The Crufts' catalogue 1907 mentions Huson, Mr J, London Road - Hertford Heath, No 185 Lady Hertford b May 4th 1904 out of Ap Dorothy sired by Ap Thomas. This must have been Mr John Huson born ‘50 at Great Amwell Herts who lived at 26 London Rd Hertford Heath. According to the census ’51 his father John Williams Huson was Watchman at East India College, and his son John became butler at Haileybury College.  A source mentions – ‘John Huson came back to Hertfordshire in 1874 on an ‘Irishman' rise’ as Mr Jones called it , and has since been Common-room Butler for many years .’ Note – an Irishman’ rise being a reduction in pay. For many low-paid workers with children, an extra £2 a week may be no more than an 'Irishman' rise'. Another source  – ‘Jenningsbury Farm owned by Mr John Huson’. Jenningsbury Farm lies along London Road Hertford Heath and is a listed partly-moated farm house set in approximately three acres of plantsman’ gardens within fifteen acres of  ancient moat with extensive wild flower meadow beyond.

Haileybury College – see below -, formerly The East India College founded in 1806 as the training establishment for the Honourable East India Company which provided general & vocational education for young gentlemen of sixteen to eighteen years old who were nominated by its directors to writerships in the overseas civil service. In 1858, in the wake of the Indian Rebellion, the British government took over the administration of India and the college closed. The site was reopened in 1862 as Haileybury & Imperial Service College.

Mr Huson’ Hertford kennels are of breed historical interest through ch Nuneaton Helga bred by Mr John Huson out of his homebred Ap Dorothy sired by Ap Thomas, the latter bred by Cleveland man George Cook out of Marton Princess sired by ch Marksman’ brother Lord Stanley. Ch Nuneaton Helga became owned by Mr Wm Rylands b ‘54, publican of the Falstaff Inn – Rotherham, who bred from her  Coatham Daisy sired by Mr G Cook’ ch Felix.

Coatham Daisy was purchased by Mr George Cook and, mated to Adam, she produced Willington Duchess, dam of Cleveland Princess who, mated to Count Willington, gave that famous stud Adamas who a/o sired ch Cleveland Premier & his brindle brother C- Chancellor; another Daisy litter, this time sired by Cleveland Leopold, contained ch Lightning & Thunderbolt, the latter sired Tilly Dunn, dam of Ashenhurst Duke who sired those famous Ashenhurst champions twin Cedric & Bernicea . There’s no picture of Nuneaton Helga on record but - above at left - Lady Colunio & - at right - Bellegrove Beauty sired by Colunia’ brother Wolfram ; both Colunia & Wolfram were strongly related to ch Nuneaton Helga having the same sire [Ap Thomas] and the same maternal grandsire [Mellnotte].

The Our Dogs’ readers article was written by the Dutch gentleman W J Van der Werff of The Hague – see at right – who, exalting the modern Mastiff type as p ex ch Marc Antony’ son Black Anthony – see dark brindle at right -  instead, preferred the so-called old type as a/o Am ch Minting’ brother Charlie Wood – see fawn at right – and the dogs of painter Gabriel. Born at Amsterdam 1828, Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriel became a member of ‘The Hague School of painters’. Mr PJC Gabriel resided at Brussels during the 1860s and died in ’03 at Scheveningen.

Archie Gander was a fawn born ’04 & bred by Mr Robt Leadbetter - out of Mother Goose unr sired by ch Hazlemere Archie – and owned by Mrs Helen Jonas of Cambridge; he got 2nd prizes at Darlington ’05 – cc for his uncle ch Czar Peter, and at Crystal Palace ’06 beaten by his other uncle Pinner Beau. Mr Van der Werff’ other favourite, the brindle Flex was born ’06 and bred by Mr George Cook out of Marton Kitty unr sired by Tom Bowling’ grandson Nuneaton Lion; two months after the publication of this article Felix got his 1st challenge award under Lt-Col Z Walker beating Mr Leadbetter’ ch Hazlemere Ronald. Felix got his other cc’s at Edinburgh ’09 under Mr Midgley Marsden and at Crufts ’10 under Mr Fred Gresham. Mr W J Van der Werff also states that Our Dogs ‘largely circulates’ on the continent; this canine journal was founded by Mr Theophilus Marples of Manchester in 1896.

The attempt to stamp out rabies in Great Britain was an experiment undertaken by the government in the public interest. The principal means adopted were the muzzling of dogs in infected areas,  and prolonged quarantine for  imported animals. The efficacy of dog-muzzling in checking the spread of rabies and diminishing its prevalence has been repeatedly proved in various countries. Liable as other animals may be to the disease, in England at least the dog is pre-eminently the vehicle of contagion and the great source of danger to human beings. There is a difference of opinion on the way in which muzzling acts, though there can be none as to the effect it produces in reducing rabies. Probably it acts rather by securing the destruction of ownerless and stray which generally includes rabid dogs than by preventing biting; for though it may prevent snapping, even the wire-cage muzzle does not prevent furious dogs from biting, and it is healthy, not rabid, dogs that wear the muzzle.

It has therefore been suggested that a collar would have the same effect, if all collarless dogs were seized; but the evidence goes to show that it has not, perhaps because rabid dogs are more likely to stray from home with their collars, which are constantly worn, than with muzzles which are not, and so escape seizure. Moreover, it is much easier for the police to see whether a dog is wearing a muzzle or not than it is to make sure about the collar.

By the spring of 1899 that is, in two years the disease had disappeared in Great Britain, except for one area in Wales; and, with this exception, muzzling was everywhere relaxed in October 1899. It was taken off in Wales also in the following May, no case having occurred since November ‘99. Rabies was then pronounced extinct . During the summer of 1900, however, it reappeared in Wales, and several counties were again placed under the order. The year 1901 was the third in succession in which no death from hydrophobia was registered in the United Kingdom. In the ten years preceding 1899, 104 deaths were registered, the death-rate reaching 30 in 1880. According to  KCSB data, the  last Mastiff entries - before muzzling rules - owned by foreign fanciers, ie  Mr Gerbrand Deetman of A’dam - The Netherlands, were at Birkenhead 1897, namely ch Mark Antony & Jonathan’ daughter Gladys.

Above - Ch Broomcourt Romeo’ paternal half brother Broomcourt John b Aug ’37 out of ch  Cleveland Hugo’ dau Broomcourt Revival  sired by Broomcourt Jem. Put up for sale in Our Dogs Xmas Supplement ‘39 by his owner Mr John Illingworth and described as – ‘big upstanding dark brindle - winner of two cc’s , good body , legs & feet , dark eye , correct with stop & muzzle such as few Mastiffs have to-day , good shower without trace of shyness’. Mr J Illingworth, of Croft House 36 High Street Brighouse nr Halifax,  had owned four champions, ie Ashenhurst Cedric [b ’21 ~ ch Boadicea ex Ashenhurst Duke], Broomcourt Black Mask [b ’31 ~ ch Hellingly Ajax’ sis Arethrusa ex Cleveland Comedian ], Broomcourt Marcon [b ’34 ~ ch Broomcourt Comedienne ex ch Hellingly Marksman], and double Crufts winner Broomcourt Romeo [b ’34 ~ Broomcourt Tess ex Broomcourt Jem].

The author of the article, Mr William Leslie McCandlish  b Edinburgh 1868-47, was KC Chairman between 1925-35 and famous breeder of Ems’ Scottish Terriers. He was the son of Mr John MacGregor McCandlish 1821–01, lawyer and first President of the Faculty of Actuaries. Mr William L McCandlish’ grandfather, William McCandlish of the Exchequer 1788-72, was Receiver General of Taxes for Scotland.

Mr John Illingworth, born at Southowram in 1877, married in ‘16 Miss Mary Widdop, daughter to  William Widdop, a ‘jeweller & watchmaker’ in Brighouse [see  his shop picture ~ c 1883 ~ nearby J Illingworth’ Croft House at 36 High Street Brighouse. Mary Widdop inherited the business just after World War I and her husband John Illingworth ran and diversified the Company into engineering, cabinet making and watch case manufacturing between the wars whilst still retaining the watch and distribution Company. After the war the distribution Co restarted as ‘Widdop , Bingham & Co’ in Manchester and the Company prospered under John' son Bob. - URL link– Widdop & Co is still in business.

Mr Illingworth bred a litter out of Clayton Diane, sis of Jersey Queen [dam of champions John Evans’ Prince & Guy Greenwood’ Duke], sired by Ashenhurst Duke’ grandson Wendycot Peter which resulted in Elvet Barrie [sired Broomcourt Shiela, ie Ben Bennett’ Broomcourt foundation brood] and Brigeawa [dam of Crook’ [Tiddicar] King Leon & Selene which produced Venus ~ dam to three Tiddicar champions General, Diana & Prudence [of Hellingly] sired by ch Hellingly Cardinal ~, Leon Mc Lean ~1 cc~ & Kinder Monarch ~2 cc’s~] .

Besides champion Ashenhurst Cedric [b ’21 ~ Ashenhurst Duke x ch Boadicea] & ch Broomcourt Black Mask [b ’31 ~ Cleveland Comedian x ch Hellingly Ajax’ sis Arethrusa], Mr Illingworth has owned three other breed cracks, namely the fine brindle ch Broomcourt Marcon [b ’34 ~ ch Hellingly Marksman x ch Broomcourt Comedienne] , and two sired by Broomcourt Jem [Cleveland Comedian’ Broomcourt Prince Boris x ch Broomcourt Comedienne], namely the fawn ch Broomcourt Romeo [b ’34 ~ out of Broomcourt Tess] , 5 cc’s a/o at the 2 last pre-war Crufts , & the brindle Brooncourt John [b August ’37 ~ out of Broomcourt Revival sired by ch Broomcourt Comedienne’ & ch Broomcourt Black Mask’ brother ch Cleveland Hugo] whom got a cc under Sam Crabtree at Manchester , March ’39 , another under S Warburton at Harrogate , September ’39 , the last cc show before war began . - The Our Dogs’ advert presents a head study of Brigedric – out of ch King Baldur’ dau Girl sired by ch Ashenhurst Cedric.

After the war he contributed to ‘Our Dogs’ Mastiff breed notes and judged the breed in ‘54 at Paignton [ch Mansatta Vilna] , ’56 at Crufts [ch Aethelred & ch Havengore Diann] , ’57 at Richmond [ch Moonsfield Baron & ch Havengore Diann] , ’60 at Richmond [ch Havengore Hotspot & Dr Allison’ Wythybush Izod] , and finally being 85 years old in ’62 at Blackpool [Weatherhill Guide ~bred by Dr Allison Havengore ~Adam x Wythybush Izod~ & Dr Allison’ ch Milf Manetta ~ch Havengore Hotspot x Sparry Serena~]. Dr Rhoda Allison, also a Brighouse resident [Weatherhill, Woodhouse Lane], bred the following year a litter out of ch Milf Manetta [Murias’ sis] sired by Copenore Jason  producing a grand champion called Weatherhill Thor , who  a/o influenced the famous Hollesley strain of Mrs Pamela Day.

This extract written by the only twenty-one years old Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne can be considered as part of a blazing plea called ‘The British Mastiff ~ Defensio non offensio’ [16 pp] against the content of ‘ The old English Mastiff ’ article [20 pp] from the hand of the experienced 57-years old breed connoisseur Mr Harry De Spencer Kingdon presented  as the Mastiff chapter of Mr Henry Webb’ book [1873] figuring also the first photographs of dogs in history .

Mr Henry Webb hereby mentions ~ ‘Desirous of being impartial, we have inserted the foregoing, the contribution of a gentleman [ed - HDS Kingdon], who argues in defence of the Mastiff in his unmixed purity, but we must state that many well-known breeders hold different opinions, and advocate crossing the Mastiff with the Bull-Dog, to give greater courage and strength.' - He goes on saying ~ ‘We hoped for some valuable information from Mr Edgar Hanbury of Highworth, who, however, wrote as follows ~ ‘I must, on consideration, forego my promise relative to the information on Mastiffs. The fact of my being a breeder makes it extremely difficult to express my opinion on the subject without criticising other strains.’ -

At right - Mr Edward Field' ch King II b '67, sibling from the Wynnes' fitst KCSB reg  litter, ie born '67 out of Old Norah – bred by Captain Cox - sired by ch King, and it actually may have been bred Mr MB Wynne' father Rev Robert Wynne, rector of Scalford. The next year Mr Balls' Phoebe – bred by Mr Hanbury -, mated to Rev Wynne' Wolf - bred by Mr L L Pemberton -, produced Mr Hanbury' Phillis - dam of ch Queen (by Lindoe' Druid), ch Rajah (by ch King' maternal nephew Griffin),  & ch Taurus (by ch King).

The book ‘Records of the Corrie family’ written by Mr M B Wynne’ cousin Miss Jessie Corrie states p 67 – ‘Uncle Bob Wynne – ed then vicar of Corhampton - owned the ‘tallest horse in Hampshire’ – and according to the booklet 'Lincolnshire leaders, social & political', Rev Robert Wynne was a scolar of Wadham College Oxford  who educated his son Malcolm privately at home. So it's not a long shot to presume he provided  young Wynne jr - born 1852 - a substantial amount of breed historical research published in his book dd 1886, five years after the death of his father who, together with his cousin Fanny Corrie,  had the good fortune to inherit in 1861 some £ 14,000  - present value  £1,000,000+ – from his aunt Mary Wynne, widow of Mr Henry Dickinson 1790- 1856 of London.

Ch Wolsey was bred in 1873, the year Mr Henry Webb’ 1st edition of his ‘Dogs, &c.’ was published and the Kennel Club was founded too. Lukey’ Baron was brother of Lukey’ champion Beauty; Hodge’ Charlie sired Harold’ & ch Peeress’ dam Y – Empress; ‘ Alp, the reputed Lyme Hall bitch ‘ was owned by Harry De Spencer Kingdon of Colyton Devon. At right -  countryman MB Wynne in a wheelbarrow. Note - picture above at left is not ch King but his son  Baron bred/owned by Mr T H V Lukey.

The owner of Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne’ Terror -  Young King II’ granddau Phoenix ex ch Beaufort -, Mr John Satchell Hopkins of Birmingham, bred in 1896 one of the grandest Victorian Mastiff bitches, ie champion Marcella – out of Tom Bowling’ maternal niece Honeysuckle sired by Tom Bowling' paternal half brother  ch Marc Antony -, Tom Bowling renowned for having sired ch Peter Piper. Mr Hopkins’ Terror was described by Mr Harding Cox as – ‘a good male but of a very washy fawn colour,  having a somewhat sour expression, with what rabbit fanciers, I believe, term as a blue-smut muzzle .’

Concerning the table - Wynne is the correct spelling!

Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne mentioned as Reverend M B Wynn or a persistent misconception in Mastiff history. - Because 1) census records, historian Mrs Brenda M Pask, and a/o also the book ‘Records of the Corrie family’ written by Mr M B Wynne’ cousin Miss Jessie Corrie mentions his father as Robert Wynne, so not Wynn; and 2) in 1888 he resigned as a member of the OEMC, disappeared from the Mastiff scene and became trained at the Gloucester School; in 1889 he was ordained a deacon and the following year finally priest. He became Rector of the parishes East - & West Allington [some five miles north of Belvoir castle] nearby Grantham until his death on 3 March 1909. He was President of the Grantham Clerical Society  & Co-Manager of the School. Which makes clear he never was a Reverend during his years of 'active' Mastiff fancy.

Thanks to the Archivist Ms Amanda Jane Boxford of the Grantham Library it was possible to trace another interesting reference in a local book ‘Allington ~ The history of a Lincolnshire Village‘ written by Mrs Brenda M Pask. Quote - ‘Our knowledge of Allington at the turn of the century is greatly increased by the work of the Rector, Reverend M B Wynne. For a number of years he published a Christmas Newsletter entitled ‘Allington East and West  ~ Past and Present‘ . This was a pamphlet of some eight pages in which he made observations on local events, interspersed with pastoral exhortations.

Rev. Geo Crabbe [at left], Rector of West Allington from [1789-1814], from a painting of Rev M B Wynne’ daughter Lilian G G Wynne,  was reproduced on the cover of Reverend M B Wynne’ Christmas Newsletter dd 1905. The publications are particularly valuable for the detailed information he gives on local flora and fauna. He mentions the appearance of a Manx Shearwater on the Glebe land [1902], he describes the Green Woodpecker as common in the parish and mentions that a spotted Flycatcher had built a nest in his summer-house [1904] and that a Golden Crested Wren – see centre - has suspended its nest in his yew trees [1905]. Each year he records the date of first hearing the Nightingale and Cuckoo, and the appearance of the Swallows.

The weather of the year 1903 received special comment ~ ‘ The season will long be remembered as the wettest for the last 50 years. A spring with fruit blossom cut off by frosts, followed by a late hay-harvest. Newark Church windows having been damaged by the storm of hail that passed over us on July 25th. Our corn crops fairly good, and harvested much more fortunately than in many other villages, but the potatoes sorely affected by disease.’ - Mr Wynne, a keen lepidopterist, regularly recorded the appearance of Red Admirals – see at right -, Peacocks, Tortoiseshells & Painted Ladies. In 1906 he published, as an appendix to the Christmas Newsletter, a list of twenty butterflies [nine common in Allington] and a hundred and twenty-five moths [twenty-four common in Allington] observed within a mile and a half of Allington, during the seasons 1900 to 1906.

At left ~ The Village Cross of Allington with the Dutch gabled Manor House owned by Lord Baron Reginald Earle Welby [1832 – 1915]. Centre - Reverend MB Wynne, writing in his parish letter at Christmas, 1904, describes the finding of a polished green Neolithic axe in his potato patch at the Allington’ Rectory [built in 1870]. At right – Mr M B Wynne’ Young King b ’75 out of ch King’ dau Juno sired by ch King’ son Mr Elwell’ ch Taurus.

At left~ Allington Hall, the residence of the Welby family. Sir Geo Welby [1851-1936], the last Welby owner of the Estate, was educated at Eton and Trinity College [Cambridge] before entering the Diplomatic Service. Later on he became Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister Resident and Consul General in Bogota, Columbia. He had a home in London as well as Allington and became Mayor of Westminster in 1915. Centre ~ Holy Trinity Church of Allington, showing the 14th century bellcote; in front is the mower drawn by a leather boothed horse.At right - The Allington Salt Well’ earliest reference is to be found in a document of 1226. Several Sixteenth Century’ wills record bequests for the repairing of the Holy or Salt Well and clearly it has been an important element in Allington life, being the only village well which not dry up , even in drought conditions. It became something of a mecca for early photographers. At right ~ Reverend Malcolm Bush Wynne at the Allington’ Well  in the company of a/o Charlie Handley  [Post Office], Dick Drury and Sam Howitt.

