List of masters Devon and Somerset Staghounds

1 list of masters

1.1 north devon staghounds
1.2 chichester s hounds
1.3 devon , somerset staghounds

list of masters


hugh pollard , master in 1598. (sir hugh ii pollard of king s nympton, father of sir lewis pollard, 1st baronet (c. 1578–c.  1645))


edward ii dyke (d. 1746), portrait circa 1741 attributed thomas hudson (1701–1779), national trust, collection of dunster castle



edward dyke (d. 1746), of pixton, in somerset, (eldest brother of thomas dyke (d. 1745) of tetton , of john dyke (d. 1732) of holnicote, in somerset), warden , lesee of royal forest of exmoor , master of staghounds, office held warder. married margaret trevelyan, daughter of sir john trevelyan, 2nd baronet (1670–1755), of nettlecombe in somerset, , widow of alexander luttrell (1705–1737) of dunster castle. edward inherited holnicote , estates in bampton brother john dyke (d. 1732), died without progeny. died without progeny , bequeathed pixton , holnicote niece elizabeth dyke (d. 1753), whom appointed sole executor, daughter , sole heiress of brother thomas dyke (d. 1745) of tetton, kingston st mary, somerset. bequest stipulated elizabeth , husband sir thomas acland, 7th baronet (1722–1785) of killerton in devon , petherton park in somerset, should adopt additional surname of dyke.


sir thomas dyke acland, 7th baronet (1723–1785) painted in 1767 sir joshua reynolds. bloodline of large staghound head on knee lost when pack sold germany in 1824, , later rebuilt foxhounds. 2 identical versions exist, both owned national trust, 1 @ saltram house, other @ killerton house, both in devon



1746-1775 sir thomas dyke acland, 7th baronet (1722–1785), of killerton in devon , of petherton park, tetton, holnicote , pixton, in somerset, kept own pack of staghounds. became forester or ranger of exmoor under grant crown , hunted country in princely style. respected , beloved countryside, solicited @ same time allow himself returned member of parliament counties of devon , somerset. preferred, however, duties , pleasures of life in country, bore without abuse grand old name of gentleman . although had 3 of own kennels on huge estates, @ holnicote in north , @ jury , highercombe near pixton in south, had further method of keeping hounds, make keeping of 1 hound term in many of tenancy contracts granted. in manor of bossington (near holnicote) alone estate survey of 1746–7 lists twelve tenements let, either acland or dyke, requirement keep hound. in 1775 handed on mastership major basset, , in 1779 beloved collection of stag heads , antlers @ holnicote lost in fire destroyed house. declared minded destruction of valuables less bitterly loss of fine collection of stags heads . known on estates sir thomas honour (as later son 9th baronet) , renowned generous hospitality @ holnicote or @ pixton, whichever closest, riders in @ death , , said open house kept @ pixton , holnicote throughout hunting season . pixton larger establishment, richly equipped silver-plate , linen, including 73 tablecloths, both houses had silver dinner services of 5 dozen plates , number of tankards, cups, bowls, dishes , salvers. letter dated 1759 written on behalf of courtenay walrond of bradfield, uffculme describes acland hospitality:

noble chase being ended, master, brother , mr brutton 20 gentlemen more waited on sir thomas acland @ pixton each of them drank health of stag in full quart glass of claret placed in stag s mouth & after drinking several proper healths went in order respective beds 2 o clock , dined sir thomas next day on haunch of noble creature , 50 dishes of greatest rarities among several black grouse .

