The Deer Skull bears an inscription detailing the weight of the animal, the date it was shot and the name of the person who shot it.
Therefore this animal was shot on 8 October 1875, by Major Henry Arthur Herbert and the animal weighted 20 st and 10 pounds (c. 131 .5 kilograms).
Major Henry Arthur Herbert (1840-1901) was the son and heir of Colonel Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife Mary Balfour. Their portraits hang here on the Main Landing, above the oak sideboard.
Deer shooting, or the field sport of deer stalking, became very popular during the second half of the 19th Century. The development of the rifled gun barrel allowed a great degree of accuracy over a long distance. Deer staling became a very popular sport and estate owners often leased stalking rights for large amounts of money.