Origins
In the early nineteenth century the Keswick Hounds were a trencher-fed pack maintained by local farmers for the purpose of hunting mountain foxes. They were hunted by Joshua Fearon, who became known as a 'terrible hunter'.
In 1826 Mr Crozier senior put the hounds in his own kennels at Gate Ghyll, Threlkeld and hunted them at his own expense, retaining the services of Joshua Fearon as huntsman. They were called 'Mr Crozier's Hounds' or 'The Threlkeld Hounds'.
Mr John Crozier was born in 1822 and was eighteen years old in 1840 when his father handed over to him the Mastership of the hounds, an office which he shared with Joshua Fearon for the first three years. In 1843 he purchased The Riddings estate in Threlkeld and transferred the pack, where it remained until 1945 when new accommodation was built close to the original kennels at Gate Ghyll. Mr Crozier became sole owner and Master, employing 'Laal' Isaac Todhunter as huntsman. For thirty years he maintained the hunt at his own expense.
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The present Kennels at Gate Ghyll |
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