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In past times, Bourne was often the centre of fox
hunting activity in South Lincolnshire, one of the most active packs being
the Cottesmore Hunt, established in 1666 by Viscount Lowther, together
with that owned by Sir John Trollope, who became the first Lord Kesteven
when he was raised to the peerage in 1869.
The hunts had a reputation in the neighbourhood for pursuing their
activities with scant regard for person and property because this was the
sport of the landed gentry and as many of those who participated were also
magistrates, few dared complain even though there were frequently scenes
of extreme cruelty to the foxes they pursued.
Nevertheless, the sight of hunting pink, horses and hounds, remained a
popular attraction and the Cottesmore is pictured here during their annual
meet in the market place at Bourne in 1914, an annual social occasion when
the public mingled with riders and followers enjoying the traditional
stirrup cup before moving off for a day’s hunting across the surrounding
countryside.
Since those days, fox hunting has become a controversial and emotive
subject resulting in the Hunting Act of 2005 which banned the pursuit of
wild animals with dogs although the traditional meets continue,
particularly on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, to give our market towns a
colourful occasion but without the cruelty. |