This 'The Field' article published in The Grantham Journal dd April ’08 – less than a year before his death - indicates that Mr M B Wynne’ opinions re the Mastiff fancy were still appreciated. Rev Wynne mentions a/o - 'I commenced to breed some thirty-seven years ago' which substantiates the belief that it was his father - Rev Robert Wynne vicar of Scalford between '65-81 - who bred Mastiffs in former years, ie five KCSB recorded litters from '67 up to '70 and   so-called bred by his son. Quite interesting is also that he believed - 'our modern English Mastiffs - lacking in activity and muscular power, in fact in fighting properties - might be improved by a judicious cross with some specimens of the true French Mastiffs (le Dogue de Bordeaux)'. -

Quite interesting is also his statement  - re Mr Kingdon' stock - 'But in 1873 I put it on record - In an in breeding seems to me against all rule, and tends to diminish size. Blood which has to revolve in  too close a circle is sure to degenerate, &c' -. Looking at Mr Wynne'  litters since '73, there was a/o 1) Formosa  b '73 out of a sis/brother mateing, 2) Young King b '75 out of a half sis/brother mateing.

Note – 1)  In the 3rd column Rev MB Wynne is puzzled whether the Lyam hound might refer to Lord Newton’ estate Lyme Hall, but lyam refers to the lyam - or leash - used by the handler during a hunt with a Bloodhound in order to track game, a/o deer or boar, by scent. And , as far as known, there’s no source which substantiates that the Lyam hound was derived – ‘from crossing the progenitors of the Bulldog with larger breeds.’ -

Below  - The Black Bull Inn and its sign at Sleaford - ca 20 mls E of Allington - figuring the Bull & three dogs described by Rev M B Wynne. The Nottingham Evening Post dd Aug ‘ ‘07 – ‘The ancient sport of bull baiting was often associated with this animal as sign. The Black Bull at Sleaford, in Lincolnshire, retains its ancient sign, built into the wall. It represents a bull being baited, with the date 1689 and  and the initials B R M. Underneath is the date 1791, with the letters I W.’ - His particular interest in the ancient 'sport' of bull baiting and - in his own words - 'having owned very active Mastiffs and fast fighters', may perhaps explain that he was a breeder & successful show exhibitor of Game Cocks too.

At left – newspaper article dd Feb 1880 about a hidden gem for breed historians. At right – Rev Wynne’ obituary dd March ’09 which mentions  that he was a great lover of sports, especially of cricket, and - erroneously - 'a noted breeder of St Bernards’. The Wynne family moved from Allington Rectory to Upton House Upton nr Southwell Notts where his wife - Mary Alice Butterworth Wynne née Sunderland born ’59 at Halifax - died in '43. Their children were all born at The Elms Rothley Barrow upon Soar nr Loughborough Leicestershire, ie 1) Abraham Sunderland Bindley Fountayne Peter Wynne b ’83 who died in ’64 at Worksop Notts in ’64 aged 80, 2) Lilian Gladys Georgina Wynne b ’86 who married in ’18 Mr Owen Jersey Law b ’71 of Mains Sanquhar – ca 50 mls S of Glasgow, one of the leading stock-breeders (shorthorn cattle) and farmers in the North of Scotland who died in ’32 at Inverness, and 3) William Henry Wynne b ’88 who died dd Oct 13th ’15 at Loos * en Gohelle  Pas de Calais France - Lincolnshire Regt - aged 27.

At left & centre - postcard sent from Whitby Yorks dd Aug '12 and adressed to W(illiam) Wynne Upton House Upton. An omen of what will happen three years later? - Wiki quote - 'The Battle of Loos took place from 25 September – 8 October ‘15 in France. It was the biggest British attack of ‘15, the first time that the British used poison gas and the first mass engagement of New Army units *. The French and British tried to break through the German defences in Artois & Champagne and restore a war of movement. Despite improved methods, more ammunition and better equipment, the Franco-British attacks were contained by the German armies, except for local losses of ground. British casualties at Loos were about twice as high as German losses. * The New Army, often referred to as Kitchener' Army - see poster at right -, was an (initially) all-volunteer army of the British Army formed in the United Kingdom from 1914 onwards following the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War in late July 1914. It originated on the recommendation of Horatio Kitchener 1850-16, then the Secretary of State for War. Kitchener' original intention was that it would be formed and ready to be put into action in 1917, but circumstances dictated its use before then. The first use in a major action came at the Battle of Loos.' -

This standard, adopted by the ‘ Mastiff Breeding Club’ dd ’73, was published in Mr Henry Webb’ book ‘Dogs, their pecularities, &c’ together with Mr M B Wynne’ article ‘Defensio non offensio’ of twelve pages in which he a/o states – ‘One observation Mr Kingdon makes I agree with, and that is on the point of colour. This is a point I would prefer seeing done away with. I care little what colour a Mastiff is, and would just as soon have a dog with a white face and neck, or pie, as Peveril, as a fawn with black ears and muzzle. Old pictures show many of the best dogs possessing white faces and neck: Lukey’ Bruce; Garnier’ Lion – edit Lukey Governor’ sire -; Hanbury’ Lady, sister of Lion; Lukey’ Cardinal; Lukey’ Bell; Dan, the sire of Saladin - edit Cautley Quaker' sire -; and many others, all with more or less white on head or neck, and Vandyke’ picture of the Mastiff of Charles I’ day. All breeders must become converts to this opinion sooner or later, I feel sure.’ –

Below - part of a tableau published in the Illustrated London News dd Dec page 545 figuring the prize winners of  Poultry and Dogs  at the Birmingham Show where Peveril - labeled by Mr M B Wynne as pie in colour - got the champion prize. Nothing in this drawing, by the renowned artist Harrison Weir, indicates that Peveril was heavily patched in colour, but only presenting a white blaze. - Note - Peveril was full brother of the Wynnes' Old Druid.

Mr M B Wynne’ point of view is grist to the mill of some Mastiff fancy to-day. Fact is that the Mastiff Breeding Club led by a/o Mr Wynne was dissolved due to a/o the penalty of expulsion of members who showed their Mastiffs under judges who weren’t member of the Mastiff Club or at shows who were not approved by the Mastiff Club. The result was an utter lack of support and the Northampton show of 1876 held under their auspices had only four entries, a similar fiasco occurred at Bristol in 1877, and a revised breed standard dd 1880 aside, the sputtering  flame of the 1st Mastiff Club faded away. - All in all - Mr M B Wynne could never persuade the then Mastiff fancy of his ‘colour’ opinion and it’s a vain question if present-day acolytes adhering his ‘colours’ and - on top of that -  even heavily patched dogs, are beating a dead horse.

The author of the Stock-Keeper article dd Feb ‘81, Mr R Balderston, may have been Mr R M Balderston of Station road Sandbach – Cheshire ca eighty mls West of Scalford where the Wynnes’ kennels were located. According to the KCSB Mr Balderston owned several Mastiffs, ie Byron’ son & daughter  Griffin & Vera, b July ’74 and ch King’ grand-daughter Meg, b ’75 . The KCSB doesn’t mention the subject of the court case against MB Wynne, ie 'Rowena' bred by Mr Balderston(e)  but perhaps she was progeny of the Mastiff(s) mentioned hereabove.

The article mentions rightly Mr Wynne' Norah being described by the Stud Book  as -' white blaze on muzzle, white neck, legs and tip of stern' -; Mr Wynne' Norah was the result of a sis/brother - Muna ex King II - mateing back to the Wynnes' foundation brood Old Norah -  bred by Captain Cox - ex ch King, the latter described as - 'a fawn, black ears and muzzle' -. So it's possible  the Wynnes'  foundation brood Old  Norah possessed markings similar to her daughter Norah who produced British King sired by a maternal nephew of the white-faced Peeress, namely  Young King, Mr Wynne' last homebred stud.    It might be clear that the white markings ran through the entire history of the Wynnes' kennels, and certainly had influenced Mr Wynne' opinion re the colour of the  breed as a whole. Prejudiced or not, one never shall know.

According to the KCSB, the Wynnes'  white-faced Peeress was only once shown, namely at Birmingham Dec '72 judged by Mr Edgar Hanbury who was co-instrumental in founding the Mastiff Breeding Club around that time; Peeress got 1st prize seconded by the Wynnes' Empress b '68 & bred by Mr Hodge - out of ch Turk' maternal aunt Slut sired by Charlie -, the latter out of Mr Kingdon' Alp sired by Lukeys Governor' son Mr Hanbury' Prince   -.   

The painting by the artist Robert Home 1752-‘34 presents one of the greatest anatomists of all time, ie Scotsman John Hunter b 1728-’93 founder of experimental pathology in England  together  with a Mastiff type showing semi-erect ears and light creamy coat incl white blaze.

Scalford in times of the Wynne family, ie Rev Robert Wynne being Anglican rector between March 1865 – December ‘81.  A village & civil parish in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, lying four 4 mls N of  Melton Mowbray at the southern end of the Vale of Belvoir  and situated on the Jubilee Way footpath from Melton Mowbray to Belvoir Castle and a 'stop off' for walkers between Melton & the Vale of Belvoir. The name of the village is derived from Old English and originally meant shallow ford. The Scalford parish church, which is on a small hill in the centre of the village, is named after St Eglewin and is believed to be the only one in the country named after this saint, a Public Elementary School was built here in 1861 and enlarged in 1873.

Like many villages, Scalford has lost a number of industries and amenities over the years. There used to be a dairy which produced Stilton cheese, three bakers, a blacksmith, stonemasons, builders, a shoe mender  and a range of shops  - one incorporating the post office  -. Around 1875-1930 , there were also flourishing brickyards a/o ‘Lionville brickyard’ and bricks with the Scalford imprint burned in can still be found; the master' house remains and is called ‘Lion House’ -  see at left - after the company name . At right – Scalford railway station.

Scalford dd 1871 - 2,520 acres, real property £3, 855, population 553, and houses 124 including the Plough Inn & the Black Horse. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Peterborough, value  £355, Patron  the Duke of Rutland. There are chapels for Wesleyans & Primitive Methodists, a national school & and charities £25. - Source - John Marius Wilson' Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales. The Anglican parish church, built in the 13th  c, is dedicated to St Eglewin the Martyr, the church chancel rebuilt in 1845, the church restored in 1859 and counts  320 seats.  The Wesleyan Methodists built a large chapel here in 1844 to replace an older one and the Primitive Methodists built a chapel here in 1835, a new one was constructed in 1870.

Newspaper snippets re Scalford - October 21th 1865 – ‘A very interesting game at cricket was played Thursday, on the grounds of the Rev R Wynne Scalford, between eleven of the Scalford club and eleven of the Morning Star club.’ - December 30th 1881 – ‘The Vicarage of Scalford is vacant by the sudden death on Dec 27th  of the Rev R Wynne. The living returned in the gift of the Duke of Rutland.’ -  January 07th 1882 - 'On the 24th of November, after long suffering, Eva Charlotte Reeve Wynne, only daughter of the Rev Robert Wynne, vicar Scalford Leicestershire, aged 28 years.’ - 

This KC show dd July 1887  - see above at left drawing by the artist R H Moore - was  hosted by the Ranelagh Club on the northerly loop of the River Thames between Barnes and Fulham; Barn Elms is derived from the Georgian house – see above at right - & parkland which stood on the site. Mastiff judge of the day was Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne whose book ‘The History of the Mastiff’ – dedicated to a/o Mr John Lyall of Glasgow and Rev Henry Waters, Chaplain of Bedford Prison – was published the year before and therefore an extra point of attraction.  Interestingly,  in Challenge Class Mr Wynne gave the first three prizes to ancestors of the highly outstanding ch Peter Piper born '93, ie maternal G3 sire ch Beaufort, maternal & paternal G4 sire ch Montgomery, and paternal G4 sire ch Victor Hugo;   3rd prize in Open Class Bitches, ie ch Montgomery' brindle daughter  Zillah III  was commented by Mr Wynne as a/o - 'still, she is strong in some points calculated to make her a useful brood bitch', an estimation which became confirmed by her son ch Ogilvie, ch Peter Piper' paternal grandsire. Ch Ogilvie sired ch PP' paternal aunt ch Brampton Beauty and ch Marc Antony, the latter renowned for having sired ch Marcella, ch Clarice sire The Cadet, and ch Ha Ha, the latter bred by Mr Wm Norman Higgs..

– Notes 1) – re the words of Augustus recalled themselves ‘Ergo sum inter suspiria et lacrymais’ and the lines of Ovid ‘Et hic praedam pedibus petit , ille salutem ; alter inhaesuro similis’ written by Mr MB Wynne to describe the scene’ or translated freely – ‘Hence I’m between the sighing and  weeping ones ’ - ‘and this one seeks prey with its feet , that one safety ; one like one about to grasp’. 2) Mr Gambier Bolton 1854-29 was - Wiki quote - 'an English author and photographer of subjects on natural history and 'psychical phenomena'. Bolton made numerous photographs of animals during his travels to many countries, including one with the party accompanying the duke of Newcastle on his tour. His interest in animal photography was professional, amongst the first intending to profit from this pursuit. His works are sometimes preserved as scientific records for societies, though their value was not widely recognised, and appeared in journals and books of zoology. He was a founding member of the club devoted to Siamese cats, founded in England in 1901.'

Mr M B Wynne, the man who – dixit – ‘did not care what colour a Mastiff is’, reported about ch Beaufort’ Black Prince’ dam Gerda – ‘2nd prize, except for want of blackness of ears, is a little model, &c’ - and about her sis Frigga – 3rd prize, is not so good in a/o … colour, &c’. As far as known, this Ranelagh show of 1887 was Mr Wynne’ last Mastiff judging appointment.

The 1894 annual report was published in the Kennel Gazette dd Jan ‘95 and written by Mr Charles Court Rice ’61-36 - who bred a/o ch Frigga Secunda, ch Elgiva & ch Ha Ha' sire Dynevor -.  The article mentions a/o 1) Miss Constable b ’93 & bred by Mr W N Higgs out of ch Beaufort’ dau Coombe Biddy sired by ch Hotspur’ paternal grandson Dick Constable; 2) Jonathan - owned by the Dutch fancier Mr Dobbelmann – who sired a/o ch Holland’ Black Boy & Am ch Black Peter; 3) ch Ilford County Member b ’89 & bred by Mr Richard Cook out of ch Beaufort’ dau  Ilford Lady Cobrey sired by ch Orlando’ son ch Jack Thyr; 4) Ingestre b ’92 & bred by Mr J S Cockerton out of ch Jack Thyr’ dau Amalaswintha sired by ch Beaufort’ son Lord Stafford; and 5) the rising star Peter Piper b March '93.

In his 1894 annnual report Mr Charles Court Rice mentions a/o – ‘there can be no doubt they – ed present Mastiffs – have reached a healthier position than at any other recent period’ and ‘I am sure I am right in saying that the Mastiff’ position is in a healthier tone than it has been for years’.

Just a year later Mr C C Rice’ comments have changed drastically leaving the reader with an unadulterated lamentation about the state of the breed, ie the Mastiffs, their breeders & judges, thereby yearning for times gone by. One may wonder what has happened to change his mind, and if such kind of report was a cue that the 34 years old Mr Rice was about done with the Mastiff fancy in England as only a few years later he and his family left England  to start a new life in Australia, particularly Sidney.

This report dd Jan 1890 was written by ‘A YOUNG BREEDER’, most probably Mr Charles Court Rice too. Ch Jack Thyr owned & bred by the Belgian Rev Henry Van Doorne - out of ch His Majesty King Canute' dau Lady Canute sired by ch Orlando -  got a/o the Crufts '91 cc. Ch Lord Stafford’ brother Sir Stafford – see 4th alinea – sired Mr Rice’ first two litters, ie 1) out of ch Orlando’ dau ch Frigga resulting in ch Frigga Secunda & Beaufort Cardinal, the latter exported to the US, and 2) out of ch Frigga Secunda which produced ch Ha Ha’ sire Dynevor & her sis Osburga II. Mr Rice’ 3rd and last litter was out of Sir Stafford’ daughter Lady Lena sired by Iron Duke’ son Ethelred and gave ch Elgiva & Elfrida. Note – Iron Duke sibling to Tom Bowling – was ch Peter Piper’ cousin. - The 2nd column mentions a/o 1) Capt Piddocke’ Don Juan II who sired ch Plutarch - ch Marcella' maternal grandsire -, and 2) ch Toozie who, mated to ch Victor Hugo, produced Peter Piper’ sire Tom Bowling, ch Ha Ha’ dam Stella III, Iron Duke & ch Brampton Beauty. The 3rd column mentions a/o Seabreeze bred by Mrs Geo Willins out of ch Cambrian Princess sired by ch Beaufort; her brother Ayrshire was the well-known last prize winner for ch Beaufort’ breeder Dr John Sidney Turner. - Ayrshire’ photograph is to be seen in the page spent on  ‘Dr J Sidney Turner’.

The article written by Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver, of Hellingly fame, was published in the Kennel Gazette dd 1936. - Mr Rice' 1st Mastiff Gelert b May '85 was out of Am ch Ilford Caution' sis Claudia sired by ch Orlando. As mentioned in the article Mr Rice was the Secretary  of the New South Wales Kennel Club; his 'great friend' Mr H A Richardson was President of that same Club. -    Miscellanea Five contains info & photographs regarding - sic - 'the finest Mastiff dog' Mr Rive ever saw, namely Hazeldene Noble.    - At left - Ch Frigga Secunda with her dam ch Frigga drawn by artist Arthur Wardle. At right -  a photograph of Mr Rice' Ethelred published in the Mastiff chapter p 323 of Count de Bylandt' Les Races de Chiens dd 1904.

The 29 years old Mr C C  Rice got in 1891 the honour to be appointed Mastiff  judge at the first Crufts provided with Mastiff classes. Dog cc went to Rev Van Doorne' ch Jack Thyr preceding Capt Piddocke' youngster Ogilvie, Mr Taunton' ch Hotspur & Dr Turner' Ayrshire; the Bitch cc was awarded to Ayrshire' sis Seabreeze owned by Mrs Geo Willins, 2nd Capt Piddocke ch Jubilee Beauty & 3rd ch Hotspur' dau  Firefly owned by Stafford breeder Mr Albert Andrews. Here below are selected three show reports written by Mr C C Rice; ie 1) Crystal Palace KC show '92, 2) Crystal Palace KC show '94, and 3) Portsmouth show Aug '94.

The quote - 'It would be idle to deny that the fact of my being appointed to judge very seriously affected the entry, numerically' might indicate that Mr Rice' straightforward, not to say harsh, comments yielded him more foes than friends...  Notes re  names mentioned - Ch  Carshalton Prince b '88 & bred by Mr Taunton out of ch Orlando' dau Lady Doughty sired by ch Hotspur; Carshalton King b '88 & bred by Mr Taunton out of Kepler' dau Brentwood sired by ch Hotspur; Noble VIII b '88 & bred by Mr Taunton out of ch Hotspur' dau Carshalton Belle sired by Young Colonel' son Arabi; Waterloo Belle b '90 & bred by Mr Harry Ralph out of ch Beaufort' dau Grave Beaufort sired by ch Hotspur; Lady Florida was sis to ch Lord Stafford & Sir Stafford. The bitch Truant b  '88 & bred/owned by  Honorary Major Robert Gayer Traill ‘39–08, barrister-at-law of Heathstown House Athboy Co Meath, out of Colleen More sired by ch Prince of Wales' son Napoleon owned by Dr Chas A Lougest of Liverpool.

