14 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1779-1790 



two kennels, one at Swnlcliffe Grange,* and the other at 

 Stratford-on-Avon, at the AVhite Lion Inn, which at that 

 time, and for long afterwards, was a favourite resort of 

 sportsmen, and they spent many festive evenings after 

 hunting in a room called " The Tempest," in honour of 

 Shakespeare, Mr. Wrightson hunted Warwickshire in 

 1780. He was an excellent sportsman, and had a hunts- 

 man and two whips, supplied with twelve horses amongst 

 them, and he afforded some capital sport. The only 

 account remaining of a day's sport with his hounds, records 

 that it took place in 1780, when Alveston Pasture was first 

 drawn, and a brace of foxes found, which were lost. 

 Eatington (irove was next drawn, and after finding a fox, 

 and running a ring for an hour, he \vas killed. A third 

 was found at Honington Spinneys, and the pack ran him 

 at best pace over Idlicote Heath and by Compton 

 Wyniates, and from thence to Shutford Hill, where they 

 killed him. Mr. Shirley, Mr. Dadley, and Mr. William 

 Barke were alone up at the finish. 



In December, 1779, Lord Sef ton had horses at Banbury, 

 and was hunting from there. — H. C. N. 



A famous sportsman named John Warcle t hunted 

 AVarwickshire between 1780 and 1790 for several seasons, 

 and had kennels at Newbold. He hunted also in Oxford- 

 shire in 1778, and kept hounds for fifty-seven years in 

 various countries. Bob Forfeit was his huntsman in 1803 

 He was celebrated as a breeder of hounds, and he bred them 



* Swalcliffe Grange was originally a public called the Fox and Hounds. The sign 

 used to hang in the elm tree which is still in front of the house. That road was much 

 used in old days as a liighway hetween Wiggington and Brailes, hence the good trade 

 brought to the public. It afterwards became the George, under the occupancy of one 

 Pyewell, and as hounds used fublics, at which to lie out for far meets, no doubt 

 Wrightson used this when it was the Fox and Hounds, and not the Grange. You can 

 sec now where the stables were, at least, there is an appearance of better stabling, or 

 rather better doorways than were used for cart horses. This information was derived 

 from R. Page, the present tenant, who succeeded his father in 1818. — H. C. N. 



t From the Sport hig Magazine, March, 1/97 : " Altera long frost Warde's liounds 

 found at Ardley Thorns, ran by Buckuell, over Fritwell Moor to Somerton, over the 

 Cherwell, between the Astons and Dunsten, by the edge of Worton Heath, over Barton 

 Latours to Sandford and Church Enstone, and over Heythrop Park to Chapel House, 

 to Rowbright and Long Compton ; turned to the right of Whichford to Hook Norton, 

 on to Wiggington and to Swerford House, where the hounds ran into their fox and 

 killed, after a chase of tliirty-five miles without going into a single covert." — H. C. N. 



