A Brief History of Beagling

A pack of beagles in full cry, racing over a winter landscape, is an exciting and beautiful sight. But there is much more to it than the skill of the huntsman and the quality of the hounds. It is an ancient and noble sport which has evolved slowly over the centuries and is built on the skill and dedication of many hunting people.

The hare was hunted on foot with hounds in ancient Greece, although the hounds are  believed  to have hunted by sight rather than scent. The sport of beagling, as we know it today, goes back to the 15^th century, and Queen Elizabeth is said to have been an  enthusiastic follower. The beagles of those days originated from an assortment of breeds, including greyhounds which imparted speed and better conformation. The word beagle is said to be derived from the Celtic word ‘beag’ meaning ‘small’.

Fox hunting overtook beagling in popularity in the 18^th century and it was not until the mid-19^th century that determined efforts were made to revive the sport. A great deal of effort was put into breed improvement, which laid the foundation of the blood-lines we have today. In 1875 there were 10 packs, by 1903 55 packs. Today there are 63 packs in Britain. In 1891 the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles (AMHB) was formed. The association compiled a Kennel Stud Book which listed – and continues to so do - the breeding of all beagles belonging to packs of AMHB members.

In the OBB kennels near Stoke Mandeville we have a well-used set of AMHB stud books going back to early in the last century. They are a fascinating record of the tremendous contribution Masters and Huntsman have made over the years to breed the wonderful hounds we have today.