This is the enthralling history of the Duke of Rutland’s Hounds, the Belvoir. Superbly illustrated with a wealth of pictures, historic and contemporary, this is an exceptional anatomy of a Hunt which will delight hunting people everywhere – and those who care about our countryside and its unique sporting heritage.
Founded by the 3rd Duke of Rutland as a Foxhound pack in the mid-18th century, the Belvoir hounds gained a major reputation for exciting sport in a superb terrain, ranging from High Leicestershire to sporting Lincolnshire.
The Belvoir hounds, always owned by succeeding Dukes of Rutland even to this day, received fervent local support – and an annual influx of eager visitors who included future Kings of England, Prince Albert and the Empress of Austria.
Today many hunting people from all walks of life have golden memories of hunting with the Belvoir, which Michael Clayton’s lively narrative re-awakens.
The Belvoir has had the benefit of a long line of great huntsmen, vividly described here, and a pack of hounds which is now one of only three in the United Kingdom entirely bred on Old English Foxhound lines.
