one that took their quarry from south of Ashford into the sea to the north near Whitstable where the beast was rescued by fishermen. This photograph is taken from the biography of Harry Buckman MFH of the Ashford Valley Hunt.
There are a number of landmarks in the hunt’s history some of which are outlined below:
Selby Lowndes took on the Mastership in 1900 and remained at the reins until 1930. A biography was published in 1926 from the pen of J. Fairfax-Blakeborough. Selby-Lowndes was renowned for his language, which could be colourful at times. He was also famous for an annual “Foot-Followers’ Meet”, held on Easter Monday each year. This was arranged to thank the people of Folkestone and Dover for their support. Hounds met at Capel, between Dover and Folkestone and hunted the Warren below. It was not unusual for 2000 to turn out!
The East Kent has had the benefit of a string of long serving Masters. Reg Older accepted the Mastership in 1967 and continued in that role until 1997. Continuity in the country has allowed a small and divided country to continue to show good sport for 200 years. Richard Blakeney’s position as Huntsman since 1976 has furthered this tradition.