In 1869 the 4th Earl of Radnor was petitioned by local farmers and landowners to establish a pack of foxhounds. This he did, hunting land which had previously been hunted on occasion by the Tedworth and the South and West Wilts. In 1884 Lord Somerton took over the mastership and during his three seasons it became the Cranborne. He was succeeded by the Earl of Pembroke followed by the 5th Earl of Radnor who hunted hounds himself and during his seven seasons bred a high quality pack the best known of which was Besom’96.

In 1897 Mr Walter de P. Cazenove became Master, hounds moved to their present kennels on the edge of Wilton Park and the hunt’s name was changed to the Wilton. Previously out going masters had dispersed their hounds elsewhere, but the pack now remained at Netherhampton. Passing next to Mr Curtis Gallop and then in 1903 to Lt Col Cartwright who remained in office for 19 years. Maurice Sweetman was his huntsman and continued to hunt hounds during the 1WW despite both whippers–in and the Master being away on military service. During the economic depression of the 1920’s and 30’s, a poor scenting country with few natural jumps like the Wilton was fortunate to have a succession of wealthy masters to preserve it

In the late 1930s Col. Phillips and the Countess of Radnor formed a popular Mastership. She had previously hunted her own pack of harriers kennelled at the family seat Longford Castle. In 1926 Tim Tillbrook became huntsman and was later succeeded by his son Tom; they helped Col. Phillips maintain a basic pack through the 2WW.

In 1959 after an unsettled period the present Earl of Radnor commenced his long Mastership, with Douglas Main as Chairman. In 1967 Willie Poole the celebrated sporting writer took over as Master and huntsman for four seasons. During the 1970’s there was a reliance on drafts and sadly the old blood lines that had been maintained since the hunt’s formation were lost.

In 1978 it was the turn of local farmer Angus Mann (who has just retired after 10 years as chairman). With his family connections (his father and two of his uncles had been distinguished masters); he was able to start re-establishing the pack. This work was continued by James Bouskell and his wife Jenny. The next nine years saw an increase in the Wilton’s profile, with larger fields, a concerted jump building program and a good rapport with the shooting community.