JO DESTRUCTION OF A "HUNTING MARK. 



Before proceeding further, a brief reference to Henry 

 Greene, Esq., of Rolleston, will not be out of place, he 

 being the only Leicestershire man to carry the horn of the 

 yuorn, which he did from 1841-46, occupying the kennels 

 built at Billesdon by Lord Suffield in 1838. Although not 

 a hard rider, Mr. Greene rode with great judgment, and 

 whilst saving his horse, always took note of the working of 

 his hounds, thus seeing and providing plenty of sport, 

 and that with a limited stud, for Jiis own stable rarely 

 exceeded half-a-dozen. 



Mr. Greene, who was much liked and popular both as a 

 M. F. H. and landlord, was descended from Squire Fortrey 

 — (who erected the churches of Gaulby and King's Norton, 

 the latter handsome edifice well known as a "hunting 

 mark" prior to the steeple being knocked off by lightning, 

 was visible for miles around), — being Lord of the Manor 

 of Rolleston and Patron of the livings of Billesdon, Goadby, 

 and King's Norton, which latter he presented to his great 

 friend — the writer's father — the late Rev. Hugh Palliser de 

 Costobadie, of whom more anon under the head of 

 ** Sporting Parsons of the Old School." 



The Vicar was abroad at the time his church was so 

 seriously damaged, but his sister, Mrs. Humfrey, of Kib- 

 worth Hall, at once raised a fund of ;^8oo, to which she 

 largely contributed, with the object of replacing the spire ; 

 but when the architects made a further examination, they 

 found the tower so much shaken as to render the proposal 

 inadvisable. The subscriptions were accordingly returned, 

 and the project had to be abandoned. 



It is said that men were employed for twelve years 

 in erecting this fabric, built of Ketton stone, at a cost of 

 ;^8o,ooo — to defray which the Squire was compelled to 

 dispose of the Gaulby Estate, — Squire Fortrey, to whose 

 memory there is a handsome monument at the east end of 

 the church (which, alas! sadly needs to be restored), helped 

 with his own hands to fashion the wrought-iron gates, and 

 Taylor, the greatest authority on church bells, has expressed 

 the opinion that there is more pure silver in any one of the 



