204 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



From these small beginnings has grown the very extensive and influential 

 club, now called the Cheshire Beagle Hunt. In 1890 the title was changed 

 from Chester to Cheshire, in order to prevent the name of the county from 

 being appropriated by a proposed new pack in tlie neighbourhood of 

 Manchester. Mr. Bagnall was Master till 1864, when he was succeeded by 

 Mr. G. J. Walmsley, who retained the office till 1867, when Mr. Bagnall 

 again assumed the Mastership, from which he finally retired in Sei)tember, 

 1876, being presented with a piece of plate by the forty members and 

 subscribers, to which extent the club had by that time grown. 



Mr. Pownall, who had been the indefatigable Secretary and Treasurer 

 from the commencement of the Hunt, took the Mastership, with Thomas 

 Howarlh (who still retains the post) as huntsman. Mr. Pownali's first year 

 of office was signalized by the building of the present kennels at Lache Lane, 

 Chester, in 1877, at a cost of about ^500. When Mr. Pownall retired in 

 July, 1888, the club, consisting now of fifty-four members and subscribers, 

 presented him with his portrait, and a testimonial in appreciation of his long 

 and valuable services to the Hunt. 



The new Master, Mr. Charles W. Smith, who had been a member for 

 twenty years, and who had hunted with the hounds since 1859. found it 

 necessary to considerably increase the number of subscribers, and he natu- 

 rally turned to the Royal Rock Beagles for sympathy and aid. His appeal 

 was responded to most cordially, and many of the members of the R.R.B. 

 became members of or subscribers to the Chester Beagles. This cemented 

 a very friendly feeling between tlie two clubs, and they fraternize to a most 

 admirable extent. Royal Rock beaglers are always welcomed in the field 

 by the Cheshire Beagles. In 189 1 there were forty-seven mem'Dcrs and 

 ninety-nine subscribers — a total of one hundred and forty-six. This number 

 included many ladies. Mr. Smith retired in 1893, and went to reside in the 

 South of England; and on the 26th A[iril, 1892, Mr. Alfred Biain was 

 appointed Master. 



The country hunted by the Cheshire Beagles marches wi'h that of the 

 R.R.B. on the line of the canal from Chester to EUesmere Port. They have 

 two meets on the Wirral side of the canal — namely, Mollington and Bacdvford 

 Hall — and three meets on their own side, at the canal bridges. Most of 

 their other country is on the lines of railway from Chester : on tlie Great 

 Western Railway, Rossett and Gresford ; on the London and North-Western 

 Railway, Tattenhall, Beeston, and Calveley; and on the Helsby Line, Mickle 

 Trafford and Dunham. 'Idiere are few meets in the interior, Mouldsworth, 

 Delamere, and Willington being the only ones worth mentioning. This pack 

 has a splendid country, enough for three days a week if required ; it is much 

 respected and favoured by the farmers and landowners, and is well supported 

 by the local gentry. The sport afforded by these hounds is magnificent, and 

 everything points to a long and successful career for the Hunt. 



