3-052-385 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Royal Buckhounds: sketches of the kennels at Ascot Heath, 1880. 'Yard; F. Goodall showing his pets; the Kennel; Hospital; the Highmettled Hunter becomes Food for the Hounds; Kitchen; Dinner Time...The pastime of hunting fallow deer brought from the Royal park or from neighbouring demesnes, to be pursued and recaptured by the huntsmen, with the aid of this noble pack of hounds belonging to her Majesty the Queen, is an institution of historical antiquity...The kennels and the pack are in charge of the Keeper, Mr. Frank Goodall...At the back of the kennels are three large paddocks, or inclosed grass-fields, each about half an acre, which are the dogs' playground...A hundred yards distant is the slaughterhouse, where old horses, destined for the food of the hounds, are killed, in the manner shown in one of the Sketches, by shooting the animal behind the ear with a gun held close to it. The carcase of the horse is then dressed, divided, and consigned to the cook, who takes its quarters into the kitchen, and puts them into the large coppers for boiling. At the opposite side, in our Illustration of the kitchen, are seen two immense coolers, in which is to be found a quantity of oatmeal porridge, ready to be mixed with the chopped-up horseflesh'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.