Notes re  names mentioned -  Lyndhurst Bounce - b Dec '92 & bred by Mr John Beanland MRCVS, out of Kaiser Frederick' dau Vistula II sired by Stella III' and Tom Bowling' brother Iron Duke - was shortly after the Portsmouth show dd Aug '94 purchased andrenamed Ethelred by his owner Mr C C Rice who transferred him  to Mr W N Higgs soon. Ethelred' brother Lyndhurst Boy became maternal grandsire to Mr A W Lucas' ch Marchioness, and the Hazlemere champions Czar Peter & Archie owned by Mr Leadbetter. Mr Wm Norman Higgs' ch Ilford County Member b Nov '89 & bred by Mr Richard Cook out of Beaufort' dau Ilford Lady Cobrey sired by ch Jack Thyr; ch Coombe Baroness b Aug '89 & bred by Mr Mark Beaufoy out of ch Hotspur' dau Coombe Daphne sired by ch Montgomery; Lady Lena b June '91 & bred by Mr Mr Arthur Pengaley Mann, of Cavendish house 48 Calabria road  Highbury place London,  out of ch Cardinal' grand-dau Lady Cavendish sired by Sir Stafford.

At left – a Kennel Gazette article re the  show year 1891 ‘Review of Mastiffs’ – written by Mr C C Rice -  wherein Captain JL Piddocke’ Lord Clive, sibling to ch Plutarch b Sept ‘89 out of ch Beaufort’ Lady Dudley sired by by ch Jack Thyr’ son Don Juan II was severely tackled as ~ ‘of bad construction and bad in forelegs , and has no end of other faults ! ‘ . At right – A photograph dd April '91 of Lord Clive being about 18 months old or even younger.

At the Birmingham Show Dec ‘90 the judge Mr T W Allen [ch Montgomery’ owner] reported ~ ‘Lord Clive - a young dog of good promise, having size and bone with capital legs and carriage. His ears are full large, and at present he is too flat-sided and wanting in cheeks, and his expression, though kindly, lacks dignity. Increasing age should remedy most of his faults, and if so he will, I think, generally find a place in the money.’ At the Manchester Show March ‘91 Mr Mark Beaufoy described him as following ~ ‘Lord Clive won easily. He is a grand young dog, with enormous bone, a good head, deep square muzzle and perfect markings. He is a little inclined to be monkey faced and might be a few inches longer in back.'  - Captain JL Piddocke’ phlegmatic reaction dd 22nd January 1892  sounds rather diplomatic and also his balanced judge report of the Manchester Show dd March ‘93  oozes  gentlemanship! After Capt Piddocke’ death Lord Clive was purchased by Mr Luke Crabtree who entered him at Birmingham Dec ‘95 and the same Mr T W Allen reported – ‘So far as head proporties went – indeed his whole front, Lord Clive would have been easily first, but he was sadly handicapped by his weak hindquarters, and the terribly bad action of his hind legs. A grander headed  dog I have never seen.' -

The hereabove copy of ‘The St Bernard & English Mastiff and all about them’ has been purchased from Mr Stewart Higgins of Poulton Farm Frith Road Ashford nr Lympne where the Cinque Ports Mastiff kennels of Captain & Mrs Frances Samuelson were located in the 1930s. It has been in his family and has been kept in good condition on his grand book shelf. His great-grandparents, his gran & her brother had Mastiffs on their farm in Kent and purchased the book all those years ago. Mr/Mrs Les & Julie Wilson , of  Halson Gallery – Rare Canine Books - The Oaks Farnworth nr Manchester , have only ever come across two copies of this book , one (with Library Bookplate of Buckfastleigh Abby annex a tipped in signed and dated letter from the author) sold in 2007 for £950 and another that Clifford Lionel Barry Hubbard had for sale at Crufts in the 1990s. According to them Clifford Lionel Barry Hubbard '13-00, of Wales, stated there was a note about the history of the book, the book having a legal dispute in one of the chapters which meant it could not actually be issued, ie only a few presentation copies from the authors where issued for review and actually may still exist. Clifford Hubbard did confirm at some point that he thought there was only eight in existence. Another source mentions that – ‘every copy was recalled except for 35 that had already been sold in the shops.’

In 1972 he established the 'Doggie Hubbard Bookshop', which was situated in Buxton Derbyshire, then from 1981, in Ponterwyd, Ceredigion. He was an acknowledged expert on antiquarian and other dog books, and his collection comprised many thousands of volumes, both in English and in other languages. His own writings consisted of books on various canine subjects, including the earliest editions of The Observer's Book of Dogs, and articles for journals such as Dog World, Our Dogs and the Kennel Gazette, often using the pseudonym 'Canis'. Some of his early articles were on non-canine subjects, published in the Southampton Star under the pen-name 'Barry Fraser.' He was also editor of the Dog Lover's Library series, based at Grosvenor House in Aberystwyth, during the 1950s and Kennel Editor for the Kensington News. Other activities included travelling to dog shows with his book stall, broadcasting on radio and television, lecturing, serving on the committees of the local Sea Cadets and Aberystwyth Carnival, and participating in a busy family life. He died in June 2000 and was buried at Aberaeron.’ -

William Bullen, Treasurer of the 'English St Bernard Club' and judge of the St Bernard breed at Crufts 1930, does not mention a particular name of Mastiff but he definitely refers to 'a brindle Mastiff of high repute', that on page 22 of his breed review - 'The St Bernard - King of Dogs - The History with illustrated St Bernards of Notability', part of the booklet 'The St Bernard & English Mastiff and all about them' by W Bullen & Mrs Norah Dickin, published early 1936. Note - In those days brindle Mastiffs of 'high repute' were proportionately rather very scarce which may make believe it perhaps could have been ch Ogilvie. - Remark re 402 Monarch' 12 by 10 inches painting in gilt frame by E F Holt dated 1868 about which Mr Hubbard suggests - 'He is probably Green' Monarch' might be an error as the KCSB states Mr Green' Monarch was born dd 1871, so arguably it goes about the other Monarch mentioned by the 1st KCSB registrations, ie Monarch b  '67 & bred/owned by the Wynnes of Scalford.

The St Bernard above at right is described by Mr Bullen as following – ‘ Last, but not least, is the grand typical and handsome dog champion Abbots Pass Romeo, beautiful colour, rich in bloom & markings, magnificent square skull with lovely benevolent expression, strong, powerful & symmetrical throughout. His weight –220 lb– without doubt the finest and most glorious specimen ever produced, bred & owned by Mrs Evelyn Kate Staines '80-41 of Hook Farm, Leigh Reigate. At all shows , &c , this dog attracted great attention and admiration, and naturally greatly sought after. In fact very large sums of money has been offered for him, very considerably over thousand pounds.’ - Shove away his colours, and Romeo reminds - incl the domed skull & abrupt stop - at quite a number of Mastiffs in more recent times…  Below Mrs Dickin' crew of Mastiffs. - At right – another breed booklet of the same series issued by Dog World Watmough Ltd  Co - Idle, Bradford & London.

The author of this article dd June 1881 published in the Kennel Club' newspaper 'Kennel Gazette' mentions a/o - 'A London breeder who has shown great keenness in advocating the principles laid down by Mr Hanbury & Rev W J Mellor, and others, as to what real Mastiffs should really be.'- Interestingly,  he does not mention the name of Mr M B Wynne, notwithstanding the fact the Mastiff Breeding Club - with Mr Wynne as Secretary & Treasurer - had adopted a breed standard in 1873 and revised in 1880, that three years before the foundation of the Old English Mastiff Club and followed by the adoption of the OEMC standard laid down by Rev W J Mellor, Mr WK Taunton & Dr J S Turner.

Mr Walter Kelsey Taunton is to be considered as a real 'Cockney', being born at Holborn London within earshot of the Mary Le Bow bells. His 'Kelsey' kennels were situated at Manor Farm seven miles out of city on the Essex side, ie at Forest Gate, in those days a quiet refuge for busy citizens going out fishing at Heronry pond. His first litter dd '73 was out of Saxon' maternal aunt Nell sired by ch Wolsey' brother  Mr Nichols' Prince who sired ch Beau too. More about Mr Winchester Clowes' Saxon to be found in Miscellanea Three about half-way. - The next seven Kelsey litters dd '73-81 were sired by ch Cardinal - three out of  ch Gwendolen, the other four out of Vixen, Thekla, and ch Cardinal' daughters Cleopatra & Columbine. Mr Taunton' Modoc b '73 was out of ch Turk' dau Nell sired by Mr Octavius Green' ch Monarch who sired his ch Gwendolen out of Mr Lukey Baron' dau Grace; ch Gwendolen was sibling of Mr Mark Beaufoy' ch Nero. Mr Taunton' ch Cardinal was out of ch Wolsey' dau Princess sired by ch Punch' huge brother Big Ben.

Ch The Lady Gladys' measurements - according the Kennel Encyclopaedia 1910 - height 26 i, weight 128 lb, girth of chest 36 i, girth of skull 23 i, girth of muzzle 14 1/2 i, girth of fore arm 10 i, length from nose to occiput 10 i, length from nose to rest of tail 51 i. Note - the  mateing between ch The Lady Gladys and ch Beau has not resulted in progeny.

Ch Cardinal' dau Tayra b ’79 - mentioned page one 2nd column – was owned by Mr Abraham Dee Bartlett 1812 – 97 – see centre with the dead gorilla -, superintendent of the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London at Regent’ Park between ‘59-'97 . He published numerous articles on the observations he made at the zoo. These were published after his death in two books, Wild Animals in Captivity ‘98 & Life among Wild Beasts in 'the Zoo' 1900. He had great wizardry with animals, and was always to be seen around the Gardens in his ‘working uniform’ of top hat and frock coat - even when performing such a task as sawing off a deformed horn which was causing distress to a Rhinoceros. In 1876 the Zoological Society obtained a Esquimaux dog from the Arctic explorer Sir Allen Young whom became a cornerstone of Mr W K Taunton’ breeding of Esquimaux dogs, a/o the much prized ‘Myouk ‘ owned by the wife of renowned Bloodhound breeder Edwin Brough. Mr W K Taunton, a Fellow of the Zoological Gardens, collected all kind of rare breeds a/o the Chinese Crested and brought them to display in Mr Bartlett’ Zoological Gardens.

At left - Tayra’ younger sis Lily II, a brindle owned by Dr F J Campbell of the Royal College for the Blind, was made up a champion in ‘86. –Tayra, owned by Mr A D Bartlett, got in '81 1st prize at the Alexandra Palace Show  – see above official KC report -, and 1st prize & medal at the Maidstone Show  - ‘The Mastiff bitches were not such a good lot as the dogs, and it was an easy win for Tayra, the second, Mr Mark Beaufoy' Dinah, being a fairly good bitch but deficient in colour, and the third, Dr J S Turner' The Lady Rowena,  has hardly filled up to what was expected of her when she won at the Crystal Palace, Thekla being altogether outclassed in this company.’ - The official KC report about the Bristol Dog Show dd Aug ’82 mentions – ‘A capital bitch won in the brindled Tayra, belonging to Mr A D Bartlett, but bred by Mr Taunton, and got by champion Cardinal. She won at the Alexandra Show, and it will take a very good one to beat her.’  At right - Ch Lily II' & Tayra' maternal grandsire Mr Octavius Green' ch Monarch. Note - The page concerning 'W K Taunton' includes a drawing of Tayra by artist R H Moore.

 Mr Wynne’ 1st Open Class prize went to Wodan - Cedric The Saxon' dau Gytha II ex ch Beaufort - seconded by Alfgar - Gytha II' sis Wunna ex ch Hotspur or ch Orlando -. Only few days later The Oxford Times announced the death of Mr John Lampitt, of the Vulcan Foundry Neithrop, which took place suddenly at Edgehill. Lionel was purchased and renamed Brahma by Mr Joseph Evans, a London breed fancier who has owned quite a lot of well-known  Mastiffs, a/o ch The Emperor, Moses & Orion.

A pity Mr Oliver had - re Crown Prince - not the hands-on experience of the gentlemen mentioned in the former alinea, and arguably relied upon one photograph of Crown Prince past his prime, the one  published in the Hutchinson Encyclopaedia - see above at left - and which certainly not validates Mr Wynne' words - 'he will always remain one of the planets of Mastiff history'. -

At right - Mr Beaufoy' ch Pontiff - out of ch Cardinal' dam sired by ch Rajah - and - at the foreground - ch Crown Prince' brother ch Prince Regent who defeated ch Crown Prince at Crystal Palace July '83 - Communicated - 'Prince Regent, the winner, certainly lacks the massive character of his distinguished brother Crown Prince, but in length of body, mask and stifles he is certainly superior.' - The Crystal Palace July ’84 judge report by Dr J S Turner mentions a/o – ‘Prince Regent died a few days ago, and in him the Mastiff world lost one of the best all round dogs which had shone in its sphere for many years, as he had fewer bad faults than any dog I know.’ – Ch Prince Regent sired Dr Renton’ ch Prince of Wales b Feb ’83, the latter maternal grandsire to Dr J S Turner’ ch Isolde bred by Dr Eadon.

But ch Prince of Wales' most important descent was Duke of Fife linebred by Mr Wm Shearer Clark of Wishaw - nr Glasgow - out of ch Prince of Wales' dau Lady Florence sired by ch Prince of Wales' maternal grandson Captain Marryatt. Duke of Fife became  maternal grandsire to 1) Cleveland breeder George Cook' foundation Marton Princess, and 2) to the famous  ch Hazlemere Ronald.

The Kennel Gazettes of 1882 include a selected list of stud dogs; the Mastiff chapter mentions the weight of champion studs - Beau b '76 160 lb, Crown Prince b '80 180 lb, Nero b '75 180 lb, Pontiff b '79 147 lb, and Prince Regent b '80 155 lb.

– Hertfordshire Show Sept ‘82 - 'Mastiffs formed one of the features of the show, as there were entered forty-two entered, Crown Prince and Cardinal again leading off for the Champion Cup, and once more the palm of rivalry went to Crown Prince, who never looked better, show going apparently agreeing with him wonderfully well, and it is one of the proofs of his good temper and even disposition that nothing puts him out. It was a red letter day for Dr Winslow' crack in more particulars, also, than his own victory, as several of his progeny came to the fore in subsequent classes.’ – Maidstone ’82 – ‘Champion Mastiffs were represented by Crown Prince and Cardinal. Both dogs are so well known that it is only necessary to say Crown Prince won, but if Mr Taunton could only get Cardinal in the splendid condition Crown Prince is always shown, it might be a closer contest. They are both splendid dogs’. – Sheffield ’82 – 'In the Champion Class Crown Prince rightly carried off the prize; he was in tip-top condition, and if one could only be disabused of his Dudley coloured face, and he were longer in body, I – Mr Hanbury – consider him the finest specimen extant.' - York Show Aug ‘83 - 'Four champions entered in Mastiffs. It was as good as a walk over for Crown Prince, looking in splendid form.’ – Crystal Palace Feb ’84 – ‘The fight lay between Crown Prince and Pontiff. Both dogs were shown in the pink of condition. Crown Prince has a better loin, more massive head, and, taking him all round, he is the better of the two.' - Crystal Palace '85 – ‘Crown Prince beats Cardinal in head, and his body, though a little too short, is well ribbed up and very massive. His straight hocks are very unsightly, but do not seem to interfere with his action as much as might be imagined.’ - Rounding up the Crown Prince saga, it might be true that the leading breed fanciers of his day had a particular penchant for the massive barrel-ribbed character  shown up so well by Crown Prince.

The four Crown Prince litters bred by Dr Turner out of ch Colonel' maternal grand-dau The Lady Rowena resulting in a/o ch Beaufort' dam ch The Lady Isabel, ch Ogilvie' grandsire ch Orlando, and Mr W K Taunton ch Hotspur  are other successful examples of the Crown Prince/Colonel line.  Mr Alston' ch Colonel b '75  grandsired Dr Winslow' ch Crown Princess, ch Ilford Chancellor' dam Brenda Secunda, and ch Count Orlando' dam Idalia too.

Although Mr Edmund G Oliver' quote re – ‘Crown Prince was used enormously at stud’ does not stand the test within the then KCSB data, the presence of Crown Prince within the KCSB reg pedigrees of champions born after his 1st litter – April 1881 – is yet even more than 'enormously', ie apart from Cambrian Princess b '82 , her brother His Majesty King Canute, ch Crown Prince' younger half brother (or brother?) Maximilian b '82, Albert Victor b '83, and finally Victor Hugo b '84, ALL other British champions born before the end of the Victorian era -  numbering about 35 or 7/8 of the whole pack - carried Crown Prince’ blood. And it might be plausible that since then every single KCSB reg Mastiff was/is a Crown Prince' descent. 

The KCSB lines of Cambrian Princess, Maximilian & Albert Victor died out soon, whereas  the two other champion lines survived, ie - His Majesty King Canute & Victor Hugo,  resp G4 & G3 sire of the well-known stud pillar Mellnotte b 1897, ancestor of the paternal stud line which passes through Copenore Jason, and still going on till present-day.

This much discussed dog was born Sept ’25 & bred by Mr Henry Young, a milk vendor of Berwick-on-Tweed, out of Tweedview Belle sired by Wantley King Baldur. His dam Tweedview Belle was sis of Cleveland Chancellor -  Hellingly ch's Cardinal' & Marksman' grandsire - & younger brother ch Cleveland Premier and bred by Cleveland breeder Mr George Cook of Marton Middlesbrough. Joseph’ sire Wantley King Baldur was brother of Menai Markie, ch Menai Yosemite & Mr W H Calcott' ch Beechwood Queen,   all bred by Menai breeder Mr Bob Thomas of The Hydro Buxton.

Joseph aka ‘Joe’ was purchased as a puppy from Mr Henry Young, a milk vendor of Berwick on Tweed, by Studland breeder Mrs Walton of Innisfree Old Mill Mayfield and was very successful at local shows in ’26. She was the wife of Dr Albert James Walton KCVO Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, the Harley street physician who has been appointed Surgeon to His Majesty’ household in ‘30. Mrs Walton owned ch Havengore Bill' sis Studland Sarah Jane  too, but the KCSB recordings for show results in '27 mention her as owned by Santa breeder Mrs Dorothy  Gabriel, of Epsom Downs, who mated her to Mr Guy Percival Greenwood' ch Benvolio resulting in a/o Santa Alftruda - see her pic at the end of Miscellanea Four -. owned by Mr Pieter J Derek Spaanderman, chemist of Huthwaite - Notts.

At right - two photographs taken from the Our Dogs Xmas Supplement Dec '27 figuring the renowned stud ch Havengore Bill at 15 months old - born May 10th '25 - and his sis Studland Sarah Jane, also born May 10th '25 and not '26 as described by the Our Dogs' advert.

1929 began with ch Cleveland Premier’ cc at Crufts seconded by Joseph and judged by Mr Wm Hunter-Johnston; the 2nd show, ie Manchester judged by Cleveland breeder Mr Herbert Cook, Joseph got a 3rd Limit preceded by Mr Guy P Greenwood ch Benvolio & Miss Bell’ ch Woden. Joseph got his 1st cc at Richmond July ’29 under Mr Sam Crabtree who awarded the reserve to ch Woden, 3rd prize went to ch Benvolio. The next show Mr Theo Marples gave the cc to ch Benvolio, seconded by ch Cleveland Premier and 3rd prize for Joseph. At the last cc show of ’29, namely Birmingham Mr Chris Houlker awarded the 2nd cc to Joseph, 2nd Mr Greenwood’ ch Duke, and 3rd ch Havengore Bill.

