OLD TIMES AND OLD CHARACTERS 



foxhounds were kept in the dale, and long prior 

 to that, in fact before 1776, there was a pack of 

 harriers. The hare was then a recognised beast 

 of chase, whereas the fox had not begun to rise 

 to his present day status. 



In the old days shepherds' meetings for the 

 exchange of sheep which had strayed were held 

 annually. It was not until about 1840 that the 

 common pastures were fenced into " allotments," 

 and so it can be easily understood that the flocks 

 got more or less mixed. At the conclusion of the 

 business part of such a meeting the shepherds 

 and dalesmen made merry and indulged in various 

 sports. The latter consisted of running, jumping, 

 and wrestling, and last, but not least, a fox-hunt. 

 In the old days a gathering was held on the 

 summit of High Street, and in addition to other 

 sports, there was fell pony racing. On the top 

 of " t' Street " there lies a mile or more of fairly 

 level ground, and as long as weather conditions 

 were suitable it presented a fair field of opera- 

 tions. Since the common fell pastures have been 

 fenced off, the old-time shepherds' meetings have 

 been shorn of their pristine glory, while some have 

 been done away with altogether. 



A convivial meeting after a day's hunting is 

 known in local parlance as a " harvel." The 

 word is derived from the ' ' arvel bread " or small 

 death-loaves — specially baked for the purpose 

 — which were carried home and eaten in company 

 with those who could not be present at the funeral. 

 Another quaint custom at funerals was the dis- 

 tribution of silk scarves to the men. It is said 

 that a certain parson's wife, whose husband was 

 in great demand at burials, secured sufficient bits 

 of silk to make herself a gown. Arvel is an 

 ancient word for funeral. At burials there was 



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