In recent years, unsurprisingly, hunting with dogs has largely fallen from favour.
A generation ago, it was a fairly common occurrence to see the local fox hunt careering through the countryside, but no longer.
But alongside this, there were sometimes other uses that dogs were put to, one of which is the subject of this article. In its heyday, Eastington Park (then called The Leaze) boasted a pack of Basset hounds, kept by Claude de Lisle Bush, the Park’s owner.
Educated at Clifton College and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1912, Claude saw action in the First World War. He was wounded at Ypres in 1914 but survived his injuries. Following the war, he was attached to the Kings African Rifles and served for some time in Mombasa, Kenya. Sadly, Claude’s time at The Leaze was to be cut short as he was once again sent to war. In January 1941, he was killed while fighting with the Gloucestershire Regiment. He is buried in Eastington churchyard.
Claude’s Basset pack seems to have been active particularly during the 1920s and 30s, and were frequently seen in and around the village, used mainly for hare coursing. During this period, Claude and his hounds were well known throughout the district. The dogs were looked after by his Master of Hounds, Jack Scarrat, although at times, he was assisted by local men Tom Smith and the late Wilf Hancock.
Remarkably, this photograph of the hounds on the banks of the Stroudwater Canal near Westfield Lock was re-
Steve Mills
The Basset Hounds of Eastington Park
