Appearances can be deceptive – and no more so than in the case of the Angmering Park Shoot in West Sussex, which is set over 6,000 acres of land in the South Downs. Having driven from Arundel, where the castle sits sentinel high above the surrounding flat and rather docile land, it’s hard to see how Angmering Park has built a reputation for high birds. The approach to the shoot lodge does little to belie this view.
Warmly greeted by Nigel Clutton, who took charge of the shoot 31 years ago, I ask the obvious, if somewhat impertinent, question: “Tall birds, from here?” His reply is simple: “You’ll see.”
Against the warmth of the log fire in the lodge, Clutton introduces me to the shooting party for the day: Richard Andrew, Sheila and Rod Flavell, Gavin Knight, David Moorhouse, Michael Prideaux, Martin Reed, Paul and Michael Roy. And then, over coffee, gives me a quick history of his involvement with Angmering Park.
“My late sister-in-law, Anne Fitzalan-Howard, Lady Herries of Terregles and the 16th Duke of Norfolk’s eldest daughter, invited me to manage the shoot on behalf of the family. It had become rather too much for Anne and her husband, former England cricketer Colin Cowdrey. As a professional in estate management, and being married to Anne’s sister, Sarah, I became the natural choice.
“From that point on my role was to turn the shoot into a profitable entity providing an income for the estate. That meant creating a very high quality shoot that would rank among the best in the country using the right kind of drives, stocking them properly and making optimum use of all our contours.”
This story is from the January 2021 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2021 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The apple of your eye
With scores to choose from in the UK, there is a delicious apple variety for everyone - and now is the ideal time to start thinking about planting one
Art in the field
Being able to study her subjects as she races alongside them has informed Belinda Sillars work, as she explains to Janet Menzies
A silvered sword from the Saxon armoury
With weaponry from the electoral court, the more silver on show, the higher the rank of the owner
Nicole Moore
The Shooting Girl With An Afro blogger explains her passion for fieldsports and outlines the importance of sharing skills and knowledge with newcomers
'Probably the greatest detective in the world'
For 100 years, on page and screen, Hercule Poirot has captivated audiences around the globe with his supreme intellect and peculiar eccentricities
View from a Bridgerton
They were the 18th-century version of a drinks trolley and now hunt tables are popular once again, partly due to Regency-period television dramas
A brush with history
Britain is world renowned for its contribution to hair care and grooming, and, as its oldest firms will testify, heirlooms come in many forms
Practically perfect
From modest origins, the gilet has evolved into a sporting wardrobe staple, combining function and fashion to become a status symbol in its own right
Best laid plans
The ancient craft of hedgelaying is playing a central role in efforts to restore the balance of nature on our farms
Under the spell of spaniels
Our favourite working breed comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of which have successfully carved out their own special niche in British sport