A shoot that's driven to succeed

Family and friends gather for an early autumn day on Goodbent, a moor that over the years, and in the face of recent challenges, has given many novice guns their first experience of grouse shooting

- Sir Johnny Scott

GOODBENT MOOR, also known as Wessenden Head, lies down a long track off the A635 from Greenfield to Holmfirth, where it crosses the high moors of the northern Peak District. Goodbent marches with Meltham, Crowden, Wessenden, Saddleworth and Snailsden; the last is reputed to be the site where, in 1836, grouse were first driven to guns placed behind rocks or in 'driving holes'.

At the time Snailsden was owned by the Spencer-Stanhopes of Cannon Hall and, despite comments in the press that considered driving grouse to be unsporting, the family continued to experiment with placing butts and extending drives. In 1843 50 brace was considered a big day but as old, territorial cock grouse were shot out, allowing room for more breeding pairs the following year, numbers rose dramatically, with a bag of 448 in August 1849. The notion of driving grouse was taken up by the Duke of Rutland on his Longshaw moors, the Duke of Norfolk on the Upper Derwent Valley moors and the Duke of Devonshire on his High Peak moors. With ducal approval, driving grouse became increasingly adopted by other moor owners, and with it the practice of rotational burning of heather to provide new shoots for the increase in population.