The Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Hunt* 



SO far as records can be traced, it would appear that foxhunting 

 was established in Scotland as far back as 1763, when hounds 

 were hunting over a portion of the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire 

 territory, so that must be regarded as the origin of the chase on this 

 side of the Tweed. Be that as it may, it was only eight years later, or 

 in 1771, that a pack of hounds was formed in the West, so that East country 

 enthusiasts could not claim much in the matter of priority. 



" The Roberton Hunt or the Glasgow Hounds " was the title of 

 the pack formed in 1771, and the prime movers in the concern were a 

 Mr. J. Orr, Mr. R. Dunmore, Mr. John Baird, and Captain Roberton. 



The minutes of the first meeting held on 8th April of the same year 

 go to show that much consideration was displayed regarding the Hunt 

 uniform, which was anything if not eccentric according to present modern 

 ideas. There were just over a score of members on the list, but at the 

 opening meet of the hounds, which were simply a scratch lot, only half a 

 dozen turned out, and the sport was not of much account. From the diary 

 of the late Mr. Orr, of Barrowfield, it would appear that the quarry was 

 only a secondary consideration, for after hunting and killing a fox on 

 Hamilton Moor, the pack had a good run after a hare. 



The first record of a meeting of this Hunt held at Bothwell Bridge on 

 8th April, 1771, is taken from an old book : — -" It was agreed as follows by 

 John Orr, Esq., Barrowfield, on the one part, and John Baird and Robert 

 Dunmore, Esq. (as taking burden on them for the Glasgow Hunt), on the 

 other part, that they shall have a united Hunt which shall be called by the 

 name of ' The Roberton Hunt,' and which shall have two meetings at this 

 place annually. The first of these to be some time in October or November 

 next as the gentlemen shall agree upon ; and the second (or Spring meeting) 

 to be in April following. 



" The following regulations are now agreed upon to which such others 

 as are afterwards thought proper shall be added : — 



" 1st. — That a Preses shall be chosen at every April meeting before the 

 Hunt party, who shall continue for a year and shall have the regulation of 



