Thomas Horsley Hammer Gun

This is a superb 12 gauge 28" barrelled hammer gun manufactured by Horsely of York and features a patent wrist safety device.
David Baker has kindly confirmed that the gun was commissioned in 1874 for the Honourable Lawrence Dundas, Marquis of Zetand and his biographical details are as below.

Created 1st Marquess of Zetland 22/8/1892. A strong Liberal at first,
Laurence subsequently joined the Conservative Party and was appointed
Viceroy of Ireland. He was extremely popular in Ireland due to his
strong sympathies, genial disposition and generosity. Indeed when his
tenure of office expired and he left Dublin Castle there was genuine
regret amongst the Irish people. Laurence was also a keen sportsman and
was closely connected with horse racing. He was elected a member of the
Jockey Club.
The following is an extract from a newspaper of the time, The cutting
was amongst the Zetland Archives at Northallerton Record Office, N.
Yorkshire.

"Hope told a flattering tale to those who conjured up visions of the
reform of Dublin Castle. The Vice-royalty is not to be abolished,
neither is it to be committed to the care of a Royal Prince. Lord
Londonderry's official shoes have gone a begging, like Cinderella's
slipper, with the result that they are to be filled by Lord Zetland, an
amateur politician and of whom the best that can be said is that he is
a sturdy fox-hunting squire. A safe seat in the saddle does not
necessarily mean a bed of roses at Dublin Castle. Perhaps Lord Zetland
would have been popular in the rollicking days of "Tom Burke of Ours,"
but the Ireland of the novelist is not the Ireland of to-day"

It is interesting to note that the newspapers of the time could be as
unkind as today and I wonder whether the journalist was made to eat
humble pie as Lord Zetland proved him wrong on all counts!


Newspaper clipping amongst the Zetland Archives at Northallerton.
Photograph taken at the Golden Wedding celebrations of the Marquis and
Marchioness of Zetland. August 1921

Portrait of the 1st Marquess of Zetland.
Collection of the Marquess of Zetland, Aske, Richmond.
By kind permission of the Marquess of Zetland

Nottingham Evening Post, 11/3/1929 - STATESMAN & SPORTSMAN SUDDEN DEATH
OF MARQUIS ZETLAND. COLLAPSED AFTER CHAPEL SERVICE. The Marquis of
Zetland died suddenly at Aske Hall, Richmond (Yorkshire), this morning,
at the age of 85. He attended chapel last night in his usual health,
but collapsed and died in a few hours. The Marquis was sometimes spoken
of as the sportsman-statesman. As a Dundas, he was head of a
distinguished Scottish family, with a tradition for public service. To
this tradition he was true. Many years of his long life he gave to
public work. Not a few he devoted to sporting interests. Born on August
16th, 1844. Lawrence was the first Marquis and third Earl of Zetland
the fourth Baron Dundas, and the fifth baronet. It was his work as
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland that the earldom was raised to marquisate in
1892, the title being Marquis of Zetland and Earl of Ronaldshay, in the
county of Orkney and Shetland. It is related that Lord Zetland once
created a sensation when, as Viceroy, he went on an official tour along
the western coast of Ireland, attired in fisherman's oilskins and
sou'wester. Until he became too old to ride hunting was his chief
hobby. He was for years Master of the Zetland Hounds, and owned a good
portion of the country over they hunted. A clever fisherman, he once
landed with fly a Tay salmon which scaled 55lbs. Just before his 84th
birthday he set off for Perthshire, where he proved that, despite his
years, he had lost none of his skill with the rod. When he was no
longer able to follow deer stalking—another of his favourite sports
Lord Zetland made over his fine Ross-shire forest to Lord Ronaldshay,
his son and heir. A great lover of horses, his carriages were in pre
motor days amongst the best appointed in London. Lord Zetland was
popular personage in the Richmond division of Yorkshire, where he had
his seat, Aske. He was twice Mayor of Richmond, and represented that
constituency in Parliament as a Liberal in 1872-3. The marquis paid a
pretty tribute to his wife during their golden wedding celebrations in
192. He said he had not succeeded in winning the Derby. He had won
other prizes, but the best one, and the one which brought him the
greatest happiness, was the one he gained on his wedding day in August,
1871. He was a Lord in Waiting to Queen Victoria in 1880 till 1892,
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, from 1889-1892.
HIS TURF SUCCESSES. As a sportsman and follower of the Turf the marquis
followed in the steps of his predecessor, the owner of Voltigeur,
Vedette, and other equine celebrities, which made the famous Aske spots
so popular, particularly in Yorkshire The racing relics at Aske Hall,
in Yorkshire, as well as at the famous town house in Arlington-street,
are rich with Doncaster Cups for besides winning it in 1850 with
Voltigeur, the famous red-spotted livery was carried successfully in
that historic race in successive years by Fandango in 1856, and 1857
and 1859 by the Guineas winner, Vedette. Then, at a year's interval,
came a fifth at Sabreun. On the death of his trainer, Joseph Enoch, the
latter's son, Harry, took charge of the late peer's horses and turned
out many good winners but subsequently Lord George Dundas the younger
son of the marquis became trainer to his father. Lord George at first
had his stables' at Richmond in Yorkshire, but in 1912 migrated to
Newmarket, and several good horses have at various times passed through
his hands. Included among these was Pomme de Terre, which won over
£14,000 in stakes. Another useful animal to carry the Aske livery was
Dynamo, which made some mark as a two year old, winning five races in
succession in the North of England, but the hopes he raised of
developing into a really high-class performer were only partially
realised. He was a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of
Jerusalem and Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons in the North
Riding and East Riding of Yorkshire. A Privy Councillor, he was a
Knight of the Thistle. His ancestor, Lawrence Dundas, created a baronet
in 1762, was Commissary-General and contractor to the army. Lord
Zetland married in 1871 Lady Lilian Selina Elizabeth Lumley, daughter
of the ninth Earl of Scarborough. They had two sons and two daughters.

This gun requires a Section 2 Shotgun Certificate to transfer.

Code: 50089