Gladys and Lionel Mantle - Local Heroes

Two little known local heroes.

On 8th March 2018 it will be the 70th Anniversary that Gladys Mantle saved a young deer from a stag hunt and possibly changed our laws on hunting.

Gladys Mantle and her husband Lionel were some of the first animal rights activists on the Quantocks. Gladys was born Gladys Braithwaite Lye in 1891 in Luton, Bedfordshire. Daughter of Walter Thomas Lye, of Leagrave Hall, a hat manufacturer.

Gladys Mantle pictured in 1948 aged 56 years.

Leagrave Hall, Bedfordshire

Gladys and her husband Lionel lived in Glenhayes, Holford, Somerset, which as many may know, is famous for it hunts. One day in March 1948 Gladys and two friends were enjoying afternoon tea when they were rudely interrupted by the Quantock Stag Hunt.

A deer being chased by the hounds entered Gladys' garden in an attempt to flee its pursuers. The hunt were determined to get their quarry and entered the private gardens. A five minute tussle took place where Gladys, one of her friends, and the huntsmen were all playing a tug-of-war with the small, petrified hind. The women stood their ground and held onto the poor creature with all their might. The red-faced huntsmen eventually gave in and Gladys ordered them off her land. Reluctantly they left leaving the exhausted animal where it had gone to ground but they hung around the boundary wall in the hope that it would leave the property. It didn't.

When the Mantles' retired for the night, the deer was still in their garden recovering.

Daily Mirror - Tuesday 09 March 1948

Courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive

Within a week Gladys was inundated with cards and letters thanking her for saving the one year old hind.

 Daily Herald - Friday 12 March 1948

Courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive

Gladys' action during the hunt obviously caused quite a stir amongst the hunting community and word soon got out. In January 1949 a meeting for the Bridgwater and District Branch for the League Against Cruel Sports was called. Major Parlby, a follower of hounds and supporter of the British Field Sports Society was 'caught' by Lionel Mantle sneaking into said meeting. Of course, if Lionel was anything like Gladys, he would call Major Parlby out, which of course he did and being the gentleman he was, apologised.

 Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser - Saturday 08 January 1949

Courtesy of the British Newspaper Archives

It would seem that Gladys descends from a kind and generous background. Her aunt left a house to charity to raise funds for a recovery unit for a hospital. Gladys herself worked voluntarily for four years during the First World War as a nurse at Wardown V.A.D Hospital, Bedfordshire.

On her passing in April 1985, Gladys left a sum of £90,000 to three animal welfare charities.

Extract of Gladys Mantles Will

Gladys and Lionel Mantle Headstone - St. Mary's, Holford, Somerset.

Courtesy of a reader.

Lets not forget Gladys or Lionel and their fight against cruel sports. They paved the way for tighter control over hunting. Thank you both.

Sent in by a reader and compiled by the author. 

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