ABOUT PHC
History of
Pembrokeshire Hunt
The Pembrokeshire Hunt has a very long and distinguished history.
Hunting in Pembrokeshire is first recorded in 1634 although a formal pack was not established until 1808, draughting hounds from English hunts.
The hunt in its present form came into being in 1828 with kennels located in Haverfordwest. One of the founding members was James Higgon of Scolton Manor, whose descendants have played important roles in the hunt to this day.
The most famous huntsman of the 19th Century was Mr F. Lort Phillips who hunted both sides of the River Cleddau including the country now hunted by the Cresselly. The country was subsequently divided with the south part of the country being hunted by Mr Henry Seymour Allen, the division lasting until today. In 1900 kennels were built at Slade, just outside Haverfordwest, where they have remained until the Hunt’s move to Treffgarne.
One of the Pembrokeshire’s most notable figures was Captain Jack Howell who was Master from 1909 to 1928, hunting hounds himself. He hunted throughout much of the First World War, apart from when he was serving, and even stepped in again for a short period in the Second World War.
Major Higgon, the great grandson of the hunt’s founder, became Master in 1938. Returning to his regiment he was captured and spent the remainder of the war in a prisoner of war camp. His wife, along with joint Master, Kenneth Walker kept the hunt going in his absence.
The post-war years were very successful for the hunt under the direction of firstly Sir Thomas Meyrick and then under a committee, hunting four days a week. The Hunt’s first professional huntsman, Bruce Ardle, was appointed in 1970. Our present huntsman, Gary Barber has been in place since 1985 joining from the Gelligaer and becoming a joint Master in 2007. Our other longstanding masters Margaret Johns and Ruth Rees were appointed just before the turn of the century, being joined by Charles Owen in 2012.
The hunt continues to provide great sport for followers, both mounted and on foot, across a wide variety of country. Its move to new kennels will lay the foundation for hunting in the county for many years to come.
CONTACT USHounds
& Kennels
The Pembrokeshire pack has always been made up of a mixture of English and Welsh blood. F. Lort Phillips in the late 19th century brought in hounds from the Taunton Vale and the Croome to which he added Welsh blood. At the time Welsh hounds were regarded as too independent (as they had to be in the wilder parts of Wales) and unmanageable. Proving this generalisation wrong, Lort Phillips loaned two of his best hounds to one of England’s fashionable Shire hunts, the Pytchley. They performed so well – in particular Dimple (sire Llangibby Danger) – that a famous poem was written in her honour.
The present hounds are a mixture of homebred and draughted.
MASTERS
Our other longstanding masters Ruth Rees (Senior Master) and Margaret Johns were appointed just before the turn of the century. Ella Richardson, our newest Master, was appointed in 2020.
HUNTSMAN