he returned briefly joint-master in august 1784, died in february 1785 aged 63

north devon staghounds

1775-1784 col. francis basset esq. (c.1740-1802), of heanton court, heanton punchardon, near barnstaple, , of umberleigh house, umberleigh, lt.col. of north devon militia 1779-93), mp barnstaple 1780-84. not stated in history of parliament biography have been colonel, or military man in capacity, yet termed col. bassett devon topographer rev. john swete in 1796 painting of heanton court, heanton punchardon, near barnstaple, described seat of col. basset . second surviving son of john francis basset (1714–1757) wife eleanor courtenay, daughter of sir william courtenay, 2nd baronet , de jure 6th earl of devon. died unmarried, being last in male line of heanton branch of ancient basset family. heir nephew joseph davie (1764-1846) of orleigh court, near bideford, took name basset in lieu of patronymic , built watermouth castle, near lynmouth.he son of john davie of orleigh wife eleanora bassett, sister of col. bassett (d.1802). joseph s granddaughter , eventual heiress harriet mary bassett (d.1920), married charles henry williams, assumed surname bassett condition of inheriting wife s property, , became master 1887-93 (see below). basset family ancient west country family, originated either in manor of tehidy, cornwall or @ whitechapel manor in parish of bishops nympton, devon.


stalls in stable block built sir thomas dyke acland, 9th baronet (1752–1794) @ holnicote, owned national trust. thirty stag heads on walls date 1787 1793 , killed under mastership of devon , somerset staghounds. of brow points of antlers notoriously sawn-off groom because interfered loading of hay mangers. similar collection of stag heads amassed father 7th baronet, , beloved latter, destroyed during fire @ holnicote in 1779



loose boxes in stable block built sir thomas dyke acland, 9th baronet (1752–1794) @ holnicote, stag head trophies



1784-1794 sir thomas dyke acland, 9th baronet (1752-1794), second son of 7th baronet master 1746-1775. devoted last ten years of life entirely staghunting , virtually abandoned family s main seat @ killerton, preferring live entirely @ holnicote , @ highercombe, near dulverton, in heart of hunting country. killed 101 stags during mastership, antlers of thirty of still affixed walls of stables @ holnicote. father legendary expansive hospitality fellow staghunters. succeeded col. basset lt.col. of north devon militia (1793-4).
august 1802- hugh fortescue, 1st earl fortescue (1753–1841) of castle hill, filleigh , weare hall, weare giffard.
1824 pack sold germany

chichester s hounds

1827-1833 sir arthur chichester, 7th baronet (1790–1842), of youlston park, shirwell, formed own pack composed of foxhounds
1833/4-1836/7 no hounds

devon , somerset staghounds

general . mordaunt fenwick-bisset, mp, (1825–1884), master 1855-1881, caricatured spy in vanity fair, december 1881. built present kennels in exford in 1876 , donated them committee



portrait of mordaunt fenwick-bisset, msh, on favourite hunter chanticleer, stag @ bay in badgworthy water, exmoor, samuel john carter, 1871



viscount ebrington, 1905 hugh fortescue, 4th earl fortescue (1854–1932). engraving joseph brown photograph john mayall. acquired whole of former royal forest of exmoor after death of frederick winn knight in 1897



devon , somerset , caricature of viscount ebrington ape, vanity fair 19th february 1887



