76 England's oldest hunt. 



into foxhounds, and through the goodwill of the Bedale, Hurworth, 

 Bilsdale, Sinnington, and York and Ainsty Hunts, acquired certain 

 portions of their respective countries, so that in the low country he 

 hunted from Thimbleby in the north to Thirkleby in the south, and 

 near Otterington in the west to the Hambleton Hills in the east. On 

 the Hambletons he drew Arncliffe Woods beyond Osmotherley. On the 

 north down to Wass Woods, on the south and eastwards Hawnby, 

 Ashberry, etc., on this side of the Rye. " Tom " Swalwell, Mr. Bell's 

 stud groom, was constituted huntsman, and continued the post until 

 the end. Mr. Bell and his brother Archibald Macbean were, of course, 

 the principal persons of the hunt, but my father, Thomas Swarbreck, 

 my brother Charles, and myself, two of Mr. Bell's tenant farmers, Mr. 

 Thomas Roeliffe and Mr. Tom Pickering, were keen supporters and 

 keen riders. We had some good sport, but often a blank day, as foxes 

 were not too plentiful. 



The erstwhile followers of the Bilsdale often had a turn 

 " ower Hamelton," as they designate this beautiful and 

 sporting locality, to see sport with these hounds when they 

 could no longer enjoy it with their own. They had some 

 wonderful runs, too, with Squire Bell's hounds, and the story 

 of the pack, disconnected as it may be, goes to prove, as does 

 the whole history of the three Hunts under notice, not only 

 that the moorland fox and moorland sport was the best, 

 as it is to-day, but also that it is only in these rough and un- 

 pretentious countries, and with these stout foxes, that 

 hunting runs anything approaching those enjoyed by our 

 forbears are enjoyed. 



In the " York Herald " for February 23, 1856, a good 

 run with the Hambleton Hounds was chronicled by " Tally- 

 ho," a writer who had a day with the pack specially to see 

 if the reports he had heard regarding the wonderful sport 

 it was having were correct. He declared himself satisfied 

 " beyond his most sanguine expectations." The meet was 

 on February 15, at Murton, on Hambleton : — 



Found in Deep Gill, ran down to Cadel Mill, up steep ascent towards 

 old Byland, thence in straight line to Long Plain, through Weathercote 

 Farm, across the wall enclosures to the Hambleton training ground, 

 coming in on the low side of the moor. Then pressed fox made for 

 Whitestonecliffe, and tried to shelter in the rocks ; driven out, made 

 along the hill side to Rolston Scar, Headed there he turned back to 

 Lake Gormire, and again to the rocks at Whitestonecliffe, then through 



