176 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



FOSTON MR. GERALD DUNCOMBE — CAPTAIN DUGDALE 



— MR. FRANK COOPER. 



1891-1892. 



As long ago as 1310 Foston belonged to the Agards, who 

 held it, by virtue of a white hunting-horn, under the 

 Duchy of Lancaster. The horn passed into the family of 

 the Stanhopes of Elvaston by marriage with the heiress of 

 the Agards. However, as regards Foston, John Agard sold 

 it and Scropton to Richard Bate, whose descendant, Brown- 

 low Bate, sold it to John Broadhurst in 1784. From the 

 Broadhursts it passed to the Cummings, in 1879, Admiral 

 Sir Arthur Cumming's sister having married Mr. Broad- 

 hurst.* In this year, 1901, Mr. John Gumming, eldest 

 son of the late Admiral Sir Arthur Gumming, sold it to 

 Mr. Gerald Hardy. 



Mr. Gumming and his brother Gharles, who farmed 

 at Boylestone, were regular followers of the Meynell 

 hounds in the eighties, and went very well. It was 

 through his friendship with the elder brother, who was in 

 the same regiment, that the present popular Master of the 

 Meynell first came to the country. Mr. Gharles Gumming 

 can claim the distinction of being one of the few people 

 who have jumped the Foston mill dam, though his horse, 

 a brilliant screw, fell on landing. Miss Gumming 

 married Mr. H. B. Firman, wlio used to hunt from New 



* Mr. Broadhurst, dying without issue, left the property to his widow, who in 

 turn left it to her sister, Lady Gumming. 