1837–1841 – charles palk collyns (1793–1864) formed new pack, named devon , somerset subscription staghounds . collyns, doctor living @ bilbao house, dulverton, youngest son of william collyns, surgeon of kenton, near exeter, devon. possibly related family of palk baronets of haldon house, in haldon hills, near kenton. hunting diaries , subscription lists held somerset archives. wrote standard work on west-country stag-hunting chase of wild red deer , 1862. inscribed grave stone, next of son, survives against external eastern wall of dulverton church, 2 stones in position, 1 of honour.
1842–1847 – hon. newton fellowes (1772–jan. 1854), of eggesford, brother-in-law of hugh fortescue, 2nd earl fortescue. second son of john wallop, 2nd earl of portsmouth (d.1797) wife urania fellowes, heiress of eggesford. newton received mother eggesford estate, elder brother having inherited in 1797 earldom , paternal lands in hampshire. newton demolished old eggesford house next eggesford church , rebuilt on opposite side of hill on site of former heywood house. house in ruins in 1995, shortly thereafter restored. keen 4-in-hand carriage driver , improved many of roads near eggesford facilitate driving. built present bridge on river taw across a377 scenic route built in 1830 toll road. married in 1820 second wife lady catherine fortescue (1787-20/5/1854), daughter of hugh fortescue, 1st earl fortescue (1753–1841) of castle hill, filleigh. became 4th earl of portsmouth in last year of life, following death of elder brother john wallop, 3rd earl of portsmouth in 1853, latter having had 1 daughter , having been declared insane since 1809.
1855–1881 – mordaunt fenwick-bisset (1825–1884). restored sport , put on footing whence present flourishing state of things has come , (everard, 1902, p. 366). reintroduced red deer quantock hills , built kennels @ bagborough house, few miles north-west of taunton. lived @ pixton park, dulverton, rented lord carnarvon, , kennelled hounds @ jury, @ bottom of pixton drive. in january 1879 pack destroyed due rabies. sat mp west somerset 1880 until resignation in 1883.
1880/81–1887 – hugh fortescue, viscount ebrington (1854–1932), 4th earl fortescue 1905. after 1879 acquired reversion of whole of former royal forest of exmoor after death of frederick winn knight, occurred in 1897.


charles henry basset, msh 1887-1893. baily s magazine of sports & pastimes, no. 380, october 1891, vol. 56



1887–1893 – charles henry basset, esq. (1834–1908), (born williams) of watermouth castle, near lynmouth, jp, dl , mp barnstaple (1868–1874). born 16 november 1834, being fourth surviving son of sir william williams, 1st baronet (1791–1870), mfh, of tregullow, cornwall, wife caroline eales, younger daughter of richard eales of eastdon, lieutenant rn. aged 13 entered navy cadet on hms southampton. served during crimean war in black sea, , sea of azof, , major in royal north devon yeomanry (or hussars). in 1873 lost left arm in accident whilst working steam engine @ barnstaple. married on 7 january 1878, harriet mary basset (d.1920), daughter , sole heiress of arthur davie basset, esq., of watermouth castle (son of joseph davie bassett (1764-1846)), , sister , co-heiress of reverend arthur crawfurth davie basset, (1830–1880) jp , ma, of watermouth. condition of inheritance assumed himself wife , progeny royal licence dated 11 october 1880 surname of basset in lieu of patronymic, arms of basset. armorial bearings: barry wavy of 6 or , gules in centre chief point cross crosslet of last crest: on wreath of colours, unicorn s head couped argent, mane, beard, , horn or, on neck 2 bars indented gules, , charged distinction cross crosslet gules. motto: bene agere ac laetari. estates @ pilton house near barnstaple; westaway, model farm in parish of pilton; umberleigh house, atherington; watermouth castle, berrynarbor, in north devon.

introduced spring staghunting.

1893-1895 colonel f. hornby, had been field master of queen s staghounds. entered office july 1893 , resigned in spring 1895 , went on in 1895 master of essex union foxhounds.


robert arthur sanders msh 1895-1907 (baron bayford 1929). portrait baily s magazine of sports & pastimes, no 475, september 1899, vol. 72



