THE HISTORY OF GLAMORGAN HUNT

The Glamorgan Hunt’s early history is identified with the Cowbridge Harriers. The pack, of Welsh origin, were described as dwarf foxhounds. In 1848 many of the hounds were lost to hydrophobia but Mr John Homfray of Penllyn Castle purchased the pack and hunted them for ten seasons as the Cowbridge Hounds. He sold them to Mr Theodore Mansell Talbot of Margam Castle who built the kennels at Llandough and the nearby Hunt stables, which were converted in 1960 to the present Hunt Kennels. Mr Talbot gave up the Mastership of the Cowbridge Harriers in 1868 and became the Master of the Ledbury.

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Mr Talbot returned to the Glamorgan in 1873 and from this date the history of the Glamorgan Hunt now begins. The Glamorgan then hunted Monday, Wednesday and Friday and it may be noted that the Glamorgan have never hunted on Saturdays except for bye days.  After two seasons of good sport he sold the whole pack to the Quorn and purchased the celebrated pack of the South Notts. He never lived to hunt them as he died of pneumonia after sustaining a fall on Stalling Down. The sale of the Hunt horses and the entire pack took place at the kennels in 1876.

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Mr John Samuel Gibbon took on the Mastership and purchased a new pack from the East Essex country. In 1883 the country was suffering from the scarcity of foxes and loss of hounds due to poisoning. He retired and Mr Ralph Bassett took on the hounds and bred out the Welsh Hound in the pack by drafting and purchasing. During this period in 1887 hounds ran from Beaupre to Wenvoe Castle. He was succeeded by the Mackintosh of Mackintosh.

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The Mackintosh was followed in 1907 by Col.H.R. Homfray of Penllyn Castle, a family that has been so important to the Glamorgan Hunt. In 1914 at the start of the war Mr R.H. Williams of Bonvilston House was appointed Master and held office for twenty seasons and kept the Hunt going during the war years. In 1919 rabies broke out in the kennels and all the hounds were destroyed. Mr Williams retired in 1934 and another Homfray, Capt. H.C.R. Homfray took on the Mastership lasting from 1934 – 1960 and at the outbreak of the second World war he moved the hounds and horses to Penllyn. His daughter Lady Boothby of Fonmon Castle had been Master with him since 1951 and had one season with Anthony Martyn, whose Mastership lasted 30 seasons. All these Masters with the exception of Mr Williams all hunted the hounds.

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Between 1986 and the present day there have been many joint Masterships that have brought the Hunt into the present day with one further Master Huntsman Mr J. Thomas having just retired.