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Arborfield
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Memories
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Thomas Colleton Garth Esq. of Haines Hill, was Master of his own hounds from 1852-1902, and to celebrate his 50 years, the hunt was named “The Garth” in his honour. He was the son of Capt. Thomas Garth [RN] and was one of the best, most popular Masters in the country, a Justice of the Peace, and Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire. In 1852, the “Opening Meet of Mr. Garth’s Hunt” was held at Haines Hill, with Robert Tocock as huntsman and Henry Tocock [his son] and Thomas Sweetman as the first and second Whippers-In. The Hunt met mostly in Berkshire and Hampshire, and locally at Barkham Square and Newlands. This continued until the 23rd March 1962 when the last meet took place on The Green at Sherfield on Loddon, prior to the amalgamation with the South Berks Hunt on 1st May 1962. Miss Effie Barker of Stanlake Park, Master of the Garth Hunt for its last 26 years, was also Master of the newly amalgamated Garth and South Berks Hunt for a further 4 years. The Hunt still exists, although an attempted amalgamation with The Vine failed in the 1990’s. As well as regularly hunting foxes, the Garth organized their own point to point races. The first of these was organized by Edward Sturges J.P. of Barkham Square in 1904. Other venues used included Ashridge and Ashridgewood Farm, Wokingham; the Army Remount Depot, Arborfield; the Newlands Estate, Arborfield; Lordlands Farm, Hawthorne Hill and Cowfold Farm, Rotherwick. The races were often attended by royalty such as H.R.H. The Prince of Wales [later Edward VIII], The Duke of York [later George VI] and Prince Henry [later Duke of Gloucester]. On 15th March 1924, both the Prince of Wales and
Prince Henry competed in two races. In the last race, the Prince of
Wales fell from his mount Little Favourite whilst attempting to jump a
ditch. He was carried to the Moat House, and then driven to Aldershot,
where he remained for a few days, before being driven to St. James’
Palace where, due to concussion, he was kept in a darkened room for
three weeks. For some years now, all Point to Points have been held
at Tweseldown Racecourse, near Aldershot.
The Reading Mercury and the Garth Hunt In the mid-1920's and probably for a much wider time-span, the Reading Mercury reported in detail on the Hunt season from September to the Spring, followed by Point-to-Point races. Virtually every week there were photographs of Hunt meetings, some of which were in and around Arborfield. In addition, a correspondent would contribute a column on the Garth Hunt, and others would write on the South Berks and related Hunts, including Drag-Hunts. Judging by the number of column inches devoted to the subject, Hunting was almost as much a spectator sport as was Football. Each chase was described in graphic detail, usually listing the most eminent taking part, and often describing the poor fox as 'Mr. Reynard'. In 1926, Arborfield was mentioned about every three weeks, either as a place of meeting or as part of a wider circuit. Strangely, the 'Bramshill Hunt' Public House was barely mentioned except in passing. The 'Bull' and the 'Mole' were listed far more frequently. The descriptions of each chase reveal how much has changed since that time, even without considering the change in attitudes to blood sports. For example, nowadays it would be impossible for a pack of hounds and a large group of riders to cross Sindlesham Road without injury or death, since traffic speeds are much higher than they were in the days when country roads were mainly gravel. From February 6th 1926: There was a photograph of the 'Meet of the Farley Hill Beagles at Arborfield Cross', showing the 'Bull' in the right background and the Parish Cottages to the left. From February 13th 1926: THE GARTH HOUNDS AT NEWLANDS, ARBORFIELD. The Garth Hounds met at Mr. John Simonds' residence, Newlands, where all followers were most cordially welcomed. [There were four photographs, captioned as follows:] (1) Hounds moving off over the hill at the back of the house to draw the first cover, where a fox was quickly found and provided a sharp run, to be eventually killed beyond the Bull. (2) Col. Winwood chatting with Mr. John Simonds. (3) Huntsman Daniels on an old favourite. (4) Mrs. Harry St. John and Mrs. J. H. Simonds. [The photos were all attributed to 'Collier and Guy', as was usually the case in the Reading Mercury at this period. There was a more detailed description of this day's hunting in the 'Garth Hunt' column, not reproduced here.] From February 20th 1926: THE GARTH HUNT
The Garth dog pack met on Wednesday, at the Greyhound, Finchampstead. ... One fox crossed the road and ascended the steep hill. Leaving the church on the right, hounds ran their quarry over the Nine-mile-Ride, through Longmoor, over to Kidgham and by Barkham, over the road to the Coombes into Bear Wood, where they were run out of scent. Hounds cast about in the Coombes, hoping to pick up their hunted fox, but failing this, they came back to Barkham and drew Kidgham through. The next draw was the covers near the Arborfield Remount, and a fox was soon found, which led hounds away with a merry cry round Whitehall and Westlands. Leaving Arborfield Cross on the right, he crossed the road pointing for Moor Copse, then bearing left-handed went on to the Swallowfield Park covers, then re-crossed the road, running with some delightful music through the Farley Hill covers. Keeping to the left, he ran on by the Bound Oak towards Farley Castle, then turned back by Westlands and Whitehall, to be killed in the open on the hill between the Bound Oak, Farley Hill, and Arborfield, after a really good hunt. From February 27th 1926: [There was a chase from Swallowfield along via Arborfield Cross and the Coombes to Barkham village, then on to Bearwood]. From March 13th 1926:
The Garth dog pack met on Wednesday at Bear Wood Mansion. This is known now as the Royal Merchant Seamen's Orphanage, and is under the care of Captain Wilson, R. N., who kindly invited the hounds to meet at the Mansion, instead of the Bear Wood Lodge as advertised. All were most grateful to Captain Wilson for his generous hospitality. It did me good to see the orphan children looking down on the sporting scene. A fox was found immediately, but scent was very catchy and hounds could not make much of him. They drew the cover through Bear Wood Park, then went to the Coombes, where a fox was found, but the scent was indifferent. Eventually the fox was viewed away, and with a much improved scent outside, hounds ran him round by Newlands, leaving the Mole on the right, on to Carter's Hill, and after a really nice hunt, hounds marked their fox to ground near a hedge adjoining Mr. Dymond's Farm at Carter's Hill. They were then taken on by Harman's Corner, and drew the covers just beyond Sindlesham, those towards Sindlesham Mill, and in the osier beds, between the mill and Carter's Hill. A fox was viewed away over the fields towards Bear Wood Park. They were quickly on the line, and this fox, turning right-handed, came back into Carter's Hill and broke away in the open towards the Mole. He was making for the earth, where digging was being continued for the other fox that had been previously run to ground, but finding people there, he turned back into Carter's Hill covers again. Hounds were pretty fairly close to him at times in the cover near Mr. Dymond's Farm, but eventually he made his escape in the open over to Bear Wood Park and he ran hounds out of scent. Hounds then made a cast back, and on to Mr. Hargreave's gorse, belonging to Arborfield Hall, where another fox was found. At first, he looked like going towards the church, but turned back and ran into Carter's Hill covers, and after dodging hounds for a time, he broke away across the field into Bear Wood Park and through the Bear Wood covers until he ran out of scent. Hounds then came back through Bear Wood Park and went on to Carter's Hill where they were more successful in killing the fox that had previously run to ground. This ended the day's sport. [A long list of participants followed, including 'Mr. John Simonds, Mr. P. Simonds, Mr. V. Simonds, and Mrs. and Miss Simonds, and many others.']
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