TIIF. ESSEX HUNT COUNTRY. 13 



Commons, with his ready wit. The Colonel's younger 

 brother, Mr. Robert Lockwood, was formerly Secretary 

 of the Hunt, and he is warmly welcomed when he visits 

 Essex from his present home in Hampshire. 



Within the Roothing district there is no large country 

 house, but not far from its borders are Forest Hall, near 

 Hio-h Onaar ; Skreens, near Roxwell ; and Langleys, at 

 Great Waltham. One hundred years ago these were the 

 seats of the Stane, Bramston, and Tufnell families, of whom 

 the two former were connected by marriage. In Mr. 

 Conyers's time Forest Hall belonged to the Rev. John 

 Bram.ston, who assumed the additional surname of Stane. 

 Though a good friend to foxhunting, he received his share 

 of Mr. Conyers's criticisms. Once, on finding that his 

 coverts had been drawn in his absence, Mr. Stane asked his 

 servant, "And what did Mr. Conyers say of my coverts? " 

 '• He said, sir," replied the man, " that they were not fit to 

 hold a mouse." Such is the story, as nearly as it can be told 

 here. In 1862 the estate was sold to its present owner, 

 Mr. John Lightfoot Newall, who has considerably enlarged 

 it by subsequent purchases. It now includes Witney 

 Wood, Newark's Hall Wood, Paslow Hall Woods, an 

 osier bed and the home plantations. Much gratitude is 

 due to this gentleman from foxhunters, as through his care, 



