About Us
Once housing the Duke of Richmond’s hunting hounds, The Kennels is the central clubhouse for all of the Estate’s sporting and social memberships.
Once housing the Duke of Richmond’s hunting hounds, The Kennels is the central clubhouse for all of the Estate’s sporting and social memberships.
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The first Duke of Richmond
The first Duke of Richmond, a keen fan of fox hunting, bought himself a modest old house set deep in the heart of the Sussex countryside way back in 1697 as the local hunt, Charlton was based in a neighbouring village of the same name.
End of an era
His son, the second Duke was equally interested in the sport and, together with his wife, a daring and courageous horsewoman, was often seen on horseback following a fox. But, with his sudden death in 1750 and his son and heir away on the Grand Tour, the Charlton Hunt died out.
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The Building of The Kennels
Charles, the third Duke of Richmond, found his own hunting passion and eventually restarted the pack in 1757. Thirty years later, in 1787, the Duke asked famous classical architect, James Wyatt to build some kennels for his own pack of hounds.
The Hounds
The building was made up of a central, four square house, for the Huntsman with low wings to each side for the hounds. The Duke of Richmond’s Hounds, as they were known, came to Goodwood in 1790 to what were acknowledged to be the best quarters in the country.
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The Kennels as accommodation
After 1813 the house was given over to John Kent who trained the fifth Duke’s racehorses and, eventually, with the popularity of the races increasing, the roof from the sides of the huntsman’s house were raised to provide attic dormitories for the policemen who worked at the race meetings.
Modern Times
In the early twentieth century, once the Goodwood golf course was laid out by James Braid in 1914, The Kennels building became the Clubhouse. Nowadays, it revels in a spectacular restoration and now plays host to Members from all of Goodwood’s Sporting and Social Memberships – Horseracing, Golf, Motorsport, Aviation, Health Club and Kennels' Members.
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Book a table
If you'd prefer to speak to a member of our team, please call
01243 755132
or email us at kennelsreservations@goodwood.com