THEY had not ridden off from the Killingworth Castle pub in more than 30 years, but this year riders from the Heythrop Hunt revisited the pub in Wootton to relive old memories and recreate a recently discovered photo.

Pub landlord Jim Alexander and his wife Claire were thrilled to see the return of the historical hunt on Monday.

The couple, who have run the pub on Glympton Road for the last 18 months, found the photo while looking around the premises.

Mr Alexander said: “We’re really chuffed to have them back and we’ve been working really hard to get the pub involved in local events.”

More than 50 people turned up to witness the first time the hunt has met at the pub since 1977.

Tom MacFarlane, 40 of Woodstock, said: “Hopefully now it will be an annual thing.

“The Heythrop Hunt is a very strong local tradition that is very well supported. It is a rural activity that is extremely popular and keeps the community together.”

Oxford Mail:

The Heythrop Hunt at the Killingworth Castle in 1975

The hunt has been riding out four days each week across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in an area that includes Chippin Norton, Northleach, Bibury, Oxford, Banbury and Moreton-in-Marsh since 1835.