THE WARWICKSHIEE VALE. 3 



which will cut this one at right angles, and do further 

 mischief to the splendid country Ijeyond Shuckburgh 

 Hill. 



What shall we say of the splendid Yale of AVarwick- 

 shire, rich in historic recollections ; once rich, but alas ! no 

 more so, in agricultural produce ; famous for its beauty, 

 especially that of its oaks and elms ; and renowned as a 

 hunting country, where foxes are well preserved and fox- 

 hunters are always welcome. The Vale extends from 

 Shuckburgh Hill on the north-east to Long Compton 

 Hill on the south-west, and a commanding view of it 

 may be obtained from Long Comp,ton, Brailes, and Meon 

 Hills, as well as from Edge Hill and from Burton and 

 Shuckburgh Hills. Lord Willoughby said at the compli- 

 mentary dinner given to him : " When I stand, as T do 

 sometimes, on the high ground near Wolford, or on the 

 Hmington Hills, perhaps, and look over the magnificent 

 ocean of grass, which reaches all the way to Shuckburgh ; 

 and when I think that the foxhounds are free and welcome 

 over the whole of that stretch of country, and that, as I 

 believe, not a single wire fence or a single enemy to oui- 

 sport could be found throughout the whole of that district, 

 then surely I may be pardoned for thinking that I have 

 lived all my life in the best county in England." The Vale 

 is a strongly inclosed country, and even in that part of it 

 which consists chiefly of ploughed land on both sides of the 

 River Avon, plenty of big fences are to be found. Some 

 part of the country lying between the Shipston-on-Stour 

 and Wellesbourne Road, and the road from the former 

 place to Stratford -on -Avon, contains perhaps the stiff est 

 clay soil in creation, and is a cold scenting country. We 

 remember a sexton saying to us : " Master, there be no 

 need to bury folks in coffins here, although we do so ; 

 this here clay is the same thing." And Shakespeare's 

 clown says : "A corpse will last you some eight or nine 

 year." 



On the top of Edge Hill, in the country usually hunted 

 on Fridays, there is a large extent of light ploughed land 



B 2 