Joseph sired mainly Hellingly litters but also litters bred by others, ie 1) Benton breeder Miss Liddell out of ch Westcroft Blaise' dau Benton Elizabeth and containing a/o Hellingly Brian & Jasper; 2) Ileden breeder Mrs Woods out of ch Ileden Volo which gave a/o Ileden Biddy; 3) Trelyon breeder Mrs Thomas out of Menai Comet’ dau Hellingly Sylvia producing a/o Trelyon Dick, recipient of one cc, and Trelyon Girl, the latter dam to Hellingly Maud bred by Miss Reid and dam of Valiant Diadem’ paternal grandsire Altnacraig Eric; and 4) Viscount Weymouth out of ch Cleveland Premier’ dau Hellingly Hanna producing Hellingly Elaine, the latter dam of Hellingly King who sired Altnacraig Eric, the latter thus along both parents going back to ch Hellingly Joseph in 3rd generation.

Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver ’80-39  did not take a leaf for the mouth and regularly outed his opinion in comprehensive eloquently written breed articles published in the Kennel Gazette, a/o dd Nov ’30 and Dec ’32. Here below - some extracts from the one dd Nov ’30.

In his Kennel Gazette article dd Nov '30 Mr Oliver, once again, laments about ch Crown Prince b '80, ie – ‘It is curious that the beginning of the decline in popularity of Mastiffs seems to have synchronised with the advent of Crown Prince.’ -  But here Mr Oliver warps not only the Kennel Club data, ie the 1880s were by far the breed hey-day in numbers of registrations, but also disregards the then newspaper articles and show reports which, regularly, pointed out the increase of Mastiff breed popularity in that particular decade. All in all, an understandable stance that Mr Oliver highly disliked Crown Prince, the latter in so many breed points different to the Olivers' ch Hellingly Joseph of whom he wrote in '37 - 'the best dog of his day having never seen a dog I thought so good on the whole though doubtless like all good animals he had a few - very few - faults.' -

Extracts taken from Mr E G Oliver’ Kennel Gazette’ article dd Dec ’32. The Mastiff breed had not the least rivalry of  the 'German Boarhound' breed in those 1870s when dog showing was booming, thereby extra fueled by the foundation of the Kennel Club dd 1873, an institution which, only ten years later, admitted the German Boarhound breed to the Studbook and was given a class both at Crystal Palace and at Birmingham. In 1884 it appeared as the Great Dane and at the end of the 19th century the Great Dane Club was one of the most flourishing specialist clubs counting a hundred members, even more than the National St Bernard Club.

In the centre alinea  Mr Oliver mentions – ‘Even as late as about 1865 the Mastiff was still a rare dog’, nevertheless he mentions in another alinea of his   K G  article dd Dec '32 Mr Lukey’ Countess born '59, Mr Hanbury' Prince born '62 and Mr Hanbury' ch Duchess born '60 amongst – sic - 'The most famous Mastiffs during the period of the greatest popularity of the breed, such as Mr Field' ch King, his son ch Turk, the latter' maternal uncle ch Lion owned by Miss Hales, Mr Octavius Green’ ch Monarch, Wynnes Monarch’ son Anlaf bred/owned by Rev Yearsley, Mr Alston’ Colonel, Mr Lukey’ Countess, Mr Hanbury’ Prince, Mr Hanbury’ ch Duchess (much longer in foreface than were Crown Prince, Beau & Pontiff) would certainly be described as very long faced and would probably be turned out of the show, just as many of present-day - 1932 – would in the seventies have been turned  out of the show ring for being unsound.’ –

Summing up 'the most famous Mastiffs' might always be an incomplete attempt, nevertheless it’s curious Mr Oliver doesn’t mention Mastiffs, such as a/o ch King' son ch Taurus owned by Mr Elwell, Mr Hanbury’ ch Queen, his ch Rajah – arguably the most prominent stud of the seventies -, and his sons ch Wolsey & ch The Shah, all Mastiffs which would certainly NOT be described as ‘very long’ faced. Which might suggest that Mr Oliver has been quite 'selective' in order to make his point.

The Kennel Gazette article dd April ’37 about ch Hellingly Joseph and written by Mr Oliver – to be read on this page a bit higher up -, it is quite amazing because of two reasons; firstly it doesn’t mention Joseph’ breeder, namely Mr Henry Young of Berwick-on-Tweed, and secondly it doesn’t notice any stud career, although Joseph sired twelve litters of whom siblings entered the KC Studbooks and in that way it keeps discrete silence about the siring of one of the most memorable Mastiffs of the interbellum, namely ch Hellingly Ajax. The articles accompanying the pics of – from l to r – Joseph, Arolite, and Ajax, were published in the Our Dogs Mastiff Mems dd Nov ’32, or about five years before Mr Oliver’ biography about Joseph. - Note - the initials F J H stand for Mr Fred J Hawkings of Goldhawk kennels.

One sentence of Joseph' owner is rather peculiar  - ‘Ch Ajax was registered by me at the Kennel Club at about six weeks, and, without thinking, I gave the sire as Arolite, but later the Kennel Club insisted that both dogs’ names should be registered.’ – Was the curious incident of Joseph breaking down the door of Ajax’ dam overlooked or came the recognisition of Ajax’ qualities only a time later, thereby realising the connotation of this specific siring regarding ch Hellingly Joseph’ future stud prospects? For Mr Oliver, being a prominent solicitor and thereby the OEMC delegate at the Kennel Club, a piece of cake to settle the matter as known by now? Note - The last article, the one written by Broomcourt breeder Mr B(en) Bennett, mentions Ajax' sis Hellingly Arethrusa who, mated to ch Woden' son Cleveland Comedian, produced three champions, ie Broomcourt Black Mask, Cleveland Hugo & Broomcourt Comedienne, the latter dam to ch Broomcourt Marcon and granddam of double Crufts cc winner ch Broomcourt Romeo and Broomcourt John who got two cc's just before the outbreak of WWII.

To conclude - the pedigrees of Joseph & Arolite are almost similar in blood lines – their dams are sisters; their sires are cousins [respective grandparents Cedric & Bernicea are brother & sis] and are grandsired, respectively great grandsired by ch King Baldur. So there remains only ch Arolite’ great-granddam Pomana Countess but she’s a sis to Ashenhurst Duke who sired ch Ashenhurst Cedric & sis Bernicea! Ch Arolite’ sis Retour Rational became granddam of ch Uther Penarvon, full cousin of ch Havengore Christopher whilst Joseph’ sis Goldhawk Fairy became granddam to ch Cinque Ports Michael sired by ch Ashenhurst Cedric’ son Goldhawk Imperator. Ch Arolite is Copenore Jason' double G8 ascent along the paternal line G1 Saxondale Brutus, G2 Saxondale Buster, G3 Alters Big Jumbo, G4 Parkhurst Rufus, G5 Heatherbelle Sterling Silver, G6 Wythybush Magnus, and  G7 Weyacres Lincoln. Further info re ch Arolite bred & owned by Mr John George Joice to be found at the end of page Miscellanea One.

At left - Their grandfather, Thomas Oliver, solicitor of the Old Jewry Chambers London, acquired in 1845 the Manor of Walthamstow Sarum aka Salisbury Hall incl twenty-eight acres for the sum of £700. From 1856 to 1870 Thomas Oliver was lord. The manor continued in the Oliver famil , his son Edmund Ward Oliver, the last lord, dying in 1917. Their father , Edmund Ward Oliver 1845-1917 , solicitor at 1 Corbet-court Gracechurch-street – London , under the style or firm of EDM WARD OLIVER & SON , having been dissolved by mutual consent as and from the 31st day of December, 1915 by the retirement of Mr Edmund Ward Oliver, will be continued by his Son , Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver. E Ward Oliver was a member of the Council of the Surrey archeological Society and wrote a/o a book – ‘Notes from Ruckinge wills affecting Ruckinge Church’ publ 1880. In ‘04 fifteenth century mullions* were found at the family seat New Place Lingfield.  * Non-structural vertical strips between the casements or panes of a window or the panels of a screen . Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver' brother Sir Roland Giffard Oliver was appointed in ’26 as the Recorder of the Borough of Folkestone,  on 11th  June ’38 as Judge at High Court of Justice and on 11th January ’58 to be  granted an annuity of  £3500 for life.

At right - An article from ‘The Advertiser’ Adelaide May 13th 1939 about the solicitors Edmund Giffard Oliver & Harold Manaton Ommanney 1885- ‘64 who married in 1913 Sybil Maude Haigh Bury but divorced in 1927.

Quote 1) – ‘The Duchess of Westminster - Loelia Mary Ponsonby 1902–1993 married the Duke of Westminster on 20 February 1930 but they were divorced in 1947 after several years of separation. Young Loelia once occupied the lap of Edward VII and amused His Majesty by seizing his beard and demanding ‘But King, where's your crown?’ Her childhood - spent variously at St James' Palace, Park House at Sandringham & Birkhall – was, as she recalled, made irksome by a succession of fierce foreign governesses. She escaped from the stiffness of her parents' world into the hedonism of ‘the Bright Young People’. Their pranks included treasure hunts & impersonating reporters to obtain interviews from famous people. The older generation were duly shocked although Loelia Lindsay insisted that it was 'just light-hearted fun'. Her own contribution was to invent the ‘bottle-party' in 1926, when, for economic reasons, guests were bidden to bring their own drink. The first guest was the author Michael Arlen, bearing a dozen bottles of pink champagne. Towards the end of the 1920s Loelia met Bendor Westminster, a selfish, spoilt, twice-divorced playboy, though a generous landlord and gallant officer. The diarist 'Chips' Channon summed him up as 'a mixture of Henry VIII and Lorenzo Il Magnifico'. The Duke courted Miss Ponsonby in style, showering her with diamonds. A typical incident occurred one night in her sleeper en route for Venice when she woke with an uncomfortable lump digging into her - it was an emerald and diamond brooch. They married in 1930 in a blaze of publicity with Winston Churchill as best man. The new Duchess became chatelaine of the Gothic palace of Eaton in Cheshire, as well as houses in Scotland, Wales and France, to say nothing of the steam yacht & a sailing ship. But the marriage was not a success. The Duchess found Bendor a man of changing moods - charming and generous one moment , furious and cruel the next. Their choice of friends differed considerably. James Lees-Milne described the Duchess' married life as 'a definition of unadulterated hell'.

Quote 2) Major John Sewell  (JS) Courtauld 1880-‘42 of 9 Grosvenor Square &  Coates Castle Fittleworth West Sussex. English Conservative Party politician who descended from the Courtauld family of silk/textiles/carpets, saw active service in the First World War and owned a company of architects. At the 1924 general election he was elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Chichester,  re-elected at subsequent general elections in 1929, 1931 and 1935 until his death  in ‘42.

Major John Sewell  (JS) Courtauld was one of the six children of Sidney Courtauld, head of a successful business empire based on the production of rayon (artificial or art silk). It seems Mr EG Oliver must have been quite familiar with the Courtauld family as there’s a source which mentions – ‘To mountaineers Courtauld' name will be associated with that of EG Oliver; the two often climbed together, so that 'Courtauld & Oliver' (plus the Aufdenblattens) came to have something of the earlier ring of such a compound name as 'Ryan & the Lochmatters'.

This ‘Courtauld’ was Stephen Lewis 1883-’67 and brother of Major John Sewell Courtauld. He did not join the firm but inherited shares which generated an important fortune, which he used to pursue cultural & philanthropic interests, most notably the redevelopment during the 1930s of Eltham Palace in Eltham, south-east London. In World War I Stephen Lewis Courtauld joined the Artists' Rifles and in 1918 was awarded the Military Cross. He rose to the rank of Major.

After the war he resumed one of his major passions - mountaineering in the Alps. In 1919, together with EG Oliver, he completed the pioneer ascent of the Innominata face of Mont Blanc; their Courmayeur guides were Adolphe and Henri Rey, as well as Adolf Aufdenblatten. The same year he met his future wife, Virginia née Peirano, whom he married in 1923.

Courtauld, Oliver & the Aufdenblattens baptized this magnificent route which is considered the most classic and beautiful of all, with the Peuterey ridge on the south face of Monte Bianco. It presents more difficult tracts over rock than Peuterey but it’s not as long or as delicate. The ridge clearly shows the watershed between the Frêney and Brouillard glaciers. It was the last of Monte Bianco’ great crests to be climbed. Although the gradient above Pic Eccles is considerably difficult, the condition of the rock is excellent. The part leading to the summit of Monte Bianco of Courmayeur is extremely steep and long, which makes this itinerary suitable for expert alpinists with outstanding fitness and technical levels. The Innominata Ridge on Mont Blanc is a tour-de-force of mountaineering, the climb has ‘atmosphere’. Note - The first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc was on 8 August 1786 by Jacques Balmat & Dr Michel Paccard .

Stephen Lewis Courtauld was financial director of Ealing Studios , a trustee of the Royal Opera House in London' Covent Garden, provided financial support for the Courtauld Galleries in Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum and was Chairman of the British Arctic Expedition 1930-’31. Quote – ‘It was however, mainly owing to the Courtauld family and in particular the generosity, hard work and advice of Mr Stephen Courtauld, that the expedition was made successful‘. Mr Augustine Courtauld being Treasurer.

Stephen Lewis’ oldest brother, the art collector Samuel, founded (with Viscount Lee of Fareham & Sir Robert Witt) in 1932 the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. He took charge of the family firm from 1908 as general manager and as chairman from 1921 to 1946. He became interested in art after seeing the Hugh Lane collection on exhibition at the Tate Gallery in 1917. However, his career as a collector started in 1922 following an exhibition of French art at the Burlington Fine Arts Club. Courtauld was one of the first collectors to display interest in French Impressionist & Post-Impressionist paintings. During the 1920s, he assembled an extensive collection including masterpieces - Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear & Peach Blossom in the Crau by Vincent Van Gogh, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère by Édouard Manet, Montagne Sainte-Victoire by Paul Cézanne & La Loge by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver died on Tuesday the 17th January 1939 at Endsleigh Court  where he had his London’ residence at Flat N° 6,  about two-hundred thirty mls away from his country residence Bedale Hall. His business companion, solicitor Harold Manaton OMMANNEY of Hill House Harpsden Henley-on-Thames and lately carrying on business at 7 & 8 Great Winchester Street London – was taken to the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE N° of Matter—505. Date of Order—July 11, 1939. Date of Filing Petition—June 14, 1939. It must have been a quite shocking period for not only Edmund’ wife and daughter but also for his brother Roland being in those days a Judge at the High Court of Justice…

Quotes - Viscount Weymouth was noted for his forestry work on the ancestral estate Longleat. It was he who developed the safari park claimed to be the first outside Africa and also opened the Elizabethan house to the public being the first stately home to do that. Longleat is situated nearby Warminster   & Frome in Somerset. It is set in over 900 acres  parkland landscaped by Capability Brown and 8,000 acres of woods annex farmland. The move by the Viscount Weymouth to sell heirlooms to safeguard the future of Longleat is not the first time his family has courted controversy to save one of England' finest Elizabethan houses . After all , this was the first stately home to open to regular paying customers. And thereby hangs a tale that would not be out of place in a novel by PG Wodehouse. It started with chauffeur Harry Hillier' vegetable patch  - ‘At the time ( 1946 ) his father was still alive but had passed control of the estate to his heir, Henry Frederick. And, while the old father was prepared to suffer Hillier' unkempt allotment near the grand house, Henry Frederick was not. Orders were given to grub up the patch just as the strawberries were coming into fruit, and his father, a nervous and chronic diabetic, was so upset that he passed away that very night. ‘

The late 1940s was not a good time for aristocrats to die. The death duties imposed by the Labour government were swingeing and, for the new owner of Longleat, they added up to a bill of pounds 600,000. The problem might have taxed even the finest brain, and Henry Frederick Thynne did not seem to have that, being deemed ‘moronic beyond reach‘ by his headmaster. When elected Tory MP for Frome, he served for four years and made one speech: it was about tea.

But hidden qualities lurked inside the 6ft 2i tall frame of this eccentric, qualities that were to be the salvation of his great house . He arranged for the sale of the ‘ spare ‘ lands,  and began planning his great commercial coup - to open the house up to the paying public. Although other great homes would sometimes allow in the great unwashed , none at that time did so regularly. Henry changed that and on Easter Monday, 1 April 1949, the first day-trippers rolled up the drive to pay the 2s 6d admission charge . Within a few years, the millioneth customer had trooped in.

The Mastiff Breeders Association’ Vice President,  Lady Michelham of Hellingly - neé Beatrice Capel, was married to Herman Alfred de Stern, son of Herbert [1851-1919] 1st Baron of Michelham, British financier, son of Hermann de Stern, Portuguese baron and banker &, and Julia Goldsmid. He entered his father' banking house, Stern Bros of London, Paris & Belgium  and inherited from his father the Portuguese barony and a fortune of £2,000,000 which was much increased by his own financial ability. He presented to the nation the quadriga surmounting the arch on Constitution Hill, and subscribed liberally for the purchase of pictures for the National Gallery, besides forming a valuable private collection and was also well known as an owner of race-horses. During the World War Herman Alfred de Stern bought the Hotel Astoria in Paris for use as a British hospital and established and maintained a convalescent home for officers at Cimiez . In 1915, during the Great War, Lord Michelham set aside £10,000 to reward airmen who shot down Zeppelins at £1,000 each. He also paid for a large number of works of art which are in the National Gallery.

Comparing Ansdell’ Mastiff in the painting with ch Turk’ full drawing , there’s a definite sameness in balance of appearance re proportions head/neck/body/legs. In both cases there’s no single doubt, these were no Boarhounds as one only has to look at the depth of flanks to consider their great substance annex weight for mastering the evil.

One big step further one can also compare the heads of EG Oliver’ ever lasting Pride & Joy, or ch Hellingly Joseph versus one of the few photographic head studies of ch Turk to realise much likeness between them, and that nevertheless the different level of giving attention. Was this train of thoughts, in some way , also present in the Olivers’ mind ?  An unbroken chain back to the ‘ ancient laurels ‘ of Lord Newton’ Lyme Halls?

At the foundation of the Big Breeds Canine Society in 1932, it was proposed to call it the San Rocco Society. After the matter had been considered the committee decided that it would be better to give the society a title that was more  obvious, ie the Big Breeds Canine Society, with Mr E G Oliver as committee member and his wife Jessie as Hon Secretary pro tempore.

The Big Breeds Canine Society held championship shows from ’33 to ’39 with Mastiff classes mainly dominated by Hellingly stock or those related to them – 24th May ’33 at Ranelagh Barnes London Mastiffs judged by Mr Chris Houlker cc’s for ch Hellingly Joseph & Hellingly Honor’ dau ch Ileden Volo – 8th August ’34 at Harrogate Yorks Mastiffs judged by Mr Holland Buckley cc’s for Hellingly Arethrusa’ son & daughter ch Broomcourt Black Mask &  ch Broomcourt Comedienne bred/owned by Mr B Bennett - 9th August ’34 at Harrogate Yorks Mastiff judge Mr Norman Walker Hall cc’s ch Hellingly Joseph & ch Hellingly Joy – 4th June ’35 at Olympia London Mastiff judge Mr Wm Norman Higgs cc’s for ch Hellingly Marksman & ch Hellingly Joy – 16th June ’36 at Olympia London Mastiff judge again Mr Wm N Higgs cc’s for ch Hellingly Mark & ch Hellingly Josephine – 4th May ’37 Mastiff judge Mr Arthur Croxton Smith cc’s for ch Hellingly Mark & Hellingly Anita – 11th May ’38 Mastiff judge Count V C Hollender cc’s for Hellingly King Baldur & ch Hellingly Cardinal’ dau ch Hellingly Beta – 10th May ’39 Mastiff judge Mrs Lucy Scheerboom (Havengore) cc’s for ch Uther Penarvon’ grandson Mrs Norah Dickin' Goring Brockwell & ch Uther Penarvon’ dau ch Petronella bred by Miss Ianthe Bell & owned by Hammercliffe breeder Mr Fred Bowles.

