South Devon Hunt Explained

The South Devon Hunt or South Devon Foxhounds is a foxhound pack in Devon, England. The country spans an area entirely within the county of Devon, predominantly on the East side of Dartmoor, out to the sea. Traditionally, the country was the land between the River Exe and the River Dart from Exeter to Totnes.[1]

History

Foundation by George Templer

Whilst hunting had almost certainly occurred in the area before, the South Devon Hunt was founded by landowner George Templer, the owner of the Stover estate in Teigngrace. The exact date of formation is unknown, but by 1810 a number of hounds were drafted from Stover to the Duke of Rutland's Belvoir Hunt, in a rare instance of one of the country's pre-eminent traditional hunts bringing in hounds from another pack.[2] This must mean that the hounds must have been of some quality, and presumbly had been bred so over a number of preceding years.

Templer was focused on the chase, rather than catching the fox, and was known for catching the foxes alive after they had been run down by the hounds, where they were caught for release in the future. One fox, nicknamed "The Bold Dragoon" was noted to have been caught and released no fewer than thirty-six times.[2]

In 1826, Templer was forced to sell Stover following the collapse of his business under the costs of building the Haytor Granite Tramway, and the hunt took the only break in its history, with no meets in the 1826–7 season.[2]

Templer died at his new home of Sandford Orleigh, Newton Abbot in December 1843 following an accident in the hunting field.[3]

Masters

The following have all been masters of the South Devon Hunt.[4]

Partition of the country

Haldon side

Newton side

Reunion

Sabotage

The South Devon was amongst the first hunts to be subject to organised hunt sabotage, with the formation in Brixham of the Hunt Saboteurs Association in December 1963.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Devon Hunt. History.
  2. Davies. Owain. Hound Tor. The start of a tradition: George Templer and the South Devon. Autumn 2018. 1. 2515-9437. 11–14.
  3. Book: Harris, Helen. 2002. The Haytor Granite Tramway and Stover Canal. Peninsula Press. 1872640281. 28.
  4. Book: Tozer, Edward JF. The South Devon Hunt. 1916.
  5. Davies. Owain. Hound Tor. Hunting through the generations. Autumn 2018. 1. 2515-9437. 44–46.
  6. News: The People. 1963-12-15. A cheeky plan to sabotage fox-hunting.

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