I'm writing historical fiction taking place in Cumberland, England, 1892. The plot hinges on a fox hunt and the hunt ball associated with it. As it stands, it's hosted by the local squire and attended by the protagonists, a baronet and his agent. While I have found many sources for modern foxhunting, information on late-Victorian foxhunting is harder to find.
Some of the (mostly modern) info I've found so far:
Lakeland fox makes fatal mistake - Published in 1914, so a little later than what I'm looking for.
Squire Crozier - The only Victorian lead I have so far.
Lingering questions:
What differentiates a hunt ball from any other ball?
What differentiates a modern hunt from a Victorian hunt? Similarly, what differentiates a modern hunt ball from a Victorian hunt ball?
Does the hunt ball take place the night before the hunt or the evening after?
Who is invited to the hunt ball? All of the hunt's participants, regardless of social rank? Or only the local social elite? Is hunt participation a prerequisite for hunt ball attendance?
What is the dress code for a late-Victorian hunt ball?
On mobile.
At archive.org, under texts, you can pick up a dozen or better Victorian books on hunting, which we call fox-hunting. Going out with a gun was called "shooting."
Start with the Badminton Library of Sports. The different volumes will tell you about hunting, riding (incl. Sidesaddle for the ladies), coursing, driving (carriage), cycling (all the rage), falconry, archery, rowing, sailing (incl. Yachts) & so on. Very good if you have a sportif circle.
Then go find a period English etiquette guide (Search alternately etiquette, manners, and society). Same site. That should tell you all about balls. You can find dance manuals, too. That's sometimes faster at loc.gov's American Memory site.
Historical novelists need to share treasure troves!