Below – An article by Mr Arthur F Marples F Z S Editor of Our Dogs published in the Supplement December 1934. Mr J V Rank’ Ouborough kennel manager Mr Bill Siggers became a world famous allround judge and judged  Mastiffs regularly, a/o at Crufts ’68 awarding the BOB at Balint’ son Mrs P Turner’ Frideswide Rupert, Mr Richard Cogan’ Taddington Emma taking the opposite cc.

Above at left - American trade card advertising Mikado soap made by ‘Arthur Newell and Brother Soap Co’ - est 1872 - with a factory at San Bruno avenue and Army street - San Francisco. The Mastiff drawing resembles early Continental Mastiff types - see 2nd row - drawn by the German artist Johann Elias Ridinger 1698- 1767, commonly accepted as a  reliable source regarding the 18th  c  Bullenbeissers. Quote – ‘The most old time German hunting packs were made up of coarse haired, big dogs with bushy tails and wolfish heads, supplied to the courts by the peasants in immense numbers and suffered great losses at every hunt, therefore no particular pains were taken to breed them. The Bullenbeisser, however, knew instinctively how to tackle the game from behind and hold it in a way that kept them from serious injury yet gave the hunters time to reach the kill, therefore they were more valuable to the hunt and were accordingly highly prized and painstakingly bred.’ -

At left - Ch Havengore Christopher b March ’34 out of ch Havengore Bill’ dau Havengore Diana sired by her paternal half brother Havengore Mark got 5 cc's, ie at Crufts Feb '36 under Mr Sam Crabtree res ch Hellingly Joseph' son Trelyon Dick - see judge report at right -, at Crystal Palace '36 under Mr Sam Woodiwiss res Hellingly Beau, in '38 at Manchester under Dr Aubrey Ireland res ch Broomcourt Romeo, at Birmingham under Mr Guy P Greenwood res Goring Brockwell, and at Alexandra Palace under Mr Arthur Croxton Smith res Goring Brockwell; he also got two reserve cc’s, ie at Birmingham ’36 under Dr Aubrey Ireland cc ch Hellingly Ajax’ son Kinder Monarch and at the KC Olympia '38 under Mr Sam Woodiwiss cc ch Hellingly Mark. –

Ch Havengore Christopher became paternal grandsire of the only ‘original’ English post-WWII brood Coldblow Sally, and also of Knockrivoch Hector who sired  Valiant Diadem which means ch Havengore Christopher was along both parents G4 ancestor of Mrs Scheerboom' first post-WWII champion, the brindle Havengore Rodney.

Articles resp published in the OEMC Year Book 1929 and the Our Dogs Supplement December 1935.  - Mr Arthur Croxton Smith [Officer of the British Empire] 1865-52 of Burlington House Wandle road Upper Tooting owned the 'Wandle' Bloodhound kennels, was a prolific writer of many canine books and contributor to a/o Country Life Illustrated. He awarded following Mastiff  dog certificates ~ 1926 Joseph Evans’ ch Prince reserve ch King Baldur' son Torquil, ‘29 Miss MC Kennett’ ch Bulger, reserve ch Havengore Bill, ‘32 Captain F Samuelson’ ch Michael reserve Hellingly Victor, ‘34 Mrs EG Oliver’ Trelyon Dick by ch Hellingly Joseph reserve ch Cleveland Hugo, ‘37 Mrs EG Oliver’ Hellingly Mark reserve ch Hellingly Ajax' son Tiddicar Prince Michael, ‘38 Mrs Lucy Scheerboom’ ch Havengore Christopher.

In 1884 there were two KC Crystal Palace shows resp judged by Rev Wm J Mellor & Dr J Sidney Turner.  The parentage of a number of Mastiffs mentioned in the judge reports were well-known to the public; amongst the others in Rev Mellor' report - 1) Boatswain – ch Crown Prince’ sis Princess Royal ex ch Beau, 2) The Prince – Lady ex ch Crown Prince, 3) Moses - ch The Shah’ dau Linda ex ch The Emperor, 4) Prussian Prince – ch Colonel’ dau Negress ex ch Crown Prince, 5) Titus – ch Nero’ dau Berenice ex ch Pontiff’ brother Gwalior, 6) Bal Gal – ch Wolsey’ niece Lady ex ch Beau; amongst the other in Dr Turner’ report – 1) ch Minting’ sire ch Maximilian – ch The Shah’ dau Merlin ex ch The Emperor, 2)  ch Toozie’ brother Rudolph - Mr Lukeys Baron' dau Lena ex ch Crown Prince, 3) Dictator - Motive ex Young Colonel, 4) Bismarck - The Boss' dau Lady ex ch Crown Prince, 5/6) Kaiser II  & Lorna Doone – ch Beau’ dau ch Ilford Baroness ex ch Prince Regent, 7) Beaumaris - Niger' dau Mischief ex ch Beau, 8) Princess Ida – Prussian Prince’ sis Abbott Bell ex ch Beau’ son Goth.

At left ~ A decorum close by the statue of Friedrich Wilhelm II [1744-97] situated into the castle garden of Babelsberg nearby Potsdam, artist unknown; centre – portrait of Dr John Brown; at right – The Carrier’s Quarters Howgate Penicuik – The Home of ‘Rab and his Friends’. – Dr John Brown was an Edinburgh' physician and a man of letters who possessed an unique insight into dog-nature. He was born on 22 September 1810 in Biggar Lanarkshire, the son of a minister and bible scholar. In 1822, the family moved to Edinburgh. Brown was educated at The Royal High School & Edinburgh University, where he studied medicine under the eminent surgeon James Syme whom Brown revered. As an adult, Brown lived two lives - he was a well-respected doctor and also an essayist with a wide circle of literary friends, including Lords Jeffrey and Cockburn, Thackeray and Ruskin. A popular man and a brilliant conversationalist, he wrote on a variety of subjects, including medicine and theology, but he is best remembered for his entertaining essays. He died in May 1882 and is buried in New Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh.       

The essay 'Rab and His Friends' - first volume in the series 'Little Prose Masterpieces' issued by Foulis - treats of the Midlothian story of an old Mastiff, called Rab,  and the way he touches the lives of those around him. 

~ An excerpt ~ ’There are no such dogs now. He belonged to a lost tribe. As I have said, he was brindled, and grey like Rubislaw granite; his hair short, hard, and close , like a lion’s; his body thickset, like a little bull - a sort of compressed Hercules of a dog. He had a large blunt head; his muzzle black as night, his mouth blacker than any night, a tooth or two – being all he had - gleaming out of his jaws of darkness. His head was scarred with the records of old wounds, a sort of series of fields of battle all over it . Rab had the dignity and simplicity of great size; and having fought his way all along the road to absolute supremacy, he was as mighty in his own line as Julius Caesar or the Duke of Wellington and  had the gravity of all great fighters. Fit end for Rab, quick and complete. His teeth and his friends gone, why should he keep the peace and be civil? He was buried in the braeface, near the burn, the children of the village, his companions, who used to make very free with him and sit on his ample stomach, as he lay half asleep at the door in the sun, watching the solemnity . There, under the single arch  of the South bridge is a huge Mastiff, sauntering down the middle of the causeway, as if with his hands in his pockets; he is old , grey, brindled and as big as a little Highland bull, and has the Shakespearian dewlaps shaking as he goes. The Chicken [a Bull Terrier] makes straight at him, and fastens on his throat. To our astonishment, the great creature does nothing but stand still, hold himself up, and roar – yes, roar; a long, serious, remonstrative roar. How is this? Bob and I are up to them. He is muzzled! The bailies had proclaimed a general muzzling, and his master had encompassed his huge jaws in a leathered apparatus. ‘A knife! ‘cried Bob; and a cobbler gave him his knife. I put its edge to the tense leather; it ran before it; and then! – one sudden jerk of that enormous head, a sort of dusty mist about his mouth, no noise – and the bright and fierce little fellow is dropped, limp and dead. A solemn pause; this was more than any of us had bargained for. I turned the little fellow over, and saw he was quite dead: the Mastiff had taken him by the small of the back like a rat, and broken it. He looked down at his victim, appeased, ashamed, and amazed, snuffed him all over, stared at him, and, taking a sudden thought, turned round and trotted off.’

‘Rab and His Friends’ was John Brown’ most popular work. Originally given as a lecture, Brown felt that he had not delivered it very well, but the story struck a chord with his audience and was an immediate success. It was published in 1859 and brought the author considerable fame.  The narrator recalls his boyhood encounter with Rab, a majestic grey Mastiff, and his master James Noble, a simple horse-cart driver. A few years later, James brings his wife Ailie to the hospital where the narrator is now a student. She has breast cancer and the surgeon tells her that it must be operated the following day. James and the dog are allowed to remain nearby and to watch the operation. Described as a ‘gentle, modest, sweet woman, clean and lovable,’ Ailie endures her ordeal in brave silence, commanding respect from a boisterous group of students. James nurses her tenderly, but she develops a fever and dies a few days later.

‘James buried his wife,’ says the story, ‘with his neighbours mourning, Rab watching the proceedings from a distance.’ Shortly after her burial, James also falls ill and dies. Rab refuses to eat, becomes hostile and is killed by the new driver. Hugely popular in its day, Rab and His Friends is considered one of the finest examples of Victorian melodrama. Modern readers are unlikely to sympathise with its maudlin sentimentality, but the story is valuable for several reasons. It contains a vivid description of an operation carried out in the era before anaesthetics, the kind of operation John Brown would have witnessed as a medical student. The story captures the simple honesty of ordinary country people, something that the author had often experienced and greatly admired. Ailie and James accept their fate with great dignity and courage, trusting in God’s grace and their love for each other, and never uttering a word of complaint In addition, the story reflects the extraordinary insight that James Brown had into canine temperament and the human nature of dogs. The dignity and devotion of the elderly couple are reflected in Rab’ noble behaviour towards his owners and the annoying lesser dogs that trouble him in the street. Brown further developed his ideas in his essay Our Dogs, which was published in 1862. Both stories have continued to enchant dog-lovers ever since...       

Mr William Herbert Calcott 1886-29 & his kennel manager J H Smith of Thornby kennels [Fox Terriers & Mastiffs], Thornby - Windy Arbour rd Kenilworth nr Coventry Warwickshire. The ‘Our Dogs’ advert mentioned ~ ‘Mr Calcott has gained a very special knowledge of dogs from a veterinary point of view, having closely studied this subject , and is now in the position to detect any ailment they are subject to and at once apply a remedy. Ch Ashenhurst Cedric’ son King Agrippa [brother to T Rumney’ ch Superbus] still holds pride of place; a massive, very good headed dog of the right type, with a body to match; ample bone, with good legs and feet. He is a big winner, having secured two certificates, and as a sire he is proving invaluable to the Mastiff fancy. The illustration shows the kennel manager Mr W Smith with two young puppies by King Agrippa out of ch Woden’ sis Thora, whilst there are two young dogs by the same sire that look like making history this coming year. Three other matrons and a few other promising youngsters make up a good kennel.’

King Agrippa , b October '24 , firstly owned by Mr E Nolan and only at an adult age purchased by WH Calcott , started off his show career rather lately, winning his awards in '27 under the ‘olden  time’ specialist William Hunter Johnson [2nd his brother ch Superbus & 3rd ch Cleveland Premier]  and under Herbert Cook of the Cleveland kennels [2nd ch Arolite & 3rd ch Ashenhurst Cedric’ son Menai Anglesea].

At left - Mrs/Mr Cecilia & Wm Herbert Calcott with their Mastiff crew, a/o in the centre the grey muzzled Beechwood Monarch - Cedric ex Cedric' paternal aunt -, the cousins King Agrippa [2nd from left] ,  Cedric’ son and ch Beechwood Queen [at extreme right] , a Bernicea daughter’. King Agrippa got reserves at Crufts under Mr Robert Leadbetter, cc his brother ch Superbus; under Mr William N Higgs, cc  ch Woden; under Mr Dr Aubrey Ireland, cc his brother; under Mr AJ Thorpe, cc ch Havengore Bill and finally his 5th reserve under Mr JJ Holgate , cc ch Westcroft Blaise’ son Benton Adonis. They certainly were quite worthful winners , but what a shame for this magnificent specimen of the Mastiff breed! By way of comparison is shown a picture of ch Havengore Bill’ sire, ch Master Beowulf b March '20; he gained not less than seven certificates, a/o two times at Crufts under the eminent Robert Leadbetter of Hazlemere & George Cook of Cleveland kennels.

Mr Wm Herbert Calcott & his brother James jr 1874-51 were directors of Calcott Brothers Ltd founded by their father James Calcott in 1866; cycle manufacturers initially but some twenty years later later involved with motor production. In 1911 they seriously entered the market with a motorcycle fitted with a 3.5hp 'White & Poppe' engine. Two years later they made their first cars which were generally tailored to the light-car market, a/o the famous ‘Classic’ Calcott light car. In 1924 his father James died, aged 82, and left estate of the gross value of £25,740. He was managing director of Calcott Brothers Ltd, five times Mayor of Coventry, a former president of the West Midland Baptist Association and of the Coventry & District Free Church Council. It is believed that the company produced some 2,500 vehicles before eventually being taken over by the Singer Company in 1926; three years later Mastiff fancier Mr Wm H Calcott died. – At right - Thornby Cottage - Windy Arbour rd Kenilworth nr Coventry.

Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia ~ London 1910-12. It would appear to be a magazine issued every fortnight [two-weekly] though there are no dates given bound in eight vols totalling 5856pp. The contents is a mixture of domestic and articles concerning sport, work and leisure. The sections include 'Woman's work' in the professions and in the colonies with huge variety of suggestions including civil service, rates of pay given, public speaking, poultry farming, recreations including Jiu-Jitsu, golf, legal advice, law and the servant, law and marriage, law and children, section on children including baby incubators, health, advice on sleeping outside, health holidays, nerves &c. Fascinating selection on information and insight into women's lives during the first decade of the XXth century.

It includes an interesting article 'Pets - The Watch-Dog’ written by Miss Ella D Farrar 1866-29 of Water End Hemel Hempstead Herts, breeder & exhibitor of Lammermuir Scottish Terriers. - ‘Much as every true mother believes that her babe is perfect, so, apparently, does every dog-lover believe that his particular ‘fancy’ is a capable watch-dog. Such, at least, is the writer' impression after many years' experience of the clan. It is true that most breeds, even of the ‘toy’ persuasion, are more or less alert watch-dog, but there are some which, either by natural instinct or hereditary tendency, develop this good point beyond their brethren. When I say ‘watch-dog’, I do not mean merely an animal which yelps or barks at every sound, friendly and usual or hostile and unusual. Such foolish conduct is useless and annoying, and no credit to its perpetrator. The true watch-dog is the one who allows no sound to pass unnoticed which is not permissible to his doggy intelligence. He does not give mouth unless there is ample reason so to do. As a rule, he will show his suspicion first by uneasy motions and low, warning growls, though some of the larger breeds have the disconcerting - to the unauthorised intruder , that is - habit of, like Brer Rabbit, ‘lyin' low and sayin' nuffin’ until, with a deep growl, they fall upon the suspected one.

Let the owner, therefore, see to it that his dog is one of the useful sort - that is to say, one which will discriminate between friend and foe. In view of the attentions of the possible burglar, it is a good plan to try to train the animal to take food from its master, and refuse it from a total stranger. This can be done, with the help of a friend, by rating the dog severely each time it takes the food offered by him. The dainty should be taken away each time the animal accepts it. Should this be found a matter beyond the power of teacher and pupil, then, at least, discourage the habit of picking up things in the roads or streets. All ‘doggy’ persons are asked at times how a puppy may be taught to be a good watch-dog and yet at the same time be a safe, friendly companion. People do not want a savage brute which drags out a miserable existence chained to a kennel, yet they would like one whom they can rely upon to give notice of intruders or unusual events.

‘Well begun being half done,’ it is said, much depends upon the choice of breed. Certain races seem naturally better watchdogs than others, though probably most can be trained to this duty. If a powerful animal is desired, one which can, if necessary, tackle his man, then the old-fashioned Mastiff ranks first. Care, however, must be taken that the dog is bought from a person who is thoroughly trustworthy, as it should not be ferocious. A puppy of a strain known to be safe - tempered is a sine qua non in such a large breed. As with the Mastiff, care should be taken to procure a good-tempered dog, otherwise he may be more of a trouble than a pleasure. The article is illustrated with a photograph of ‘ch British Monarch’ b Nov ‘09, and described as ‘a splendid specimen of the English Mastiff. There is no better watch-dog and protector than a well-trained Mastiff’.

Rev Fred Warren Wilson 1891-54, curate of St Michael and All Angels - Jarvis Brook East Sussex - see centre -, bred Mr Herbert Cook' fawn Cleveland Clytie b ’26 out of ch Havengore Bill' maternal aunt Judy Girl sired by ch Cleveland Premier’ maternal uncle MacDuff. Clytie got several 3rd Open prizes, a/o at Edinburgh ’29 under Mr Fred Cleminson – cc Dervot Dawn - res ch Michael’ dam Garlinge Lady Jane. At right – ch Cleveland Premier’ brindle brother Cleveland Chancellor who grandsired the Hellingly champions Cardinal & Marksman, and in front the fawn MacDuff who got a/o three res ccs, ie at Edinburgh ’22 under Mr George Sinclair – cc ch Ashenhurst Cedric, at South Durham ‘23 under Miss C M Garland – cc ch Weland’ brother Leetside Glad Eye, and at Manchester '24 under Mr Chris Houlker - cc ch Ashenhurst Cedric. - MacDuff was arguably named after a character in Shakespeare' play Macbeth, ie Macbeth’ antagonist Macduff who kills him in the final act.

The breed revival of 1920. After three years without cc shows, there were already eight championship shows  during the first post WWI show year, mainly under old time judges but the KCSB counted only seventeen entries [owned by ten different owners] - Miss M Dent Hitchings with ch King Baldur & D’Urbervilles Tess; Mrs C Kennett with ch Weland & Princess Lie A Bed; Mr AW Lucas with Beowulf' dau Jean; Mr George Cook with Count Willington & Penwortham Fanny; Mr GD Penny with Beeches Brunna & sis Shea; Miss A S Pope with Gathnel & ch Lady Lieve; Mr R Pollett with Wingfield Priam' son Sir Robert; Mr J Iseton with Count Willington' son Thornaby Prince; Mr WG Treen with Survivor' grandson Holloway Tiger and last but not least Mr R F W Conquest of Bannut Tree Castlemorton whose stock [Collyhurst Squire , ch Miss Bull & ch Young Mary Bull] won nine cc’s. Mr R F W Conquest’ Bannut Tree residence was designed by the Arts & Crafts architect Charles Voysey, just like Mrs Lilian Woods of Ileden’ Greyfriars House at Tilford - Farnham and also OEMC President Jack Hardy lived in an ‘Arts & Crafts’ house at Whitchurch Oxon.

