ABSTRACT
This museum is the only institution in Britain dedicated primarily to addressing the history of hunting, not only as an aspect of Leicestershire history but also as a subject in its own right. The museum is located in Melton Mowbray, a town which in the eighteenth century became the Mecca for fox-hunting. As three of Britain’s main fox-hunting packs had territory adjoining the town, it was possible for wealthy sportsmen to hunt every day of the week by spending two days with each pack. The region offered a favourable combination of hedges, fences, coverts and large areas of enclosed grazing land (which have the advantage of ensuring better scents than arable land). Easy access to the town following the development of the railways in the nineteenth century enhanced its popularity. At its peak in the nineteenth century, in excess of 500 stables were maintained in the town, including those of such luminaries as the Marquis of Waterford whose notorious exploits with a pot of red paint led to the rise of the expression ‘painting the town red’. The museum houses an eclectic range of artefacts, from children’s books to memorabilia, associated with hunting, including a collection of books. The exhibitions are intended to encourage visitors to form their own opinions and to share their views via a postbox system.
