Lot Essay
The Cambridgeshire Hunt dates from the late 18th century and later merged with the Enfield Chace. Former Masters have included The Messrs Hurrell (1827-29) and George Smith-Bosanquet (1903-06). From 1906 onwards the Crossman family maintained the Cambridgshire as Masters of the Hunt in an almost unbroken line of succession that was to span the majority of the 20th century. The line began with Mr. Douglas Crossman of Grandsden Hall, who in his thirty year reign as Master established the Cambridgeshire as one of the best bred packs in East Anglia, and ended with Lady Crossman's retirement in 1986. The present lot was given to Lady Crossman's mother Mrs. Ethel Crossman upon the occasion of her retirement from the Hunt in 1953 and depicts Len Gilbert and the Cambridgeshire hounds in front of Boxworth Church, the parish of Jean Crossman's grandfather who was vicar there.