After some investigation it goes about Robert Folger Westcott Conquest, born 1891 in Roanoke - Virginia US, as the son of LW (Charles) Conquest and Corinne Estelle Westcott; tragedy came when father Charles gambled his money away, so eventually his wife Corinne left and used her family' money to support her two children Robert & Charlene until the great depression wiped them out. By that time the family were used to a restless, comfortable life. Whenever the children returned from boarding school they expected to find a new house. Finally Robert got a degree in Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. Afterwards he moved to England, married the Englishwoman Rosamund Alys Acworth and served in an ambulance unit with the French Army in WW I being awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1916. Their son Robert Folger Acworth Conquest, b ’17 Malvern, became a world-famous historian, a/o with the publication in 1968 of ‘The Great Terror’ , an account of Stalin' purges of the 1930s and currently a research fellow at Stanford University' Hoover Institution.

Mr Robert Folger Westcott Conquest’ maternal grandfather Robert Folger Westcott - see text at right -, b 1828 in New York city, was cousin to Benjamin Franklin . His father' large family made it necessary for him to discontinue his schooling when twelve years old. He began work in a store in Wall Street - New York City, sleeping at night under the counters to guard the merchandise. At the age of eighteen, as the result of his useful experience in delivering packages, he established the Westcott Express Company of which he was President until a few years before his death. He built a palatial residence on Richfield’ Main Street and took a great interest in the affairs of the village, serving at one time as its president.  He resided at Orange  New Jersey during the winter and died July 19 1901 in Richfield Springs  Otsego Co - New York.

Mr RFW Conquest’ Collyhurst Squire was born Sept '14 & bred by Mr JF Walters out of Minerva [Survivor x ch Hazlemere Ronald’ daughter Berenice] sired by Stapleford Pedro [unr but probably out of Nuneaton Hector’ daughter Pinxton Pride sired by Melnotte’ Salisbury]. Squire, handicapped by those years without cc shows, got still two cc’s, ie in'20 resp at Birmingham under Mr WJ Nichols & at Manchester under Our Dogs’ editor Mr Theo Marples but was beaten twice by the coming star Miss M Dent Hitchings’ ch King Baldur bred by Mr Robert Burch out of ch Young Mary Bull, the latter by then also owned by Mr RFW Conquest as also ch Miss Bull out of ch British Monarch’ daughter Ben Ma Cree sired by ch Young Mary Bull’ brother Young Yohn Bull (two cc’s). Miss Bull was made up under three breed specialists, ie Messrs Mark Beaufoy, Luke Crabtree & Robt Leadbetter but pitiful enough she remained without any KCSB progeny.

Collyhurst Squire sired a litter out of ch Cleveland Premier' maternal grand-aunt Beeches Bunty, a/o Beeches Brunna and Shea & D’Urbervilles Tess but became famous in siring a litter out of Nell unregistered resulting in a/o Miss Ianthe Bell’ foundation brood Westcroft Squire’ Daughter, see pic at right  incl inset of Squire’ head, who produced  Poor Joe' son ch Woden.

Collyhurst Squire’ breeder Mr ‘J F’ Walters purchased his brood Minerva from Miss CM Garland of Moorlands Wallington, ca twelve mls South of Teddington where Mr & Mrs J F Walters resided in 1909; he used at stud Bayardo & Stapleford Pedro.  Quite of interest to mention -  Miss Garland owned Bayardo’ half sis Bera (both bred by Mr Joice out of Oscott Sheilah) and used at stud Stapleford Pedro’ half brother Sam (both bred by Mr A Mott out of Pinxton Pride).

‘This ‘J F’ Walters may have been John Forrest Walters of Boston, a Harvard graduate of 1878, a cycle & marine engineer & inventor and holder of patent for the invention of " improvements in portable music stands dd 1877. The monthly ‘Musical Times & Singing-Class Circular’ dd 1878 mentions J F Walters’ address as ‘3 Great Marlborough Street London’, quite nearby Oxford Circus  and another  source dating from ’93 mentions J F Walters at Hall of Commerce, 316 Oxford Street London advertising his improved portable music stands -  ‘A supreme  and perfect harmony of Notes.' He was connected to the Iroquois Cycle Company, manufacturers of Minnehaha safeties featuring light nickel-plated frames, blue rims, & the latest ‘cushion’ and invented a/o the Tricycle Skate, based on the success of the tricycle, speeds of up to twenty mph  and claimed by the inventor Mr J F Walters of Bayswater London - from Queens Magazine dd ‘82. Original printed patent for a ‘Combined Pump & Propelling Mechanism for Motor Boats’ dd 1909 - the inventors Stanley Arthur Martin & John Forrest Walters of resp Udney Park Road & Holmesdale Road Teddington.

Mr J F Walters must have had an utmost turbulent life as there are still a number of other addresses to be found for John Forrest Walters & his wife Caroline Elizabeth Todd, a/o Stanley Rd Teddington, 17 Queens Rd, lately residing at 47 Queens Rd Bayswater, now a prisoner under the Debtor’ Act in the custody of Her Majesty’ Prison at Holloway, being engineer & cycle dealer, and Clyde House 109 Strawberry Vale Twickenham dd 1898. 

There’s also a link between the name of ‘J F’ Walters’ brood Minerva b ’12 and a famous industrial  namesake, ie the Belgian firm Minerva which started out manufacturing standard safety bicycles in 1897, before in 1900 expanding into light cars & ‘motocyclettes’ – see at right -, the forerunners of motorcycles. They produced lightweight clip-on engines that mounted below the bicycle front down tube, specifically for Minerva bicycles, but also available in kit form suitable for almost any bicycle. The engine drove a belt turning a large gear wheel attached to the opposite side of the rear wheel as the chain. By 1901 the kit engine was a 211cc unit developing 1,5 hp comfortably cruising at 20 mls/h at 1,500 rpm, capable of a top speed of 30 mls/h, getting fuel consumption in the range of 5  l/100 mls. These lightweight kits were exported around the world to countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia & other British territories of the time. As engine power increased, frame ruptures became increasingly common and by 1903 Minerva had developed an in-frame design for their bicycles with the engine mounted above the bottom bracket while still offering the clip-on kit. From 1904 Minerva began focussing more on car production and while development & production of the Minerva motorized bicycles & motorcycles continued through to about 1909, they increasingly became a less significant part of the company. Minerva engines, exported to the UK, powered a/o the very first Triumph. Motorcycle production would continue until 1909 or 1914, and during this period Minerva became one of the world' premier names in motorcycles & motorcycle engines.

An eccentric classy pre-war Mastiff owner, living in Epsom, renowned for its horse racing! Lady Sybil Grant 1879–55 was a writer, designer and artist. She was the eldest child of the 5th Earl of Rosebery and his wife Hannah de Rothschild. Lady Sybil married, 28 March 190 , General Sir Charles John Cecil Grant 1877–50. On the death of her father in 1929, she inherited his estate, ‘The Durdans’ at Epsom, which became her home. Lady Grant later became an eccentric, spending most of her time in a caravan or up a tree, communicating to her butler through a megaphone.

Her father, Lord Rosebery, in addition to being British Prime Minister in 1894 collected Napoleon memorabilia and wrote a biography of the Emperor. He also wrote a biography of Lady Sybil' ancestor William Pitt. Her mother, the former Hannah de Rothschild was at one time reputed to be the richest woman in England.

Sybil Grant published works that include The Kisses That Never Were Given, A Three-Cornered Secret and Travesty. These works of fiction were all published in the London Magazine in ‘12. A year later Mills and Boon published one of her major works, Founded on Fiction, a book of comic poems. Published in the same year was The Chequer-Board followed later by Samphire and The Land of Let’s Pretend. In 1914, as one of the leading literary figures of the day, she was invited to contribute to Princess Mary' Gift Book, a book of illustrated stories assembled to raise money for the war effort.

Lady Sybil was a patriotic admirer of the achievements of Marshal Foch - see at right -, writing in a eulogy of him in ‘29 that ‘the first impression you received was of an infinite horizon – he seemed to look beyond the common limits of human sight. When in the course of conversation he looked in your direction you felt the same helpless sense of inferiority as when , upon a night in deep summer, you look up at the stars‘. Note - Ferdinand Foch 1851-29 was credited with possessing ‘the most original and subtle mind in the French Army’ in the early XXth century. He served as general in the French Army during WW I and was made Marshal of France in its final year, 1918.

Shortly after the start of the Spring Offensive, Germany' final attempt to win the war, Foch was chosen as supreme commander of the allied armies, a position that he held until November 11 '18, when he accepted the German Surrender. He advocated peace terms that would make Germany unable to ever pose a threat to France again. His words after the Treaty of Versailles, ‘This is not a peace. It is an armistice for 20 years’ would prove prophetic.

Some of Lady Sybil' designs were in ceramics, where she drew for inspiration on her love of animals, particularly the Suffolk Punch horses which she bred. Her love of animals was enormous and she succeeded in breeding a rare strain of dog, the Shetland Toys, which she saved from extinction . She was the first to breed the rare Pyrenean Mountain Dog in England, in 1909, although examples had been imported earlier - for example, one was owned by Queen Victoria in the 1850s.

Lady Sybil Grant owned also the fawn apricot Mastiff Kechi Menai, born '29 out of ch Menai Yosemite ex ch Havengore Bill; Kechi was brother to the wonderful typey Menai Lady aka Wyndley Boadicea and both were uncle/aunt to Mrs Scheerboom’ outstanding pre-war champion Havengore Christopher sired by her Mark bred by Bob Thomas of Menai. Note – Kechi probably refers to Bob’ earlier stay in the States where he had a career as an actor in Westerns, and Kechi is being a city in Kansas.

Kechi’ sis Boadicea, born Menai Lady,  was bred by Bob Thomas and came firstly in the ownership of Miss Crump who bred a litter from her sired by Norah Dickin’ Thor (ch Westcroft Blaise’ sis Kim Thundercloud ex Menai Comet), amongst them Goring Gem exported to the States and another destined for Belgium [Our Dogs Mems August 4 ‘33]. After been transferred to Norah Dickin, Boadicea  produced another litter sired by Deleval Wulfric, a/o Goring Magnolia. Menai Lady aka Wyndley Boadicea was reported as – ‘ having a very stylish head , plenty of body , substance , and brisket , well off for bone moved soundly‘ while Mr WmHunter Johnston described her as – ‘Typical , but on the small side’. – Photo in the centre - Mrs Norah Dickin’ Thor standing on the right side was sired by Kechi Menai’ halfbrother Comet [out of the same dam but sired by ch Ashenhurst Cedric].

In 1937, Grant befriended the Gypsies who regularly inhabited Epsom Downs during the Derby week, often dressing herself in ‘unusual and romantic clothes‘. She allowed them the use of her land , setting it aside annually for the Gypsies' use. This meant that the Gypsies had a legal place to camp and subsequently halted much of the hostility between the local people and the Gypsies. With the Reverend Edward Dorling she was a leading member of the ‘Lest We Forget’ charitable fun, and on the charity's behalf she organized a fete on the grounds of ‘The Durdans’ each year; here her pottery was often sold and in great demand.

1) Extracts of an utmost rare show catalogue dd 1885 counting 32 pages on A5 size incl Prize lists, regulations, KC rules, list of shows & advertising, a/o The Scottish Fancier est 1884 under the editorship of Mr David James Thompson Gray 1854-01 of ‘D J T Gray & Co' – Dundee, manufacturers of jute and linen goods. Mastiff people were well represented in the Kennel Club Committee Management for 1884 with Mr Mark Beaufoy, Mr Edgar Hanbury, Mr P J D Lindoe, Rev W J Mellor, and Dr L S Forbes Winslow.

April '86 - 'Challenge class 4th Maximilian, was in good condition and is a fine upstanding dog; he wants character in head and is  too long from the stifle-joint to the hock, and has an awkward gait, otherwise a fine specimen'. Mr Mark Beaufoy wrote dd April '86 - 'Maximilian goes badly behind and his head is plain.' - and dd Feb '87 - 'Maximilian is too leggy and lacks Mastiff character.'

From 'The Chronicles of the Garniers of Hampshire During Four Centuries, 1530-1900' publ by Jarrold, London 1900. - 'John Garnier eventually entered the Royal Engineers, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1887. He has served with credit at Plymouth, Canada, the Cape, Chatham, Malta, Isle of Wight, and Guernsey, in the strengthening and construction of Fortifications.  He was a breeder of the British Mastiff for many years, commencing when quite a boy, and his knowledge of the subject has caused him to become one, if not the greatest, of living authorities and judges of this noble breed of dogs. His famous dog Lion which he himself bred, was the sire of that great dog  Governor, reckoned to be the finest and most perfect specimen of the old British Mastiff of the present century, vide ‘The Dogs of the British Islands', edited by Stonehenge. He is now a diligent writer on theological subjects, and is the author of more than one excellent work: his chief effort being ‘ Sin and Redemption ‘ published by Elliot Stock in 1893; but several other exhaustive theological treatises are at the time of writing in the press, the principal of which are ‘The Nephilim' , ‘The True Christ and the False Christ', and in 1900 he was the author of ‘ England’s Enemies, a Warning ‘ published by W H Russell & Co.’ -

Colonel John Garnier R E of Taunton ~ Somerset, consulted as thé Mastiff breed authority of the day, wrote an extensive article about the roots of the Mastiff in Dr John Henry Walsh’ [Stonehenge] ‘ Dogs of the British Isles ‘  publ in 1874. - 'About this time [1857] I bought of Bill George a pair of Mastiffs, whose produce, by good luck, afterwards turned out some of the finest specimens of the breed I ever saw. The dog Adam was one of a pair of Lyme Hall Mastiffs, bought by Bill George at Tattersall’s. He was a different stamp of dog to the present Lyme breed. He stood 30 ½ in. at the shoulder, with length of body and good muscular shoulders and loins, but was just slightly deficient in depth of body and breadth of forehead; and, from the peculiar forward lay of his small ears, and from his produce, I have since suspected a remote dash of boarhound in him. The bitch was obtained from a dealer at Leadenhall Market. Nothing was known of her pedigree, but I am as convinced of its purity as I am doubtful of that of the dog. There was nothing striking about her. She was old, her shoulders a trifle flat, and she had a grey muzzle, but withal stood 29 in. at the shoulder, had a broad round head, good loin, and deep lengthy frame. From crossing these dogs with various strains I was easily able to analyse their produce, and I found in them two distinct types – one due to the dog, very tall, but a little short in the body and high on the leg, while their heads were slightly deficient in breadth; the other due to the bitch, equally tall, but deep, lengthy, and muscular, with broad massive heads and muzzles. Some of these latter stood 33 in. at the shoulder, and by the time they were two years old weighed upwards of 190 lb. They had invariably a fifth toe on each hind leg, which toe was quite distinct from a dew-claw, and formed an integral portion of the feet.

Cuts by Harrison W Weir  from G F Pardon’  ‘Dogs, Their Sagacity, Instinct and Uses‘ publ in 1857. The Mastiff drawing is, according to Mr M B Wynn,  very interesting as Weir had then seen and studied Mr Lukey’ Mastiffs, taking them for his models, and this specimen is remarkably like the type of Mr Lukey’ Bruce 1st, also his descendant Peveril, and it may be accepted as a good example of Lukey’ type of that date, although I’m unaware if it was merely an ideal or a portrait. The Bloodhound drawing shows a heavy boned specimen, short in couplings, deep pendulous lips and a well developed stop [Dr John Henry Walsh  mentioned in his ‘Dogs of the British Isles’, publ in 1867,  that Bloodhounds were also used in order to ‘improve’ or alter the Mastiff breed] .

By bad management, I was only able to bring a somewhat indifferent specimen with me on my return to England from America, a badly reared animal, who nevertheless stood 32 in. at the shoulder, and weighed 170 lb. This dog Lion was the sire of Governor and Harold, by Mr Lukey’ bitch  Countess, and so certain was I of the vast size of the breed in him that I stated beforehand, much to the incredulity of Mr Lukey, that the produce would be dogs standing 33 in. at the shoulder ~ the result being that both Governor & Harold were fully that height.

In choosing the whelps, Mr Lukey retained for himself the best marked one, an animal that took after the lighter of the two strains that existed in the sire; for Governor, grand dog and perfect Mastiff as he was, compared to the most others of his breed, was nevertheless shorter in the body, higher on the leg, and with less muscular development than Harold; while his head, large as it was, barely measured as much round as did his brother’s. I, who went by the development of the fifth toe (in this case only a dew-claw), chose Harold, a dog which combined all the best points, except colour, of both strains, and was a very perfect reproduction on a larger scale of his dam Countess. This dog –Harold - was the finest male specimen of the breed I have met with. His breast at ten months old, standing up, measured 13 in. across with a girth of 41 in. and he weighed in moderate condition 140 lb, and at twelve months old 160 lb, while at 13 ½ months old Governor only weighed in excellent condition 150 lb. with a girth of 40 in; and inasmuch as Governor eventually weighed 180 lb. or even more, the size to which Harold probably attained must have been very great . His head also in size and shape promised to be perfect .

I will mention three other dogs . The first, Lord Waldegrave’s Turk, better known as ‘Couchez’ was the foundation of Mr Lukey’s breed. This dog has frequently been described to me by Bill George and Mr Lukey, and I have a painting of his head at the present moment. He stood about 29 ½  or 30 in. at the shoulder, with great length and muscular development, and although he was never anything but thin, weighed about 130 lb. Muzzle broad and heavy, with deep flews; skin over the eyes and about the neck very loose; colour red, with very black muzzle. He was a most savage animal; was fought several times with other animals, and was invariably victorious.

The second was a tailless brindled bitch, bought by Mr Lukey from George White of Knightbridge. She was a very large massively built animal, standing 30 in. at the shoulder. Her produce with Couchez were remarkably fine. Long bodied, big limbed, heavy headed bitches;  they were Mastiffs Mr Lukey had in those days !  is Bill George’s eulogium of them. The bitch was bred by the Duke of Devonshire, and must therefore have been one of the Chatsworth breed.

The third animal, l’Ami, was a brindled dog of such vast size and weight that he was taken out and shown in England, in the year 1829, the price of admission being one shilling. Of the head of this dog also I have a drawing, and it shows him to be very full and round above the eyes, with a broad heavy muzzle and remarkably deep flews, the ears being cropped close. This dog, with the exception of rather heavy flews, answered exactly to the type of Vandyke’s Mastiff.

