In Print

Books on the Surrey Union Hunt: 

  • The Surrey Union Hunt; by Ruth Sewell; 1956
  • 300 Years of Hunting in Surrey & Sussex; by Andrew Jennings, John Robson and Leslie Weller MSH (1991)
  • The Surrey Union Hunt Unbuttoned; by Julian Wormsley;  2007

Red Letter Days & Famous Runs

Surrey Union Hounds visit to the Fernie 1980-81
 Shooting Times
Report & Photography by Jim Meads
 Click to enlarge image

   

Horse & Hound Feature
Holister Farm
Home of Mr Raymond Davidson MFH
1977

   

 

Recorded here as they fall in today's Surrey Union Hunt country

  1. Mr Nappers' Hounds 1849-50
    High Loxley Furze. Alfold
    Hounds found in High Loxley Furze and ran him through Dunsfold, Hascomb Hill, Goose Green, Shamley, then back to Loxwood, left handed towards Rudgwick then to Ewhurst and Rapley, over Hurtwood Common, Parkhurst and Chordhurst. Finally after crossing the Dorking Horsham Road, hounds killed their fox in a covert known as "Glory Woods" in Dorking.
    4 hours 50 mins without changing.
  2. Chiddingfold Hunt Meet at Pallinghurst, Cranleigh/Alfold 1948-9 January 15th
    Hounds ran continuously for one hour fifty minutes and killing their fox at Lonesome Farm.
    1 hour fifty min
    4 mile point
    15 miles as hounds ran.
  3. The 1953-54 season was marked with two more exceptional runs as reported in the Horse & Hound (I'll try and find the record) November 14th and February the 20th
  4. Surrey Union 1981-2
    The Lamb - Lambs Green - 3rd February
    We took hounds to Kilnwood and found our first fox at the top by the road, he took hounds over the road to Brick Kiln copse out the other side on towards the railway and got to ground about 50 yards of the track.
    Our second fox was roused in Burnt Stubbs he was quickly away over Faygatewood Farm and back to Mrs A's  Xmass Cottage into a drain.
    Third find was in the small covert behind Mrs A's he was accounted for very quickly.
    We then found on Mr Farmers and accounted for him after 15 minutes
    The Last draw was Vintners which was alive with foxes, hounds soon settled on their pilot who went round Vintners 4 or 5 times before he took them over the Old Rusper road to Chaffolds where hounds pulled him down on the fire break. Without stopping hounds quickly roused another which circled Chaffolds and out to Newhouse Farm, across the Newdigate road where they also pulled him down in the open.  (Mr Gilcrist now MFH was honoured to be given the  mask)
    RB
  5. Crawley & Horsham
    1952 - 53
    Hounds met at Slinfold Station. Their pilot took them to Roman Corner and Roman Wood right handed to Walliswood and on straight to Leith Hill and Coldharbour. Mrs Gregson only ever trotted, you know.
    Hounds accounted for the fox on the Dorking side at 4 O'clock. I still remember the lights of Leatherhead and beyond.
    I was 16 years old and stayed with hounds to the end - then we had to hack back to Coolham with the Hounds. I had further 2 miles to hack home after leaving the hounds.., I remember being quite frightened.., arriving home after 9 O'clock.
    Mrs. P. Greewood
  6. Surrey Union Hunt - Jordons Farm - Forest Green
    1978-79
    George put hounds in the cover below Leith Hill House, they were soon all on and away up to High Ashes, left handed over the Holmbury St Mary road, on to cricket pitch. Their pilot now took hounds left handed along the bank above Holmbury House to Coverwood and on to Pitch Hill. At the Windmill hounds took a turn down hill over Eric Claptons lawns at Hurtwood Edge onto Mrs Armstong's LongCopse. George and I were still with the hounds, all being it on the road from this point on. Hounds crossed Coneyhust Lane and the Wykhurst Lane and onto The Maple Stud on the Cranleigh Road. Hounds were at a stop here when I got to them. Hounds never took a check or had need of intervention by George.
    50 min
    6 mile point
    11 miles as the ran
    RB
  7. Reports taken from The Surrey Advertiser
    Chiddingfold Farmers
    1951 - 52
    On January the 2nd a large field met at Wonersh Common. After drawing Chinthurst blank, a fox was found on Blackheath and after a short run was marked to ground.
    In the afternoon, a good fox was found south of Mayor House Farm. Hounds settled down immediately, with a burst of music, that we do not often hear. The fox made for Farley Green, turned back almost on the same line, circled Madge Hole, baring left by Keepers Cottage to Tree Tops. He then turned right handed parallel with Smithwood Common road and crossing at Winterfold cottage. Hounds pushed through Hurtwood without a check, arriving at the top of Horse Block Hollow.
    Here the fox ran the road to the windmill, circling twice then the fox crossed the Barhatch lane onto High Canfold and to Park House Green, left to High Wykhurst.
    Now the fox headed for the hill Crossing Coneyhurst Farm. Some of the field here had to turn back due to a broken bridge. After crossing the Ewhurst - Peaslake Road, our fox skirted Woolpits and Coverwood, with hounds in full cry. A left turn here over Hurtwood to Hound House where hounds pulled him down in the open, all hounds on
    Great credit is due to our huntsman Bob Buswell, for living with hounds in this difficult country.
    80min
    5mile point
    11 miles as hounds ran.
    FOOTSLOGGER
  8. Old Reports from the Surrey Advertiser
    Chiddingfold & Leconfield
    1953 - 54
    On November 14th When the meet was at Ridinghurst, Cranleigh, the bitches found a fox at Whitemead's and went across Bridge Farm back to Waterlands to a strip of kale, they soon pushed him away, only 15 yards behind him, they crossed the road heading for Butcher House. Without a check they raced on through the moors and Furzefield and over to Lynwick and Tunnel Copse.
    Owing to wire and other obstructions Hunt servants and the field could not keep up with the pace hounds were going, but we did hear them in Baynards Park we were now only five minutes behind hounds, when they crossed Longhurst Hill and into the Surrey Union country. After Park hill copse they swung right handed over Coxlands to cross the road at Somersbury Manor. Luckily skirting Somersbury Wood, they raced on towards Goldrings Wood, but missed this too and made for Plough Farm.
    After Lowerbreach Farm hounds headed to Northbreach Manor and crossed the Forest Green road between Coophurst and Stubbett's running up the hill, Hunt servants and the field were with the main body of hounds when they suffered a check in the Grotto of Holmbury House. (Mullard Space Research)
    Two and a half couple were seen latter on, crossing the Forest Green road at Wixlands just behind a very beaten fox.
    1 hrs 50 mins
    6 mile point
    14 miles as hounds ran
    LANCER