King Henry the VIII loved to ride with his court but an invasion of moles was creating rough and dangerous footing for the horses. He called to his head keeper and informed him that, "Unless you rid me of these pesky varmits, I will rid you of your head!"

White with fear, the keeper called all the groundsmen together and then sent them round the local villages to offer a penny for every mole caught and a Golden Guinea for the first man to bring in 100 skins.

Soon the keepers head was saved. King Henry was so pleased with the results that he created an extra title for the Keeper with a stipend to go with it that was to continue as long as, by direct descent, a male family member lived. Thus to this day, Mr Mole Catcher lives in peace in his own small house under the auspices of the House of Windsor.