What's in a gamekeepers licence?

[jackhonour]

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if anybody knows what I can expect to find in a gamekeeper's licence. My ancestor was a gamekeeper and I'm considering travelling to the archives to view his licence, but what information would the licence contain? I would love to know this so I can see if the journey to the archives is worthwhile.

Thanks,

Jack

[stanmapstone]

See http://www.rootschat.com/links/0na1/ and http://www.rootschat.com/links/0na2/
Stan

[jackhonour]

Thank you Stan. Your help is very much appreciated.

[jackhonour]

Is it possible that the employer had the licences on behalf of the employees, and they didn't belong to the gamekeepers themselves?

And also, do gamekeepers in Scotland have the same licences as those in England?

Thank you,

Jack

[stanmapstone]

See the Game Act 1831 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4/1-2/32/enacted and Schedule A is the form of licence
The present form of Licence is shown together with the Scottish version.

Stan

[jackhonour]

Thank you Stan. I had a look and at the bottom it said 'this act doesn't extend for Scotland and Ireland'. So, are there still licences in Scotland as the act doesn't extend? Does anybody have any experience of viewing game licences in Scotland?

Jack

[stanmapstone]

If you look at the bottom of Latest available (Revised) it says This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Northern Ireland only.

Stan

[jackhonour]

OK - but there isn't a more simple way than looking at all those terms and conditions?

[renard]

Can't help much Gamekeepers licence  was abolished some time ago at least in Scotland, not sure when but there was still a gamekeepers licence when I started as a young gamekeeper in the 1960s.

Don't remember actually ever seeing it as it was applied for and held by our employers.

The last to go was the licence to kill game which was abolished in England some time ago and more recently in Scotland.

Anyone who shot game was supposed to hold such a licence but it was much abused as very rarely was anyone prosecuted for not having one.


Gamekeepers licence had more powers than a normal licence to kill game
a keepers licence allowed game to be captured out of season for breeding purposes.

At one time a keeper also had the power to apprehend  tresspassers and suspected poachers, believe at one time they could be held for up to twelve hours, before either being released or brought before the law

In those days a gamekeeper had more powers than a policeman on private land


As times changed many of the powers were withdrawn and a licence was no longer relevent.
sorry can't really help other than that.