Early gamekeepers in the late 18th and 19th centuries were employed to harvest creatures for wealthy landowners. This was not only to provide fine fare for the family, but doubtless for the army of servants employed in running such establishments. Not that the chambermaids would be feasting on venison, more likely something else further down on the list of culinary delights and that list was endless. Anything edible was deemed harvestable, nothing was protected and any means of capture was legal.
Surplus was sold at market and landowners realised that the fur, feather and fin occupying their estates was valuable. These early gamekeepers had to be tough, they were not alone in realising the
