Hunting in Wales in the Middle Ages: More than a Pastime

Credit: Unsplash Dominik Mecko

When you think of the hobbies of nobility in ages past, hunting is one of the first things that comes to mind. Hunting in the lush, untamed landscapes of Wales was a challenge that showcased the skill of the nobles as they wielded weaponry and their mastery of horsemanship but hunting in Wales was more than an opportunity to show off.

Hunting is a tradition that goes back to antiquity. Early man had to hunt to provide food, and furs for warmth and to provide protection. Every culture has stories that relate to hunting and Wales is no different in this regard. Welsh literature is full of mythical hunting with one of the most famous being the story of Culhwch and Olwen. Olwen is the daughter of a fierce giant who sets Culhwch several formidable tasks including hunting down a supernatural wild boar called Twrch Twrch. The chase moves from Ireland, all over Wales, and finally to Cornwall. Well worth reading the tale which is a very old one!

The importance of hunting is seen by the number of references to it in the Laws of Hywel the Good (Hywel Dda).  The status of the falconer is shown by the duties the king had to perform for him if the falconer caught a heron, bittern, or curlew. The king was expected to honour him by holding his horse and presenting him with food from his own plate. The laws are very specific about the respect with which the falconers and huntsmen should be treated even down to where they should be housed and seated. The chief groom and grooms must stay in the king’s barn because they distribute the provender; the chief huntsman and huntsmen are to stay in the king’s kiln house and the falconer is to stay in the barn because hawks detest smoke. The laws are also specific about what can be hunted and when.

Hunting was an important social activity that encouraged bonding and teamwork. Those who hunted together might later field themselves together on a battlefield and it was good to be able to have a rapport with the man at your side. Hunting etiquette was adhered to and was as much about keeping people safe as social niceties. The huntsmen were responsible not only for the care of the hounds and the horses but also for controlling the hunt with horn signals which the hounds obeyed and which the hunters recognized. The huntsmen would coordinate the movements of the hunters to make sure that, for example, when they had come across a boar, nobody got hurt. Boars were aggressive and could do incredible damage with their tusks but the exhilaration of the chase and danger for the hunters was paramount. 

There were many kinds of hounds employed for different kinds of hunting and the Welsh were no different in breeding hunting dogs to suit the terrain and quarry. One of the most prominent was the Welsh Hound which was native to Britain. This hound was red and white with wiry hair. Hywel Dda’s laws of the 10th century gave the value of a trained hound as 240 pence which was not insignificant. The Welsh Hound was bred for speed and stamina in the rocky terrain and was intelligent enough not only to understand the huntsman but to communicate with the huntsmen with its own signals of bark and baying.

Hunting also had an environmental importance. The Welsh had and generally still have a huge respect for nature. Hunting was not only about providing food for the table, skins for clothing and a means of practicing warrior skills. Hunting provided a means to ensure the survival of the best beasts of the forest and mountain with enough food to keep them healthy. Controlling the number of deer would also protect the woodlands as an environment for the squirrels, hares, pine martens and other creatures and birds who lived there.

While sometimes contentious today, hunting in times past had a very important purpose and in Wales was a vital part of its culture.

If you are interested in historical fiction you may wish to read two books covering this period in Welsh history: ‘The Welsh Traitor’s Daughter ‘ and the sequel, ‘The Welsh Warrior’s Inheritance’.