A couple of weeks ago I showed you a picture of the Holcombe Hunt in 1934 (you may recall that today's 1908 picture of the Hunt was printed by error) but I have decided to let you see the 1908 picture again with the right caption because it includes many interesting details.

In 1908 it said: "Three times a week for a long number of years, the picturesque sight has been observed by country wanderers within a few miles of Bolton, of the meeting of the Holcombe Hunt.

"The days of the fox in this neighbourhood are no more, but hare-hunting affords an abundance of sport and excitement for hounds and sportsmen, whether the latter be afoot or horsed.

"The Holcombe Hunt is traditionally said to be the oldest in the country. Whatever justification there may be for the story that King James 1 had a day with the Holcombe Hunt at the time of his famous visit to Hoghton Tower, there is no question whatever that the Hunt flourished in the 18th century, and has continued to do so.

"The hounds are kept in the kennels at Holcombe. They are what are known as English harriers, 24 inches in height, and are bred in the kennels. They are a fine lot of hounds, well fitted for the trying country that they have often to traverse. The Hunt country may be described as lying within the following places: Withnell and Livesey on the north, Edenfield and Birtle on the east, the Bolton-Bury railway line on the south, and Smithills on the west, with Winter Hill as the extreme boundary mark. The best country is about Bradshaw, Bury and Bolton.

"A lover of dogs always finds much to interest him in such a picture as the one herewith depicted."