Berkeley Hunt
| Hunt type | Fox hunting |
|---|---|
| Country |
 England
|
| History | |
| Founded | 12th century (foxes from 18th century) |
| Founded by | Berkeley family |
| Historical quarry | Stag and buck |
| Hunt information | |
| Hound breed | Foxhound |
| Hunt country | Gloucestershire & South Gloucestershire |
| Master(s) | Henry Berkeley |
| Quarry | Fox |
| Website | www.berkeleyhunt.co.uk |
The Berkeley Hunt is a foxhound pack in the west of England. Its country lies in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, between Gloucester and Bristol.
The Berkeley Hunt's establishment is said to have been, in its (18th century) day, one of the largest and most important the world has ever known. Hounds have been kept at Berkeley since the 12th century, at first to hunt the stag and the buck, and since the 18th century, to hunt the fox. The Berkeley family still own the Berkeley's hounds and the kennels.
The "hill country" above Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge is hunted mainly in March and early April, and adjoins the Duke of Beaufort's estate. The "vale country" comprises the Vale of Berkeley, largely dairy and stock farms with much permanent pasture, although the use of this land for growing crops is increasing.
At one time the Berkeley Hunt's hounds were kennelled at Berkeley and at Cheltenham, Nettlebed, Gerrards Cross and Cranford, Middlesex. It should have been possible to hunt from Berkeley Castle to Wormwood Scrubs, 100 miles as the crow flies, although not on a regular basis without disturbing other hunts. This wide range of activity may have begun by the Berkeleys taking their hounds to London each year. In the late 18th century, the fifth Earl of Berkeley lost most of his land in and around Middlesex.
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Wikipedia