Hunt CountryThe hunt country covers an area of almost 350 square miles of Berwickshire, measuring some 16 miles east to west between the Lauderdale Hunt and the eastern coast of the Scottish Borders, and 20 miles between Coldstream in the south and the Lammermuir Hills in the north. A varied country, it ranges from the glowing purple heather hill of the Lammermuirs, through the large fields of open stock farming country to the predominantly arable area of the ‘Merse’ of Berwickshire.
Read a description of the country in 1911 from British Hunts & Huntsmen
Hunt History The date of the establishment of the Berwickshire Hunt is not known, but it is believed to be the oldest hunt in Scotland. The 1st Earl of Home maintained a pack of hounds in Berwickshire at his own expense until his death in 1619, and was succeeded by his son. Records indicate its full existence in 1740 with Mr Lumsdaine of Blanerne as the Master.
The country has undergone a great many changes, and has close links with the Northumberland. Indeed at times the portion of country now hunted by the College Valley and North Northumberland has been incorporated with it. A still greater extent of the country was hunted during Lord Elcho’s Mastership, including that now hunted by the Percy.
In 1898 the Berwickshire’s name was changed to Northumberland and Berwickshire, and changed again in 1904 to NBH. On the death of Sir James Miller in 1906 the Northumberland portion was again given up as part of the Berwickshire Hunt and the present title was adopted.
1998 was the centenary of hounds being kennelled at Brieryhill. |
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Past Masters: |
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| –1619 | 1st Earl of Home | |
| 1619 – 1633 | 2nd Earl of Home | |
| 1740s | Mr Lunsdaine of Blanerne | |
| 1790 – 1826 | Mr George Baillie of Mellerstain and Jerviswoode *(see note at bottom) | |
| 1840 – 1843 | G Baillie Esq. (later 10th Earl of Haddington), R Baillie Esq. and Mr William Hay of Duns Castle | |
| 1840 – 1848 | Mr David Robertson of Ladykirk (Nothumberland) | |
| 1840 – 1867 | Lord Elcho (later Earl of Wemyss and March) | |
| 1848 – 1851 | Sir George H Boswall, Mr Robertson, and Sir H Hume Campbell (Berwickshire) | |
| 1867 – 1871 | Mr Askew | |
| 1871 – 1886 | Sir John Majoribanks Bt. of Lees | |
| 1876 – 1887 | 12th Earl of Haddington and The Hon R Baillie Hamilton | |
| 1872 – 1880 | Mr R Calder (Northumberland) | |
| 1884 – 1888 | The Hon. F W Lamberton of Fenton (Northumberland) | |
| 1886 – 1888 | Major J Hunter of Anton’s Hill (Berwickshire) | |
| 1887 – 1897 | Major J Hunter of Anton’s Hill (Whole country) | |
| 1897 – 1906 | Sir James Miller Bt. of Manderston | |
| 1906 – 1910 | F Usher Esq. | |
| 1910 – 1912 | Sir J Hume Campbell Bt. of Marchmont | |
| 1912 – 1915 | Col. C T Menzies and Captain J G Cheap | |
| 1915 – 1919 | Col. C T Menzies | |
| 1919 – 1922 | J L Greig Esq. | |
| 1922 – 1930 | M S Thomson Esq. | |
| 1930 – 1939 | Mrs Menzies | |
| 1939 – 1940 | Captain H R Trotter, Major C W Baillie and J Menzies Esq. | |
| 1939 – 1948 | A committee (Hounds hunted by Miss Annette Usher 1940-6 and Major H R Trotter 1946-8) | |
| 1948 – 1951 | Major H R Trotter and S E A Landale Esq. | |
| 1951 – 1953 | Major H R Trotter, S E A Landale Esq. and Major C W Baillie | |
| 1953 – 1958 | Major H R Trotter and Major C W Baillie | |
| 1958 – 1959 | Major H R Trotter, Major W V Burdon MC and Major A Horn | |
| 1959 – 1961 | Major W V Burdon MC and Major A Horn | |
| 1958 – 1967 | Major A Horn | |
| 1967 – 1969 | Major A Horn and D M Thomson Esq. | |
| 1971 – 1975 | D M Thomson Esq. and W R Tullie Esq. | |
| 1975 – 1981 | D M Thomson Esq., W R Tullie Esq. and T K Morgan Esq. | |
| 1981 – 1982 | D M Thomson Esq., W R Tullie Esq., T K Morgan Esq. and Major A R Trotter | |
| 1982 – 1983 | D M Thomson Esq., Major A R Trotter and D K Tweedie Esq. | |
| 1983 – 1988 | Major A R Tortter and D K Tweedie Esq. | |
| 1988 – 1991 | Major A R Tortter, D K Tweedie Esq. and Mrs R Dewar | |
| 1991 – 1992 | D K Tweedie and Mrs R Dewar | |
| 1992 – 1995 | Mrs R Dewar and Mrs J Y Cowan | |
| 1995 – 1996 | J H Whaley Esq. | |
| 1996 – 2000 | J H Whaley Esq. and The Hon Mrs J H Whaley | |
| 2000 – 2003 | J H Whaley Esq., The Hon Mrs J H Whaley, The Lady Palmer, Christine, Lady de la Rue and Miss D M M Calder | |
| 2003 – 2009 | R G Swan Esq. and A M Thomson Esq. | |
| 2009 – 2010 | R G Swan Esq., A M Thomson Esq. and Mrs Louise Aitken-Walker MBE. | |
| 2011 – 2012 | RA Innes Esq., R G Swan Esq. and Mrs Louise Aitken-Walker MBE. | |
| 2012 – | RA Innes Esq., R G Swan Esq., Mrs RA Innes, Mr M Arnott and Mrs D Russell | |
* Believed to be the first Master to enter hounds to fox (exclusively) in the district and understood to have introduced the green collar to the Berwickshire and Duke of Buccleuch’s hunts. |
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The Berwickshire Hunt C/o. Bughtrig Office Coldstream Berwickshire TD12 4JP