1895-1907 robert arthur sanders (1867–1940) (baron bayford 1929). took on mastership on colonel f. hornby s resignation in spring of 1895, , increased hunting days 3 4 each week, being first master hunt hounds himself, did 1 day per week, viscount ebrington acting field master. married miss lucy halliday, of glenthorne, near lynton, @ oare church in july 1893. mr. sanders contested eastern division of bristol @ general election of 1900, , considerably lowered previous liberal majority. in 1901 became alderman of somerset county council. son of arthur sanders, of fernhill, isle of wight, , born in paddington, london, , educated @ harrow, head boy, , balliol college, oxford graduated 1st class honours in law. became barrister @ inner temple in 1891. following resignation of mastership became conservative member of parliament bridgwater, somerset 1910 until 1923. 1911 1917 lieutenant-colonel of royal north devon yeomanry , served @ gallipoli, , in egypt , palestine. appointed deputy lieutenant of somerset in 1912. treasurer of household (government deputy chief whip in house of commons), 1918–1919, , junior lord of treasury 1919 until 1921. held ministerial office under-secretary of state war 1921 1922 , minister of agriculture , fisheries 1922 1924. created baronet in 1920 new year honours , appointed privy council in 1922. mp wells in somerset 1924 1929, when raised peerage baron bayford, of stoke trister in county of somerset. married lucy sophia, daughter of william halliday, in 1893. had 1 son , 2 daughters. son committed suicide in 1920, title became extinct on bayford s death in february 1940, aged 72. lady bayford died in september 1957.
1907-c.1909 edmund arthur vesey stanley (1879–1941), may 1907 following mr sanders retirement. son of mr edward james stanley (d.1907), of quantock lodge, on stoweymp bridgwater , large landowner, wife hon. mary dorothy labouchere (1843–1920), daughter of henry labouchere, 1st baron taunton (1798–1869), prominent liberal politician, mp taunton 1830-59 , cabinet minister. labouchere purchased manor of on stowey in 1833, , created baron taunton in 1859. built gothic revival castle known quantock lodge, later became quantock school e.j. stanley offered mr sanders maintain separate pack hunt quantocks deer. committee , master agreed , made on country on permanent loan. son, edmund stanley, aged 22 performed duty of huntsman. on acceptance of mastership of d&s quantocks pack discontinued. sister became mrs heathcote-amory, family associated tiverton staghounds, whilst eldest brother, lt. h.t. stanley killed in boer war.
c. 1909 – c. 1911 – captain adkins
1911/12–1914 – major morland john greig, of edgcott house, exford. killed in action @ gallipoli in october 1915 fighting 1st royal north devon yeomanry. dick lloyd, president of d&ssh, spoke in 2001 follows morland greig: never had fixed house. shuffled 1 in amazing way. lived @ edgcott , yealscombe, , kings, withypool... greigs tremendously part of exmoor in days. grandfather greig, morland greig, master of devon , somerset when first war started. when war started on 3rd of august , on 4th or 5th took hounds meet, says in diary went in mufti , staff in uniform. sang god save king , , sent hounds home. went straight off regiment, royal north devon yeomanry. in due course went gallipoli , killed. aged 53 (in fact 50). how many people of 43 or 33, know went last war? amazing fortitude. wouldn t have let him go now. killed commanding squadron in gallipoli . memorial tablet exists in st. mary magdalene church, exford. son of john peter morland greig , annie lydia greig , married kate greig, of edgcott, exford, somerset. buried @ i.i.16. hill 10 cemetery. bust-length watercolour portrait of him 11 1/8 * 10 1/8 painted olivia mary bryden (1883–1951) of eastbourne , sold @ auction bonhams knightsbridge, 27 jul 2005, sporting pictures, sale no. 11639, lot 69.
1915-c.1917 committee
c.1917-1919/20 william badco (1864–1921) of cardiff, tramp-ship owner. stranger exmoor, , on holiday in minehead when heard of problems starting arise due absence of deer control due death of last master. @ time of war sporting considerations secondary. offered undertake mastership @ own expense without funding guaranteed, , continued until 1919-20 season when retired badminton. macdermot wrote of him: staghunters , country in general owe deep debt of gratitude memory keeping hunt going, largely @ own expense, through difficult time . shipowner , changed name badcock badco deed-poll dated 11 march 1916, lived formerly @ st ives, cornwall, living in 1916 @ cathedral street, cardiff. st ives , started career clerk mr haines. in 1900 floated polurrian steamship co. ltd., raise funds purchase of steamer of name being built @ blumen s yard in sunderland. floated poldhu steamship co. ltd., following year acquire poldhu same yard. moved st ives in 1909 cardiff , took delivery of third new vessell polvarth. pol- prefix of ships cornish reference. between 1910 -13 bought 3 second-hand ships, polmanter, polcarne , polperro, meet improving market. before end of ww had sold 5 of ships, having lost 1 u-boat attack. average tonnage of vessels 3,000 tons.


