HUNT

Hunt at Bridge Inn ©

Richard Forrester (one of the Corstorphine Forresters) was a member of the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire Hunt possibly beginning in 1775 with the mastership of Sir William Augustus Cunygham of Livingstone husband of Frances Myrton of Gogar. In 1779 Richard was noted as “huntsmen at Linlithgow” when a reward was offered for the return of three dogs lost on the road from Dalkeith to Edinburgh. (Dogs were Rattler, Searcher and Ruin). Richard and his wife had the Hunt Inn at Linlithgow, earlier known as the Fox and Hounds Inn. His tombstone is at St Michael’s, Linlithgow. Forrester is said to have died c1805 when he was referred to as “Old Dick”. A miniature shows him wearing the badge of the Caledonian Hunt. Later the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire Hunt had its base at Golf Hall, Gogar.

Along with fellow estate owners, Craig of Riccarton, Christie of Baberton, Inglis of Redhall and Carmichael of Hailes, James Watson sued the Edinburgh Hunt in 1763 along with their huntsman Richard Vary. They charged Vary and his hounds with "leaping over their hedges and ditches and riding through sown corn in May 1762."

The sheriff found the charge proven. The lands of Hailes and old Saughton had been hunted across "after the wheat had been brieded". Vary was prohibited from riding there ever again and fined.

James Watson joined the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire hunt in 1805 and resigned in 1813.

The Hunt met fairly regularly in the locality this picture shows the Hunt on the Platt Hill during the 1988/9 meet.

Hunt on Platt Hill ©

The picture below shows the Hunt coming down the back road to the rear of the Holly Bush for the Stirrup Cup.

Hunt in Back Lane © Photographs from collection of J. Hamilton.

Due to the proliferation of the road network around the district the Hunt no longer meets in this area.

With the association of many of the landowners in the area with the Hunt over the years it is surprising how little information is available on this matter.