Now, the point to which I wish to draw attention is, that both Couchez and l’Ami came direct from the Mount of St Bernard. The mighty dogs which used to be kept at Chatsworth (and one of which stood 34 in. at the shoulder) were pure Alpine Mastiffs, as also were the two magnificient animals I have mentioned as having seen at Bill George’ kennels some sixteen years ago; while others that I frequently used to meet with at that time were of the same character. These, one and all, presented the same type ~ a strong proof of their purity ~ and that type in all respects the same as the old English Mastiff portrayed by Vandyke. The same way may be said of the dogs in Landseer’s picture of Alpine Mastiffs, which have all the points of the true Mastiff, although their tails, as might be expected from the cold climate, are hairier than they should be.' -

L’Acclimatation Illustrée was a Breeders’ Journal [Journal spécial des Chasseurs et des Eleveurs] under the directorship of Edouard de Wael, 116 rue Verte Bruxelles and published since November 1881 on each Sunday. Each weekly number counted ten pages, including a full page [12/9 ins] chromolithograph displaying a/o dog breed specimens [4e Année – 12 races de chiens] settled in a splendid natural environment. Some examples ~ plate 47 , 4e Année [1884] ~ ‘Le chien Mastiff’ represented by champion Wolsey , born 1870 & bred by Edgar Hanbury of Highworth ; plate 31 , 7e Année [1887] ~  Mediliani, Chien d’Ours or also called Medelan, owned by the Emperor of Russia; plate 46 , 7e Année [1887]  ~ Champion Minting, Mastif  Anglais, owned by EH Moore, of Melrose  nr Boston Massachusetts; Minting - 31i/184 lb - became Am champion in '89 but, unfortunately, died the same year.

They moved to Gorgate Hall  Hoe - East Dereham [some hundred miles North East of London] where, according to the White Directory, Mr George Willins resided in 1864. The census 1881 mentions him there as  ‘ a farmer of 120 acres employing four men and a boy ‘.  Residing there, Mrs George Willins owned Gurth b '78 out of the Reverend FH Hichens’ Mab ex ch The Shah’ son;  Gurth got a 1st in puppy class at the Alexandra Palace show of ‘78 and a 2nd prize at Ipswich ‘82 ; Gurth’ litter brother Max changed hands three times before his 1st birthday, namely Lord Hinton, Mr Horace Wright and finally Mr Stefano Castelli, stock broker of Pelham Street South Kensington.

Another theory was that George Jr Willins’ father was Fred Archer 1857-86 – see above at right -, the well known jockey.  EM Humphris’  book ‘ The Life of Fred Archer’ pp 63/64 mentions – ‘About 1870 his father William Archer visited Newmarket to see how his little boy was getting on and he took Fred to the sale of Mr Naylor’ horses. Mrs Willins, of Gorgate Hall East Dereham [ed - some forty miles NE of Newmarket] was there too. She sometimes attended the Cheltenham Races, and Fred is even said to have ridden a pony of hers in an event previous to this time. At any rate, this well-known patron of the Turf, in her somewhat mannish attire, was well known in Archer’ village, as at nearly every race-meeting in the country. William Archer pointed to his little son, and said to Mrs Willins – ‘Here, Madam, this is the one to ride over fences‘. Mrs Willins took the hint, and went to ask Mathew Dawson’ leave for Fred, a pygmee under five stone, to ride a pony of hers, the well known Maid of Trent, in a steeplechase at the featherweight of 4 stone 11 lb. Years afterwards, and not long before his death, Fred Archer gleefully described to an interviewer how he scored his first winning mount at Bangor prior to his successful début on the flat at Chesterfield. This proves that Mrs Willins, who ran horses on almost every course in the kingdom, when she claimed that Archer rode his first winner for her. He afterwards, during his apprenticeship, rode two winners for the same lady at Rugby. Ed - A certain Joseph Archer was mentioned as ‘farmer’ at Gorgate Farms.

Fred Archer had been Champion Jockey 13 times when he shockingly took his own life at the age of 29. Fred Archer was born in Cheltenham, the son of William Archer, the winner of the Grand National on Little Charlie in ‘58. His first important win was in the '72 Cesarewitch, and his first Classic in the '74 2000 Guineas, after which he became Lord Falmouth' retained jockey

Lord Falmouth was Dawson' principle owner and the Archer/Dawson/Falmouth combination became amazingly successful. Over half of Fred Archer' Classic victories were for Falmouth - see at right together with Fred Archer -, although it could be said that he might have won even more had he not been restricted to Lord Falmouth' horses. Archer lived at Mat Dawson' stables, Heath House, until he married Dawson' niece Helen Rose at Newmarket in ‘83. Lord Falmouth donated a silver dinner service as wedding present and Mrs George Willins a ‘painting of herself’! He then built Falmouth House. The expenses of this, together with unfounded suggestions that he had pulled certain horses, and the pressure of remaining at the top of his profession, may have contributed to his suicide. However, the loss of his first child and then his wife during the birth of their second child must have been a major factor. On top of this Archer had a great deal of trouble maintaining his weight. He was 5ft 10’ tall, and had to resort to sweats and a strong daily purgative to ride at around 8 stone 6lb.

A reader’ letter by Mr Chas E Bunn of Peoria Illinois publ in Forest and Stream dd June 1894. - 'In your last issue Mr J L Winchell writes a very excellent article on Heavy Mastiffs, and the Forest and Stream comments slightly on the same. The fact that Mastiffs are again forging to the front is certainly encouraging to the breeders who have hung on to the grand old breed. I have been confident for several years such would be the case.

The real value of a Mastiff is not appreciated until one is owned. I admit, on the bench the more showy St Bernard, with his gay color and brilliant coat, overshadows the Mastiff. But when a dog is wished for — a general all-round companion, yard and house dog; the Mastiff, of all large dogs is king. A St Bernard washed, groomed and in good coat, as seen at a show, is indeed a pretty sight, but take one to your home, give him his liberty in wet weather and dry, in hot and cold climates, and see how much he resembles the beauty you saw at the show, unless indeed you can keep a groom for him alone.

What I started out to say I must now bring forward; Mr Winchell lays great stress on size. I would sound a note of warning: size is one point only and really about the last to be considered, if we are to sacrifice anything let it be size. Indeed I have made up my mind after years of study on the subject, the perfect Mastiff should not weigh above 150 to 160 lb and the bitch 125. In my own kennel I value some 140 lb to 150 lb Mastiffs more than I do some weighing 150 to 170 lb, equally as well bred, but not so trim or symmetrical as the smaller bitches. In the past we all have striven for size and what have been the results? Ruined legs, cow-hocked, snipy muzzles and awkward ungainly beasts.

Forest & Stream of also the year 1894 also mentions - 'We regret very much to hear that Mr Chas E Bunn has sustained a severe loss in the death of his well-known stud Mastiff and winner, Ormonde. Many fanciers would feel discouraged after losing five such animals as Edric – ed ch Orlando’ dau Emma ex ch Jack Thyr -, Ilford Cameo – ed ch Ilford Chancellor’ dau Christine ex ch Jack Thyr -, Miss Caution, Caution' Own Daughter - see at right  - ed ch Hotspur or ch Orlando’ dau Lady Dorothy ex Ilford Caution -, and Ormonde within one year. Mr Bunn is made of the right stuff, however, and will hold on as long as he can keep a Mastiff.’ – Re Caution’ Own Daughter – on the back of her portrait  is noted a/o – ‘She was one of the last Mastiffs sired by Am ch Ilford Caution who seemed to have the faculty of transmitting the main characteristics of his wonderful head. From Lady Dorothy, her dam, she gained that intense look of Mastiff quality which is so much admired by connoisseurs of the breed. She was one of the main winners of her day, and as evidence of her intrinsic merit, she won these prizes notwithstanding the fact that she was in a measure, handicapped by her chocolate face markings.’ -

Text added to Ormonde’ oversized (A2) pedigree paper tracing back as far as Robinson’ Bold & Thompson’ Rose, parents to the brindle Holdsworth’ Lion born 1820. It correctly mentions that after Mrs Willins died Ormonde changed hands, namely to Mr Chas Wm Cunningham, steward of Kensington Infirmary – see also Miscellanea Four -.  At Southampton Sept ’89 he indeed got 1st prize, seconded by King Harold b ’87 & bred by Mr King out of Ranger’ dau Duchess sired by Captain III, the latter brother of Dr J Sidney Turner’ foundation The Lady Rowena bred by Mr Darlington out of ch Colonel’ dau Negress ex ch Rajah. Ormonde' sire ch Victor Hugo sired also ch Jubilee Beauty, the one who produced ch Peter Piper' sire Tom Bowling. Mr Bunn describes his purchase Ormonde as – ‘a fine, large dog, standing about thirty inches high, large skull and muzzle, good bone, and a coat like satin, beautiful fawn in color, and of a good disposition. In breeding he cannot be excelled’.

But judge reports re Ormonde, then owned by Mrs Willins,  publ in the Kennel Gazette paint a less flattering image ... - Crystal Palace Feb '87 Mr Mark Beaufoy - 'Puppy Class 2nd  Ormonde, 10 months old, has a fair head, but his appearance is quite spoilt by a very bad ring in his stern.' -; Ranelagh July '87 Mr M B Wynn - 'Ormonde, who promises to grow into a fair specimen, is too large in ear, and is at present  somewhat hollow in back.' - Crystal Palace Feb '88 Dr J Sidney Turner - 'Ormonde, peaked in skull, fair ear and muzzle, but he is a bad mover, and has a very staring light eye and a horrid ring tail.' - 

From Wikipedia - Edward Jesse 1780-68, writer on natural history, was born at Hutton Cranswick Yorkshire, where his father was vicar of the parish. He became clerk in a government office in ‘98, and for a time was secretary to Lord Dartmouth, when president of the Board of Control. In 1812 he was appointed commissioner of hackney coaches, and later he became deputy surveyor-general of the royal parks and palaces. On the abolition of this office he retired on a pension, and he died at Brighton. The result of his interest in the habits and characteristics of animals was a series of pleasant and popular books on natural history, the principal of which are as follows - Gleanings in Natural History (1832–1835), An Angler's Rambles (1836), Anecdotes of Dogs (1846), and Lectures on Natural History (1863). He also edited Izaak Walton' The Compleat Angler, Gilbert White' Selborne, and Leitch Ritchie' Windsor Castle, and wrote a number of handbooks to places of interest, including Windsor and Hampton Court.

Some ‘Kennel Secrets’  by Ashmont dd 1893~ Part III Breeding, Chapter I ~ Selection of sire. ‘Breed to the best‘ is of course a golden rule, provided it is rendered rightly - that is, the selection is consistent and the breeder is influenced not alone by obvious excellence of the individual, but by the family history as well. In other words, he has a proper conception of it who looks for a combination of qualities when seeking a sire, and considers not merely the dog himself and his dominant characters but the characters of his family, the constancy with which good qualities have been transmittedà, whether the existing perfections will compensate the ancestral defects &c .~

That there may be no mistaking the meaning of all this still another case is assumed, and of a bitch light in head. Her owner, an intelligent breeder, instead  of choosing as a sire a heavy-headed dog,  mates her to one that is perhaps a little of the light side, and the puppies come right. Why did he this? He knew what there was in his bitch’ pedigree. In a word, he knew that she was closely related to a strong-headed family, and that the sire he had selected for her was also from a family that were good in head. But had he selected a short-faced and thick-headed dog of a short-faced and thick-headed family, the result would doubtless have been far from his liking. The obvious conclusion is, that in selecting a sire one must not only be familiar with the available dogs themselves but have a good knowledge of their family histories; moreover, he should know whether or not their offspring very generally resembled them or some of their ancestors. Some sires and dams, in fact, seem to have little individuality, as shown by their inability to reproduce themselves. Two inmates of the writer’ kennels plainly testified to this fact. Both were two removes from ‘Crown Prince, and nothwithstanding they had dense black muzzles, no matter how mated they almost invariably ‘threw puppies’ having the same peculiar chocolate-colored muzzle of their noted ancestor.

Manifestly, therefore, a good, shapely and well-marked dog may prove an indifferent stock-getter, while, on the other hand, one with a glaring defect – as bad color of muzzle, size of ear, expression of eye , &c. – may turn out admirably. And although such results may sometimes be purely accidental, as a rule they are due to that peculiarity of ‘throwing back’.

Were only two dogs available, one with a grand head yet of small-headed ancestors, and the other small-headed but of a family noted for good heads in the two generations before him, her owner would probably have the best results from the use of the latter. In fact, to buy a dog and breed him to every bitch in the kennel is one of the worst mistakes which a breeder can make, and one which, as a rule, destroys many of the chances of eminent success. Therefore he is wise who depends largely upon others for his sires. When selecting from prize-winners one must needs be very cautious, and bear in mind that high health and vigor are essentials of infinite importance. The principal objections to in-breeding are, that it greatly weakens the nervous system,  producing excessive excitability,  intensifies constitutional defects, leads to decrease in size, creates a disposition to disease and impairs the reproductive functions.'

Once again, the definition of 'Flews' in the Oxford dictionary refers to 'the thick hanging lips of a bloodhound or similar dog'. In the spirit of  such a general source of information, it seems rather odd to exclude the Mastiff as a dog similar to the Bloodhound, the latter reportedly one of the breeds used by certain early Mastiff breeders in order to ?improve? their strains; thereby comes that even present-day there are still canine historians who consider the original Mastiff to be a Hound. The word ‘flews' is indeed not in the present breed standard, although it might be of interest to note that the same OEMC website mentions - in the chapter 'Brief History' - 'The Breed Standard was first published in 1859 by ‘Stonehenge’ (Dr John Henry Walsh) in The Dog in Health & Disease stating that the points of the Mastiff are:  A head of large size between that of the bloodhound and bulldog in shape having the volume of muscle of the latter, with the flews and muzzle of the former.', but also the Stonehenge standards dd 1866 & 1878 mention 'flews', respectively - ‘flews deep’, and - 'the flews should be distinctly marked so as to make the square distinctly pronounced; but they must not be pendulous to anything like the degree as is exhibited by the Bloodhound.’ -  The present Bloodhound standard, just like the present Mastiff standard, does not mention ‘flews' but – ‘In front, lips fall squarely making a right angle with upper line of foreface.’; in literature about  the Bloodhound, the wordings 'flews' and 'jowls' are both in use. The vulgarising nature of Wikipedia describes  our  breed, btw faultily named the ?English? Mastiff,  a/o - 'The Mastiff has a distinctive head with dewlap and flews.’ - Below - A famous Bloodhound owned by Mastiff breeder Mr Mark Beaufoy, owner of a/o ch Beau. Dr J Sidney Turner owned Bloodhounds too and Mr Edwin Brough, arguably the most prominent Bloodhound breeder in Victorian times, once owned the Mastiff ch Turk;  in 1896 they both drew up the Bloodhound - or Sleuth-hound - standard which was adopted by the Association of Bloodhound breeders est 1897.

–3) ‘It may be urged that if preference may be given to any colour, the fancy have an equal right to say the Mastiff should have the level jaw and long head; that the undershot jaw is merely a monstrocity both in the Bulldog and Mastiff, a little consideration however will show the merest tyro the incorrectness of any such argument, which may be seen by analogy. In the lop-eared rabbit for instance, the fancy have a right to select any particular colour and marking, and the lop ears may be a monstrocity, or an adaptation on the part of nature to fit the animal for its conditions of existence; but let anyone argue the lop ears should be bred out, and a normal small ear take its place, what would be the result? The breed would no longer be the lop-eared variety ; the same with the Mastiff, a baiting dog, with the characteristic short muzzle, and undershot jaw of its trade or use, which if bred out or allowed to degenerate into other types, the breed would become no longer the Mastiff, as they approached nearer in type to their Boarhound, Bloodhound, or Alpine sheepdog ancestry; foul crosses which have been introduced to the detriment of the true type.’ -

to flow, because this fold of skin acting as a canal causes a certain amount of moisture or slavering, always to be present in dogs in which this peculiarity of the true hound is strongly marked, as in the Bloodhound ; the Mastiff should be quite free from anything of the sort. In the true Mastiff, also in the Bulldog, the portion of the lip that covers the cynodonts should be' very pendulous, the upper lip falling forward and hiding the lower lip, and any appearance of the inner hairless skin or true lips, while the corners of the mouth (which in the hound hang, showing the indented hairless inner lip, forming the flew) should in the Mastiff group be puckered up, giving a pouting appearance, as if the animal had a gum boil or swollen face.’ - Good examples of this 'pouting appearance' are shown - see above at left - by Mr Harrison Weir' drawing of Cautley' Quaker -  winner at the Birmingham show 1861 -, and by a head study of ch Havengore Hotspot b 1958; but, of course, in present practice the Mastiff breed is almost packed with specimens  demonstrating the 'flews' described by Mr M B Wynne whose book, by the bye, not a single time mentions the wording 'jowls'.

In 1867 Stonehenge suggested that - ‘the Mastiff was being crossed with Bloodhounds, heads becoming narrow, eyes sunken and the haw exaggerated; the Bulldog was used in order to get a shorter face, for the Mastiff head then was a longer head than was desired.’ - In 1878 Stonehenge published a revised standard, warning especially for the Bloodhound cross regarding ‘the flews should be no means be pendulous, the eyes mild in expression but without sad & solemn look, the ears without the slightest approach to a fold & no troatiness'. Further on he mentions - ‘jaws moderately long , full upper lip, flews distinctly marked so as to make a square outlook, the neck of sufficient length to avoid loss of symmetry.‘ -

Mr George Henry Rushton, son to Rev John Rushton - Archdeacon of Manchester, bred in the late 1860s Bloodhounds, a/o King Solomon I out of his Juno - Mr Becker' Brenda ex Mr Cowen' Druid - sired by the famous ch Regent - Empress ex Mr Cowen' Druid - owned by Mr Charles Edward Holford 1831-88 of High Oak House Ware Herts. Merchant & commission agent Mr G H Rushton of Hale Bowdon Cheshire died in 1870, aged 40; his Bloodhound brood Juno and his Mastiff brood Sybil* - ch King' dau Countess ex ch Turk - became purchased by Mr John Leigh Becker - see also Parkinson page - who bred Ben b 1872 - out of Mr Rushton' Sybil* sired by Lord Nelson (winner of 30 prizes) owned by Mr David Sloane of Mason - & Swan street  Manchester; Lord Nelson being out of T Smith’ Nell sired by Wilding’ dog - Mr Edwards’ Tigris x Lord Stamford’ Lion  -. Mr JL Becker' Ben became renowned as the sire of Mr Alston' ch Colonel b May ‘76,  the one behind the finest strains of the 1880s.

An article about the origin of the Mastiff which, the usual stuff aside, contains some quotes of interest. - 1) Mr Robt Watson, the Scot who emigrated to America, was inclined to throw out all the heroic tales in favor of the theory that the Mastiff was merely one form of the smooth-coated Collie, ie the ‘House Masty’, an overly-heavy shepherd dog used mainly for guarding property. - 2) ‘Richardson decided that the Mastiff was a mixture of Bulldog and Talbot hound', - the latter according to Wikipedia  - ‘The Talbot was a type of white hunting dog. It is now extinct and has been credited with being an ancestor of the modern Beagle and Bloodhound.’  William Somervile in his poem The Chase publ 1735, describes the former use of ‘lime-hounds' (leashe hounds) on the Scottish Borders to catch thieves, obviously referring to the Bloodhound and the Sleuth-hound, but adding that the (white) Talbot was the ‘prime' example of this type of hound.' - The 'Richardson' referred to was the Scot H D Richardson, Major of the 7th Dragoon Guards at Dublin, and author of  a dozen books on domestic animals, a/o ‘The dog: its origin, natural history and varieties’ dd 1842.