colonel walter william wiggin (1856–1936), queen s own worcestershire yeomanry, master of devon , somerset staghounds c. 1917–1936, of forhill house, king s norton, photograph published in baily s magazine, no. 720, february 1920, vol. 113



c. 1917-23 april 1936 – lieutenant-colonel walter william wiggin (1856–1936). son of sir henry samuel wiggin, 1st baronet (1824–1905) wife mary elizabeth malins. brother brigadier-general e.a. wiggin , nephew col. w.h. wiggin. colonel of queen s own worcestershire yeomanry , lived @ forhill house, king s norton, birmingham. married edith atkins, daughter of george caleb atkins. died aged 81 on 4 november 1936 @ king s norton, , buried @ alvechurch on 9 november 1936. obituary in colliery guardian , journal of coal , iron trades, 13 november 1936, follows: death has occurred @ age of 80 (sic) of lieut.-col. walter w. wiggin, entered father s business, henry wiggin , co., of birmingham, @ age of 22, becoming director , chairman in 1916. retired in 1920 when business merged mond nickel co. had served director of joseph lucas , @ death on boards of w. , t. avery, south staffordshire waterworks co. , henry pooley , son . lived @ stockleigh when hunting on exmoor.
1935/6- end ww ii hancock, abbott
1981–present – maurice scott (joint-master)
1987–present – diana scott (joint-master)
2000/1–present – george witheridge (joint-master)
-present – fran bell (joint-master)




