The Albrighton Woodland Hunt was established in 1908. Before this date the country was hunted by the Albrighton Hunt. Hunting in the area can be traced back to 1792 when the area around Enville was hunted by Lord Stamford. After this date Sir Richard Pulseston from Pattingham hunted the Enville area.The country was irregularly hunted untill 1830 when the Albrighton Hunt was formed. The Albrighton Woodland Hunt was started to hunt the south side of the Albrighton country in 1908. In those early days it was the practice that the Master of the Albrighton was also master of the Albrighton Woodland. This practice ended in 1920 after which time they appointed their own Masters and Committee. The names of past Masters; Marsh, Cobham, Cope, Rowe and Harcourt Webb can still be found within the hunt country today. The countryside has changed over the years with roads conecting the towns getting faster and the building of the M5 in the 70's leading to the loss of some of the best grass country the Albrighton Woodland had to offer. The expansion of the urbanisation of Birmingham ever westwards means that meets on the edge of Halesowen are now lost to housing estates and industrial parks.Despite being so close to the urban fringe it is supprising to find tracts of unspoilt coutryside so close to a major city.With all the pressures of the modern world hunting continues and thrives in this part of England.
With all the pressures of the political attacks on hunting and the constraints of a shrinking countryside another threat was to rear its ugly head to threaten the survival of the Hunt. Foot and mouth disease was found in the area during the mass epidemic in 01/02 With no hunting and no fundraising it was a great credit to those Masters, staff and officials who kept the Hunt going in very difficult conditions.
The Hunt is going strong today with a team determined to continue the tradition of hunting in the West Midlands forward into the future. Hunting has had to adapt to changes and modern foxhunting is open and accountable. It is governed by the Masters of Foxhounds Association whose Code of conduct and rules we all have to abide by. Hunting is overseen by the Independent Supervisory Authority on Hunting (ISAH) This organisation inspects hunts regularly to ensure that rules, law and codes of conduct are followed through. It has the power to suspend individuals or hunts should the need arrise, the basic principle of hunting has not changed in all these years.......... to hunt the fox in its wild and natural state.
As the ban on hunting came into effect in Febuary 05 the Albrighton Woodland Hunt has changed its constitution to perform legal activites, this will enable the hunt to survive, maintain its structure, hounds and establishment until the day this vile act is repealed. The AWH will be performing events next season to ensure the country remains open and to remind those who wished us gone that we will keep fighting.