Note – Mr John Leigh Becker 1811-88, Manufacturing Chemist of Foxdenton Hall Chadderton nr Manchester, was the son of Ernst Hannibal Becker, a German immigrant from Ohrdruf Thuringia, who set up vitriol works at Middleton. Mr J L Becker bred one of the first Bloodhound broods of Mr Edwin Brough 1844-29, ie Mr G H Rushton Juno' sis Clotho b '69 - out of his Brenda ex Mr Cowen' Druid -. Mr J L Becker' niece Lydia Ernestine Becker  was a leader in the early British suffrage movement, as well as an amateur scientist with interests in biology and astronomy. She is best remembered for founding and publishing the Women' Suffrage Journal between 1870-90.  At right - Original print dd 1872 by artist Alexander Francis Lydon 1836-17 presenting a/o a Mastiff with a tawny coloured coat colour incl a white chest.

The first KC Stud Book dd ’74 - Chapter Bloodhounds - mentions several other Mastiff fanciers too; ie the owner of the Mastiff Druid b ‘65 by Lukeys Wallace, Mr Phillip J D Lindoe of Bournemouth,  owned the Bloodhound Hero b ’65 & bred by Mr Purnell out of Chauntess ex Young Needwood – 2nd prize at Birmingham ’67; the  breeder of Mr Barker' Mastiff Tiger by Lord Byron' Tiger, Mr James Hinks, bred the Bloodhound Vengeance b '61 out of Empress sired by Druid -;  the owner of the Mr J L Becker' Ben’ sire Lord Nelson, Mr E Sloane of Mason/Swan street Manchester, owned the Bloodhound Oscar bred by Mr J L Becker – out of Brenda ex Mr Holford’ Regent -; and finally the Earl of Caledon 1846-98  of County Tyrone,  President of the Mastiff breeding Club est '73 – Secretary Mr M B Wynne – and owner of the Mastiff bitch Vesper by Lord Middleton’ Charley, owned the Bloodhound  Thanet bred by Mr C E Holford out of Mr Brierley’ Vengeance ex Luath.

The Earl of Caledon' Mastiff Vesper went to Mr Swain** who mated her to Lord Middleton' Lion resulting in Lion b '70 3rd prize at Birmingham '74, owned by Mr Edward Spawforth Warrin of the Redditch & New York Needle Works;  the Mastiff Brutus II b '80 was bred by the Earl of Caledon and owned by Mrs Josephine Maria Ellis, the wife of Captain Robert Conway Dobbs Ellis  of Gortmore House Omagh. The Ormonde pedigree mentions Mr Swain**’ Rose b ca ’55 as paternal grand-dam of Bill George' Tiger, the one who sired the 1st Mastiff champion, ie Mr Edgar Hanbury’ Duchess. Above - Lord Middleton aka Henry Willoughby 1817-77, Master of Foxhounds who resided the most part of his life at Birdsall House - here above - nr Malton East Yorkshire.

Miss Florence May Crump 1901-88 born at Leamington Spa being the grand-daughter of Mr Edward Crump 1847-28, of the firm ‘Crump and Wagstaff’ -  Fruiterers, Italian Warehousemen, and Florists at 68 Regent street Leamington Spa –, nurseryman at Ranelagh Gardens Leamington, and flowers & fruit exhibitor/judge -.  Miss Crump, formerly of Wyndley Warwick road Leamington Spa, was one of the then very few people who ran boarding kennels, bred several dog breeds and thereby she also owned first-class Mastiff stock.

At left – fr l to r – Mr Bob Thomas’ 1) Menai Stella – exported to Miss Elizabeth Goodrich Stillman 1905-56 Kenridge kennels Cornwall-on Hudson NY – out of Menai Maida – ch Weland’ dau Brunhilde ex ch Hellingly Joseph’ sire Wantley King Baldur -, 2) Menai Stella' sire Menai Anglesea and 3) his brother Menai Comet – who sired Mrs Dickin’ Thor. Ch Menai Juno’ sibling Menai Anglesea got in ’26 as youngster reserve ccs at Crystal Palace under ch Arolite’ breeder Mr J G Joice – cc ch Havengore Bill – and at Edinburgh under Mr Tom Hooton – cc ch Ashenhurst Cedric -; and in ’28 reserve ccs at Edinburgh under Mr Chris Houlker – cc ch Benvolio -, and at Birmingham under Nuneaton breeder Mr Nevile Walker Hall – cc ch Westcroft Blaise’ brother ch Bulger.

Arthur Wardle’ painting was inscribed ’To my friend Fred Hawkings’; arguably it represents his ch Ashenhurst Cedric' son Goldhawk Imperator - who sired Mrs Samuelson' ch Cinque Ports Michael. - The article of Dr J Sidney Turner was part of the treatise 'Analysis of Breeding' publ in Our Dogs April '37 and authored by Mr Raynes Lauder McLaren b Jamaica 1859-41, civil engineer m in ’88 Miss Edith Kennedy. He was active in the Junior branch of the South of England Airedale Terrier Club - est 1898 by Mr Holland Buckley - and they lived at Greater London, later on at  Little Ffynches Rustington nr Worthing Sussex. – The given, that quote – ‘although each child may inherit ¼ from each parent’ -, includes for their children the theoretical chance of inheriting the respective same quarter from each parent is ¼ x ¼ = 1/16 or ca 6%. - More about the subject of germinal heritage to be found under Miscellanea Three No 120.

Mr Charles Houseman Mason’ Our Prize Dogs [1888] reads as following ~ ‘Lady Dorothy, fawn with black points. Muzzle and ears black as ebony. White spot on breast and narrow line on throat. Feet shaded white. Color excellent. Skull flat, wide and deep. Forehead broad and well wrinkled. Eyebrows well defined. Eyes excellent in size, shape and position. Ears superb – the best we ever have seen in this country. Muzzle short, blunt, deep and wide, but cut away rather too much just before the eyes. Lower incisors projecting. Expression excellent. This is a most promising head. Neck short and strong. Back and loin wide and strong. Chest deep and roomy. Flanks somewhat tucked up, but certain to come down. Hindlegs and hocks faultness. Forelegs not quite straight, but sure to improve. Feet better than average. Tail of nice length and well carried. Coat and skin could not be better. Symmetry and quality of a very high order. A most promising young bitch, and one that, with ordinary luck, will undoubtedly make a brilliant record. She will never be a large one – multum in parvo.’ - Lady Dorothy b April '86 & bred by Belgian Rev Henry van Doorne - out of Dr Turners Cedric The Saxon’ dau Wunna ex ch Orlando or ch Hotspur - became owned by Dr J S Turner who exported her to Melrose breeder Mr E H Moore - Mass US; Cardinal Beaufort was brother of Sir Stafford’ dau ch Frigga Secunda; their maternal cousin  Am ch Beauforts Black Prince to be seen at left.  Their respective dams - ch Frigga & Gerda - were bred by the same Reverend.

Article dd 1902 by Dr J Sidney Turner of Upper Norwood London. - The Mastiff stock of Mr Robert aka 'Bob' Alfred Leadbetter collected between 1900-'08 not less than 43 cc’s which  represents 2/3 of the available set, taking into account he also judged Mastiffs five times at championship level in that same period. Concerning ccs awarded to ownbred specimens, he only was surpassed by Mr Arthur W Lucas who a/o bred champions Marchioness, Colonel Cromwell & Countess Invicta. Mr Robert Leadbetter ~ A most popular Mastiff judge - According to the KCSB, he judged Mastiffs not less than 13 times. Presumably due to private problems - on March 5 ‘10 he was declared bankrupt - Robert Leadbetter Esq did not judge from ‘09 until ‘19 when he became partner in ‘The World Zoological Trading Company Ltd’ formed ‘to carry out the business of hunters and trappers of wild animals and their subsequent disposal’. The next year he formed in conjunction with Mr Gerald Palmer ‘The Arena and Stage Menagerie Company’;  the intention to provide acts for music halls and to deal with wild animals. But on March 31 ‘22, a receiving order was put on this company as well.

Crufts ’28 was his last Mastiff judge appointment. A year later Robert made history when he was brought before Aylesbury Court to be the first person in the county to be prosecuted under the Theatrical Employers Registration Act. Again being described as an animal importer, Mr Robert Leadbetter was summonsed ‘for carrying on the business of theatrical employment without being registered’ and ‘for abandoning a performer at Aylesbury town hall’. On March 22 ‘35 his ninety years old mother Margaret Susan  née Rose died and Hazlemere Park was eventually put on the market again. Robert sold his own house and bought a caravan in Wycombe Marsh - nr Hazlemere Park - where he spent the rest of his life as a recluse with his dogs. 05 September '39 – ‘Robert Leadbetter, independent of High Wycombe, was fined £10 by the local magistrates on Wednesday for causing unnecessary suffering to animals and was ordered to dispose of more than 20 animals which he keeps as pets. Inspector T. Roberts, RSPCA, said that 13 goats, two sheep and five donkeys were released from unsuitable and dilapidated sheds they stumbled as though drunk. They had been kept for a considerable time in a small space and were ravenous. A pony, lying too weak to raise its head ...' - Mr Robert Alfred Leadbetter b '73 Q3 died on February 17 ’54, aged 80.

A grotesque breed example avant-la-lettre dd 1874 by the artist Ernest Griset 1843-07, one of the greatest Victorian illustrators of the genre. He illustrated ‘the Mastiff and the Curs‘ story of Aesop' Fables [with text based upon Croxall, La Fontaine and L' Estrange, with copious additions from other authors, 1st edition publ in 1869 by Cassell, Petter, & Galpin - London] with a/o marvellous drawing  of a lying specimen oozing the heavy square breed type, not as such on display during those days of early dog shows. Mr Ernest Griset was born in Boulogne France but came to England when he was a child. His parents may have emigrated during the 1848 revolution, and the subsequent seizure of power by Napoleon III, either because of their political activity or because their livelihood was destroyed. He studied art with the Belgian artist Louis Gallait. He spent the rest of his life in north London near the Zoo where he drew the animals all his life. He drew beautiful studies of which are now in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum. He also produced satirical illustrations and drawings of comic animals, insects and birds for books and periodicals. He was able to give almost human expressions even to insects, and there are amazing drawings of ant dramas in The purgatory of Peter the Cruel, in which a cruel boy is transformed in turn into a cockroach, an ant, a snail and a newt.

On 9 July 1877 a false report of his death appeared in The Times which described him as 'an admirable and apparently inexhaustible draughtsman who possessed much satirical power and produced countless drawings in grotesque of animals and human savages, which wise collectors obtained for trivial sums at an untidy little shop near Leicester Square.' This shop was in Suffolk Street, and he had produced and sold sketches there from the mid 1860s. On 16th July, The Times admitted that he was not dead, or 'even ailing.' He contributed to the magazine Fun [which was similar in style to Punch] for some years, and the editor, Mr Tom Hood, wrote verses for his drawings in Mr Griset' grotesques, published in 1867. Mr Mark Lemon, the editor of Punch, invited him to join the staff in 1867 but he left after disagreements in 1869.

Chilterns’ Hazlemere Park has played a very important role in the history of Hazlemere. The Park lies between the Holmer Green Road, Western Dene & Brimmers Hill periphery. At the turn of the XIXth century a fine Georgian house  was erected [nearby a two hundred years old Cedar tree of Lebanon], later known as Hazlemere Lodge - see at left - built. Its owner, ironmonger Mr John Staples Ive 1788-63, appears to have ministered a large estate, for it is recorded that he liked to ride over the fields to a little hut in Great Kingshill near Pipers Corner to enjoy a quiet smoke. In 1865 the estate Hazlemere Park [covering an area of 306 acres , equal to ca 1/2 square mile] was bought by Mr George Heatley, a wine merchant from London who set himself up as the local squire. He is thought to have had three smaller lodges built a/o a lovely located Brimmers Hill Cottage  - see centre - at Lower Lodge Lane. After his death the estate was managed by his wife until 1894.

The estate kept going through under the Leadbetter name until it was sold to Mr Foyer in the 1930s. For the first few years Lewis Claude b '76 appears to have tried the hardest. He is listed as representing the wine-merchants at the coronation of King Edward the Seventh in 1901, the year after  he married at Strand London Miss Gladys Irene Constance Camilla Vivian, grand-daughter of Charles Crespigny Vivian, 2nd Baron Vivian. It appears he had sold up and left High Wycombe. After their divorce, his wife Gladys married in ‘19 2nd  Lieutenant-Commander Raymond George Francis Herault de Caen. Mr Lewis Claude Leadbetter died in ’51 at Banbury Oxfords. Maurice Arthur or ‘Skinny Leadbetter’ b ‘79 as he was nicknamed , sparked the imagination of the locals , being a jockey in his younger days , brilliant horseman & trainer he caused a scandal when he openly cavorted with a married woman, Mrs Guillerma Justa Dresser née Norton b ‘77 Spain,  who later divorced and married Maurice at Kensington in '13. He shot himself in 1955 after his wife became very ill.

In all he had over 60 animals including ‘cart horses and mares’. With such a knowledge of horses and dogs, Mr Robert Leadbetter was also an expert foxhunter and in 1903 he became Master of the Old Berkeley Hunt. Commenting on his appointment the Victoria County History stated ~ ‘On becoming Master, Mr Robert Leadbetter erected kennels on his estate to compensate for the growing difficulty of hunting the more populous southern part of the county. Mr Leadbetter has successfully opened up the corner of Aylesbury Vale which lies between the Chiltern Hills and Hartwell, and good sport is now obtained in that district, which had previously been short of foxes.’

At this point in his life Robert was not only well-liked , but he was a great socialiser. His guests were entertained with parties and gambling sessions in the great drawing room, which housed two drinking wells and was decorated with huge playing cards. On September 17 1902 Mr Robert Leadbetter invited the villagers to come and look at his splendid show of hunters, hackneys, ponies  - see at left his Ben, billed the world’ smallest horse -, brood mares, foals and young stock. They were not allowed though to see his priceless collection of dogs and his private menagerie. Realising the disappointment he had caused, Robert readily agreed to open his menagerie at a later date, the monies collected from admission to go to the aid of Wycombe Cottage Hospital. He invited the Daily News to visit the zoo, the visit became interrupted by news that the lion Sultan had escaped!

And so it had, but the following day’ headlines ‘Thrilling Adventure at Private Zoo – An escaped Lion’  rather overdid things - 'The keeper forgot to close the cage after cleaning out, subsequently he found himself in face with the lion outside the cage. Sultan, smelling a lioness in a nearby cage, turned its back and walked off while the keeper sought refuge in the cage. While the lion was busy rubbing his nose with the lioness, the keeper made good his escape, again leaving the cage door open; this time, though, the lion casually walked back, past tigers and bears, and calmly stepped back into his own cage! The story prompted Robert Leadbetter to show that his zoo was safe, and he arranged for a full visit of the press the following week. He told the Daily News that - ‘he once had a lion cub which loved to stretch out on the hearth in front of the fire, but the servants let the fire go out, rather than go near the animal. He kept a jackal, described as an imp of mischief, having the habit of stealing my boots and hiding them behind curtains, and taking all the logs and coals from the fire. I had also a monkey that was very jealous of women, and would attack them if they spoke to me.’ -. He began breeding horses in earnest and from 1907 he began showing these and other animals at the Crystal Palace, but the price of animals began to decline and the advent of the motor car meant his horses did not sell well either.  - Centre – Mr Leadbetter prize list. - At right – the graphic of yearly registrations of Mastiffs – blue bars – vs St Bernards – red bars – between 1908 and 1933 shows that St Bernards were far ahead before WWI but their relapse during the years of war was even more dramatically compared to the Mastiff breed which recovered afterwards to approximate the 200 mark and even outclass the St Bernard registrations from 1927 until 1931.

At left – A historical photograph of Robert Leadbetter’ Head kennelman Mr Thomas Gardner together with the Hazlemere brother pair in 1907 - the five years old Czar Peter & the four years old Archie, the latter being the sire of two champions – Hazlemere Ronald & Widmere Bess whilst their sis Kilmacolm Lucy got two cc’s & two reserve tickets . According to Mr William Drury Drury’ book – ‘British Dogs, Their Points, Selection, And Show Preparation' publ in 1903, a ‘Mr  Gardner was Head kennelman to her Grace the Duchess of Newcastle, President of the Borzoi Club.’The Sphere London 09 July – ‘It was a proud day for Gardner, the Duchess of Newcastle' kennelman, when he was presented by the Queen with the royal trophy which had been awarded to the Borzoi, Ivan Turgenev, her Majesty - ed Queen Alexandra 1844-25 - enhancing its value by the few gracious words she used on’, &c - Maybe the same person who changed for some reason from employer, and seemingly a man in high esteem under the then prominent doggy people. Mr A F  Sherley’ standard booklet ‘Hints to Dog Owners, A Manual for the Daily Use of Dog Owners, Breeders, Fanciers, Dealers, Kennelmen & Others in the Care and Treatment Of Dogs’ with more than sixteen editions [until 1936] was maybe one of his tools as thé kennelman par excellence. Note - Mr William Drury Drury 1874-28, of Stepaside nr Dublin, formerly of Dorset House St Johns road Sevenoaks, was for many years editor of a popular weekly magazine for antique collectors and art connoisseurs named 'The Bazaar - Exchange and Mart'. British Dogs aside, he edited - Popular Dog Keeping, Popular Toy Dogs, English And Welsh Terriers, Scotch And Irish Terriers, The Fox Terrier, The Greyhound, Fruit Culture, Garden Animals, Home Gardening, The Book Of Gardening, & Hardy Perennials too.

Centre – This Spratts Patent’ advert, displaying  a ‘Night Dog for Gamekeepers’ by Mr Richard Hewitt Moore - the one who drew the correct OEMC head type too -, was published by the Illustrated Kennel News in the early years of the XXth century, long before the Bull-Mastiff was recognised as a breed by the Kennel Club. The perception of Mr Moore’ drawing is of a rather clumsy dog with a puzzled forehead oozing fortitude, large leathery ears and long but square muzzle; almost Mastiff-like in bulk, standing four square, annex rather straight hindquarters. Nevertheless, it gives a fine idea of the typical expression of the BM breed in its early stage as par example shown some twenty years later by Tiger Torus, described by breed connoisseur Mr Jack Barnard as ‘one of the finest night dogs that ever lived‘, and the one who sired the first breed champion Tiger Prince. At right – ‘Taking the two ton Spratt’ biscuit into the Crystal Palace' on the occasion of the 70th Kennel Club Championship Show' dd Oct 1931.

 At left - painting made by the Dutch artist Otto Eerelman 1839-26 – see centre – mostly known as a painter of horses but he also drew a/o a quite interesting Mastiff head ca 1895 18/24i sized, and arguably representing Mr Louis R Dobbelmann’ Rotterdam Max - out of ch Crown Prince’ daughter The Princess sired by Am ch Minting’ brother Charley Wood -. The hammer prize for this piece of art scaling £12000.

In 1919, Groningen celebrated the eightieth birthday of their fellow townsman Otto Eerelman.  Its government named a street after this fine artist and commissioned him for a large painting [ 75/100i ] of the famous Groningen Stallion Show at August 28 1920, that as a tribute to the liberation  of the city in August 28  1672. At old age Otto Eerelman became knighted for his artistic labours, a/o as a court painter of the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina. He was a real Master in dog portraits, especially to observe the finesse in coats.

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