^ fortescue, 1887, p. 284
^ lysons, magna britannia, vol 6: devon, 1822, pp. 226–231, gentlemen s seats, forests , deer parks [1]: red deer, ferœ naturœ, remains of inhabitants of royal forest of exmoor, still abound in sufficient quantities in devonshire woods, south of forest, in of somersetshire, yield sport neighbouring nobility , gentry. stag hunt has been many years kept in vicinity. hounds formerly kept mr. dyke, of somersetshire, heiress married sir thomas acland s grandfather, , afterwards aclands. after death of late sir thomas acland, kept while mr. basset. after this, kept several years lord fortescue, @ castlehill, who, 3 years ago, made them on r. lucas, esq., of baronshill, in somersetshire. average number of deer killed in season has been 10 stags, , double number of hinds. (fn. 3) marshall, in rural Œconomy of western counties, observes, wild deer abounded in woods of west of devon; through offices of duke of bedford, country (about 1795) free them.
^ acland, anne, devon family: story of aclands, london , chichester, 1981, pp.17-18
^ acland, 1981, pp.18,22
^ collyns, p. 9
^ ravenhill, mary & rowe, margery, acland family: maps , surveys 1720-1840, devon & cornwall record society, new series, vol. 49, exeter, 2006, p. 8
^ acland, 1981, p. 25
^ acland, 1981, p. 26
^ acland, 1981, p. 18
^ acland, 1981, p. 19
^ acland, 1981, p9.18-19
^ acland, 1981, p.26
^ 1775-1784 colonel basset , per bailey s hunting directory
^ not confused cornish cousin francis basset, 1st baron de dunstanville , basset (1757–1835), stated history of parliament biography have been lieutenant-colonel of north devon militia 1779.(history of parliament biography) have been 18 years old in 1775, when mastership said have started, , known have attended king s college, cambridge in 1775 , have gone on grand tour. served mp penryn, cornwall, between 1780 , 1796. created baronet in 1779 , baron in 1796. died without male issue
^ walrond, col. h., (4th battalion devonshire regiment), historical records of 1st devon militia (4th battalion devonshire regiment), notice of 2nd , north devon militia regiments, london, 1897, pp.423-433
^ [2]
^ devon record office, ref 564m/f11/7, published in gray, todd & rowe, margery (eds.), travels in georgian devon: illustrated journals of reverend john swete, 1789-1800, vol.3, tiverton, 1999, pp.95-6
^ acland, anne, 1981, p.27
^ acland, anne. devon family: story of aclands. london , chichester: phillimore, 1981, p.25
^ acland, 1981, p27
^ walrond, pp.423-433
^ macdermot, p.41
^ somerset archives dd\col/8 1775-1837: hunting diary of revd. j.b. of hawkridge , withypool 1775-1819 illustrations of stag heads , account of formation of devon , somerset subscription stag hounds, 1837. interleaved many papers incl. names of hounds in packs of mr. bassett (1780). sir thos. acland (1790), mr. worth (1808), ld. fortescue (1802), col. bassett (1798). printed list of subscribers , resolutions @ staghunt meeting @ exeter, 1822
^ biography of collyns of dulverton, victoria county history, exmoor, www.englandspastforeveryone.org
^ somerset archives dd\col mss collyns of dulverton
^ axe, matthew, chapman, lesley & miller, sharon. lost houses of eggesford, eggesford, 1995, pp.18-21
^ watson
^ yandle, tom. reminiscences, exmoor oral history archive 2001
^ bailys magazine
^ lethbridge, richard, mbe, barnstaple staghounds, bideford, 2004, pp.7-8
^ london gazette, 15 october 1880, p.5285
^ fox-davies, arthur charles. armorial families: directory of gentlemen of coat-armour
^ everard, p., p.31
^ said (erroneously) have been grandson of colonel basset , master 1775-1784, above 2 possible identities whom had no male progeny, making such relationship impossible. (lee, author rawdon briggs, history , description of modern dogs of great britain , ireland (sporting division), 1897)
^ everard, p., p.126
^ evered, philip. staghunting devon , somerset, account of chase of wild red deer, 1902
^ ball, richard francis. essex foxhounds, notes upon hunting in essex, p.284
^ everard, p.32
^ everard, p., p.127
^ bailys magazine, no.475, sept 1899, vol.72, biography pp.157-159
^ no. 28579 . london gazette. 9 february 1912. p. 979. 
^ no. 31712 . london gazette (supplement). 30 december 1919. p. 2. 
^ no. 33510 . london gazette. 28 june 1929. p. 4268. 
^ thepeerage.com robert arthur sanders, 1st , last baron bayford
^ http://thepeerage.com/p1465.htm#i14650
^ victoria county history, somerset, volume 6: andersfield, cannington, , north petherton hundreds, 1992, pp.158-162
^ watson, j.n.p., in pursuit of quantocks deer: spring hunting visit (ii)
^ macdermott, p.22
^ http://www.edgcotthouse.co.uk/househistory.html
^ war graves photographic project
^ exmoor oral history archive
^ twgpp
^ http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/11639/lot/69/?page_anchor=mr1_q_1%3dgreig%26mr1_lot_range_1%3d%26mr1_module_instance_reference%3d1%26mr1_list_grid_result%3dlist
^ https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:o6ewudnpeysj:www.llancarfansociety.org.uk/newsletter/314aa/pdf/nl119.pdf+badco+staghounds&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=adgeesinn5a-8ucg9sit0ldcmv7ye5veervlgtmi5nehrltpnn9znz-dleotztbik-5n87es5ggjc_uomso0hbbty_4wd_0rbobq3nikhnbexg-j0ubhoihdxvh6tft5pur6pyimgogw&sig=ahietbrb6zagtc3gd-z2d6vjapse4zf9jg
^ london gazette, 11 april 1916, p. 3847
^ fenton, roy. cornish steam-ships , owners: view england, published in troze , journal of national maritime museum of cornwall, vol. 1, no.3, march 2009
^ times, 10 november 1936, p. 19
^ [3]
^ e.r.lloyd, exmoor oral history archive