Introduction

In the middle of the nineteenth century the country roundabout was hunted by a number of packs. Most notably Charles Witherden hunted hare, initially on foot but eventually with a mounted field. This move to mounted hunting was occasioned by the times when Witherden's hounds joined forces with the packs run by Sir John Honeywood and Alfred Swaffer Esq. The joint pack was hunted by John Buckland, great nephew of Charles Witherden.

In 1878 the combined packs were joined by Mr. Blackman's Hounds, from Stone-in-Oxney and the The Ashford Valley Harriers were begun under the Mastership of John Buckland. Buckland was a hound man of whom there are many anecdotes. It is said that a bitch hound, Violet, was sent to a pack in Hampshire but disappeared from there within a fortnight. Harry Buckland, John's son, then aged 5 found Violet in the field at his home. The hound having made a journey of over 100 miles to return to her Master.

The Great War

The Bucklands managed to maintain the pack through the First War, a considerable feat at a time of shortages. In Harry Buckland's biography there is a particularly touching story from this troubled period which recounts that John Buckland received the following letter from the trenches.

During the war hare became scarce as many were taken for the pot. It is therefore not surprising that attention turned to fox. In 1926 John Carey Buckland died, having been Master of Hounds for 50 years. It is said that 500 people attended the funeral service at Great Chart church.

Hounds were kenneled at Goldwell, Great Chart , within 300 yards of the Buckland home.

In 1927, Chester Beatty, an American, came to the financial assistance of the hunt and in return his son, Chester Beatty Jnr. was made Joint Master. he brought with him a pack of Welsh hounds which was kept at kennels but fed separately as Beatty would allow them no flesh. Eventually the arrangements broke down and Harry Buckland resigned the Mastership.