History of the Badsworth & Bramham Moor Hunt
The most Southerly of the Yorkshire Hunts
Above pic: Hunt outside the 'Hare and Hounds' in Stutton Village, December, 1954
Above pic: Hunt outside the 'Hare and Hounds' in Stutton Village, December, 1954
The Badsworth Hunt took its name from the Badsworth Hall, the home of the founder Mr Thomas Bright, and is one of the oldest hunts in the country with records going back to the 1720's. Indeed, in 1730 a famous ballad of the day was written about the famous Mr Bright and his excellent hounds. To this day, thanks to the care and dedication of the Kennel Hunstman and staff, the hounds are still 'Excellent'
The Bramham Moor - 1740 and into the future
Foxhounds have been kept at Bramham since 1740. The first Master was Mr George Fox Lane (subsequently changes to Lane Fox) who was later created Lord Bingley. The Lane Fox family have been connected with the Bramham Moor Hounds ever since, being repeatedly in and out of the Mastership throughout generations, alongside many other famous Yorkshire families. The other leading family, since 1788, has been the Lascelles of Harewood. Hounds have, occasionally, throughout the Bramham Moor history, been kennelled at Harewood.
The hunt was private until it became a subscription hunt in 1922. This heralded a very popular period with big mounted fields, which often included The Princess Royal of the day.The country stretched from Skipton in the West, to Selby in the South and York in the East.
The hunt was private until it became a subscription hunt in 1922. This heralded a very popular period with big mounted fields, which often included The Princess Royal of the day.The country stretched from Skipton in the West, to Selby in the South and York in the East.
In 2002, The Badsworth Hunt successfully amalgamated with the Bramham Moor Foxhounds and is now known as the Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hounds. Thecountry now available reaches from the Pennines to the river Humber from South Yorkshire up into rural North and West Yorkshire. There is a good mix of terrain, permanent grass and stone walls, agricultural land and hedges, woodland, low land and dykes - some of the best country Yorkshire has to offer. Despite increased demands of the industry, roads and housing, the Badsworth and Bramham Moor is a happy pack and enjoys wonderful support from the farmers, landowners, followers and members.
Thanks and acknowledgement for their information and assistance goes to John Chaplin,
former long-serving Chairman of the Bramham Foxhounds and Peter Craven MBE