In 1279 Edward I granted a licence to hunt the fox in the Kings's Chances and Warrens of Holderness. The most famous Master was William 'Squire' Draper, who hunted hounds from 1726-76. He was summoned to the Holderness country by Sir Mark Constable of Constable Burton.  For over 50 years he hunted the vast country of Holderness and furthermore his hounds were described as "the best pack in Europe". 

 

The more immediate forefather of the Holderness was William Bethell of Rise Park, who from 1765 began to hunt a large part of today's country from Bishop Burton and northwards. He eventually sold his hounds to

Sir Tatton Sykes and, in 1804, Sir Mark Sykes began

to hunt the whole of present Holderness country.

In 1815, Digby Legard revived the old Bethell

country, collecting a scratched pack he kenelled at

Etton and planted the gorse coverts. Scenting was

so good, one of his huntsmen said, that "you could

hunt a fox with an old sow and a litter of pigs"!

 

By the 1930's they were a famously well-bred pack, full of Middleton blood, with the best Quorn and Tynedale lines. To these were added, after the war, York and Ainsty and Heythrop strains. Today the Holderness has adapted to many challenges since William Draper's days such as roads, motorways, railway lines, wire fences and the 2004 hunting act. Nevertheless the Holderess still remains strong and bold in the 21st century.