Albert Edwin Hawkins and the Percy Hunt

The Percy Hunt

Left group

Right group

Detail 1

Detail 2

Detail 3

Detail 4

The photograph is believed to be of the fox hunt now known as the Percy Hunt.

It was formed in 1870 when a Major A. Brown (or Browne) of Doxford Hall near Alnwick in Northumberland bought a dog pack from Lord Poltimore in Dorset and started hunting on land belonging to the Percy family, i.e., the Dukes of Northumberland. By the end of the l9th Century the hunt had settled into its present structure and become known as the Percy Hunt. It is now based at Alnwick.

It is not known when the photograph was taken but is probably from between 1870 and 1900. Written on the back is "Albert Edwin Hawkins ／ Father at Anic Casel in center". Anic Casel will be Alnwick Castle but does not necessarily indicate the photograph was taken at Alnwick Castle itself but that it might have been taken somewhere nearby while Albert was based at Alnwick Castle.

If this photograph is of the first Percy Hunt then the man in the centre wearing gaiters could be Major Brown. It may have been taken at Major Brown's kennels at Doxford Hall.

Many individuals in the photograph are wearing identical ties, worn cravat-style with a horshoe-shaped pin. Presumably these are the hunt 'colours' and those wearing them are members of the hunt. Those in the front row who wearing different ties may be patrons or guests.

As it is likely that a member of the land-owning Percy family would be present in such a formal photograph, it is possible that the elegantly-dressed individual seated fourth from the right in the front row is Lord Henry George Percy (1846-1918) who became the 7th Duke of Northumberland in 1899.

Any assistance with identification of the individuals or obtaining an accurate date for the photograph would be welcomed. Please post in the forum or contact me by email.

This image is hosted on behalf of the Hawkins of Little Coxwell internet research group.