20 THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



pasture, unfortunately accompanied by wire fencing. The 

 sport afforded varies greatly, but as a rule much good-will 

 towards hunting is shown in this district. 



The Friday country, to which the hounds and horses 

 are taken by train, contains some excellent coverts, includ- 

 ing Dunmow High Woods, Hoglands, Avesey, The Lays, 

 The Maze, Great and Little Bendysh — all belonging to Lady 

 Warwick — Lubberhedges (purchased by the late Mr. Loftus 

 Arkwright about 1870, and now the property of his son), 

 The Stick Covert at Thaxted, established by Mr. C. E. 

 Green ; Bigods, Ridley's Springs, Horeham Hall, West 

 Wood, Hempstead Wood, belonging to Mr. Almack, of 

 Long Melford ; Foxes' Wood and Thaxted Lodge Planta- 

 tion, belonging to Guy's Hospital ; Whitehouse Springs, 

 belonging to the Earl of Essex ; the Ash Plant, the 

 Porters Hall Coverts and Spains, the last being neutral 

 with the East Essex. 



This fine, wild country is well worth the railway 

 journey. Its central point is Thaxted, distinguished by the 

 finest church in Essex. The coming of the hounds breaks 

 the monotony of life in these remote districts, and the 

 welcome they receive drew from a former servant of the 

 Hunt the exclamation : " Eh, but it's a Christian country, 

 the oother side o' Dunmow. You may go where you like. 



