Crawley and Horsham Hunt
Encyclopedia
The Crawley and Horsham Hunt is a United Kingdom
fox hunt
, with hunting country of around 23 miles by 20 miles within the ceremonial county of Sussex
.
formed the Old Chariton Hunt covering a huge territory later to be divided between the Goodwood Hunt and Colonel Wyndham's. The Merstham Hunt used to periodically hunt the area until these hounds were given up in 1835, whereupon the local Henry Steere turned his harriers in to foxhounds, hunting the forest country north of Horsham until around 1842, when the hounds were soild to Charles Bethune and extended the hunting country out to Findon and Dial Post.
In 1851 the hounds moved to Warninglid
and this pack continued until 1967 when the hounds were sold. A new hunt was then formed, with kennels at Staplefield
and large improvements were seen in the hunt. The Findon country was made permanent and additional country was donated by Lord Leconfield. In November 1877 the hounds were moved to new purpose built kennels at West Grinstead
, where they remain to this day.
, founded in 1932 and now with over 170 members.
and Master of Foxhounds Association, but this was dropped a year later with costs estimated at over £120,000 being paid by the plaintifs. The defendants claimed to have evidence of illegal hunting taking place and were asking the court to accept this as a defence to the Harrassment Act action.
In August 2011 prosecutions began against four members of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt for offences under the Hunting Act 2004.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
fox hunt
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
, with hunting country of around 23 miles by 20 miles within the ceremonial county of Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
History
The precise date of establishment of hunting in Sussex is uncertain, but in the 17th century the Duke of RichmondDuke of Richmond
The title Duke of Richmond is named after Richmond and its surrounding district of Richmondshire, and has been created several times in the Peerage of England for members of the royal Tudor and Stuart families...
formed the Old Chariton Hunt covering a huge territory later to be divided between the Goodwood Hunt and Colonel Wyndham's. The Merstham Hunt used to periodically hunt the area until these hounds were given up in 1835, whereupon the local Henry Steere turned his harriers in to foxhounds, hunting the forest country north of Horsham until around 1842, when the hounds were soild to Charles Bethune and extended the hunting country out to Findon and Dial Post.
In 1851 the hounds moved to Warninglid
Warninglid
Warninglid is a small village in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. It lies on the B2115 road west of Haywards Heath. The name Warninglid is believed to originate from two words meaning "Werna's Path"....
and this pack continued until 1967 when the hounds were sold. A new hunt was then formed, with kennels at Staplefield
Staplefield
Staplefield is a village in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England located north west of Haywards Heath on the B2114 road. It is part of Ansty and Staplefield civil parish....
and large improvements were seen in the hunt. The Findon country was made permanent and additional country was donated by Lord Leconfield. In November 1877 the hounds were moved to new purpose built kennels at West Grinstead
West Grinstead
West Grinstead is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies just off the B2135 road four miles northwest from Henfield.It is within the ancient division of the Rape of Bramber...
, where they remain to this day.
Pony Club
The hunt has an active section of The Pony ClubThe Pony Club
The Pony Club is a voluntary organisation founded in England in 1929. It has now expanded internationally and Pony Club branches can be found worldwide...
, founded in 1932 and now with over 170 members.
Legal action
In 2008, the Crawley and Horsham hunt launched a legal action in the High Court against Simon and Jane Wild of West Sussex Wildlife Protection and West Sussex Badger Protection Group, for trespass, nuisance, and harassment. The aim was to bring a representative action that would allow an injunction against all those associated with these groups. The test case was backed by the Countryside AllianceCountryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
and Master of Foxhounds Association, but this was dropped a year later with costs estimated at over £120,000 being paid by the plaintifs. The defendants claimed to have evidence of illegal hunting taking place and were asking the court to accept this as a defence to the Harrassment Act action.
In August 2011 prosecutions began against four members of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt for offences under the Hunting Act 2004.