THE ESSEX HUNT COUNTRY. 7 



and the Canons brook, both tributaries of the Stort. 

 The Cripsey brook flows by North Weald and Moreton 

 to join the Roding near Ongar, and in the Epping country 

 we find the Cobbins brook, a tributary of the Lea. 

 Through the southern parts of the country the Dagenham 

 and W^eald brooks flow on their way to the Thames. 



The country seats which have been most associated 

 with the Essex Hounds are Copt Hall, Easton Lodge, 

 Hallingbury Place, Mark Hall, and Down Hall ; also 

 Bishop's Hall, Forest Hall, Skreens and Langleys. In 

 these houses have resided many of the best preservers of 

 foxes and supporters and followers of the hounds during 

 the last hundred years. 



Copt Hall, near Epping, was the residence of Mr. 

 Henry John Conyers, possibly the most famous Master of 

 " The Essex." The estate was purchased by his great- 

 grandfather early in the last century. At the time of the 

 purchase the old hall (where James H. invited himself to 

 dinner after stag-hunting in the Roothings) was falling 

 into decay, and its stately gallery had been blown down. 

 As the structure was past repair it was demolished and 

 the present Hall was erected. The estate was held in 

 succession by the purchaser's son and grandson, both 

 named John, and on the death of the latter, in the year 

 1 818, it passed to his son, Mr. Henry John Conyers, who 



