132 BILSDALE AND SINNINGTON. 



be seen in the wake of the Bilsdale pack on a 

 thoroughbred one. 



The Bilsdale have at times been hardly put to 

 it and have scarcely been able to make a muster, 

 although they have always kept a few hounds in 

 the dale and managed to have an occasional hunt. 



With the Sinnington, however, matters are 

 different. Although they have had many a hard 

 struggle, and the fortunes of the hunt have often 

 sunk to so low an ebb that it seemed as if ex- 

 tinction was inevitable, there has always occurred 

 an opportune revival, and the country has been 

 hunted continuously since the Duke of Bucking- 

 ham was at the head of affairs two hundred and 

 twenty years ago. The Duncombe family 

 purchased the Helmsley estates from the Duke's 

 executors in 1G95, and followed his example in 

 keeping up the hounds. 



Then a Hunt Club was established, but the 

 exact date of its establishment we have not been 

 able to ascertain. Some of the old rules of the 

 Club are interesting. The subscription was the 

 small one of 10s. per annum, but fines played an 

 important part in the receipts of the Club. 

 Every member of the hunt not up at the kill was 

 fined 5s. Then it was customary to repair to the 

 nearest house of entertainment after a fox had 

 been killed, and after having done justice to a 

 good dinner, to spend the evening with jest and 

 song ; and every member not attending the said 



