Philobiblon

In the British Library this afternoon, reading A History of Fox-hunting in the Wynnstay County: From this Beginning of this Century to the End of the Season of 1884-5, “printed for private circulation only“:

The Sporting magazine of 1800 lists all of the packs of foxhounds in England. “Beside these there were other packs that hunted the fox, though unknown beyond their own district, probably trencher-fed, good hunting hounds, though possibly not very fast, nevertheless showing a great deal of sport to Squires and Yeomen in their drab breeches and very brown top boots, which were duly taken down from their accustomed hook on the ‘house place’ ceiling when they were wanted to be worn in the chase.” (p15, original itals)

Explaining “trencher-fed proved easy: “hounds which are kept privately, then brought together on hunt days to form a pack”.

I assume the “very” brown boots refers to farmyard muck? And the breeches didn’t have the attentions of a gentleman’s “man” and a squad of laundrymaids to get them white?

As a contrast there is at the front of the book an elegant picture of Louisa Alexandria, Lady Williams Wynn, in a very tight riding outfit (although of course a skirt for riding sidesaddle), whip in hand, with her arm thrown casually around a favourite dog, which is sitting on what looks like a hall table. She is, I think, if I’ve got all of the geneology right, the wife of Miss Frances Williams Wynn’s brother’s son.

I get the feeling Miss Frances was not, however, the huntin’ and fishin’ sort – perhaps that’s why she didn’t get married. More research will hopefully shed more light on this.