THE ESSEX HUNT COUNTRY. 3 



are as follows : — The Essex Union on the south, the East 

 Essex on the east, the Puckeridge on the west, and the 

 Newmarket and Thurlow on the north. The lines of 

 boundary, as agreed for many years past, are marked on 

 an admirable hunting map issued by Mr. A. H. Swiss, of 

 Fore Street, Devonport. The southern boundary, as shown 

 on this map, follows the High Road (from which the rail- 

 way is never far distant) from Ilford to Chelmsford, but 

 we believe it is now agreed that, for the future, the line 

 is to be the boundary between the two countries. From the 

 county town the boundary runs northward, marching with 

 the East Essex country, along the river Chelmer, to a point 

 between Felstead and Dunmow. Continuingf to march 

 with the East Essex we reach our northernmost point near 

 Haverhill. Thence we bear company with the Newmarket 

 and Thurlow across to near the village of Ashdon, where 

 we meet the Puckeridge country and go with it just west 

 of Radwinter and considerably west of Thaxted in an 

 irregular line to the River Stort, just below Bishop .Stort- 

 ford. Takeley Forest, east of Bishop Stortford, has for 

 very many years been neutral ground with the Essex antl 

 the Puckeridge, and the origin of this neutral covert is fully 

 explained in a subsequent chapter. After joining the Stort, 

 the boundary follows that river to Sawbridgeworth ; tlience 



