THE GOLDEN AGE, 1899— WH. 61 



These kennels were an ambitious task for two boys to under- 

 take, for Rivvy, Francis's brother, had a big share in the work. 

 Circulars were sent out to Masters of Hounds asking for money 

 and advice, an appeal was put in the Chronicle, and in a very 

 short time <£6B9 Os. lOd. had been collected and the building 

 began. 



A site was secured from the College authorities for a nominal 

 rent ; and experts were sent to give their advice. Lord Coventry 

 sent the kennel huntsman of the Queen's Staghounds. The 

 Head Master (Dr. Warre), the Bursar, Mr. R. S. de Havilland, 

 the Huntsman and the Twins all proceeded to the proposed site, 

 and Mr. de Havilland told me he remembered how Francis, 

 wishing to tip the visitor and having no money on him, boldly 

 approached Dr. Warre and asked him to lend him a sovereign, 

 which the Head Master gave with his most amused smile. 



The kennels were built on clay on the advice of several 

 Masters of Hounds. Lord Lonsdale wrote a letter showing how 

 clay and lime should be put down and how the foundations should 

 be set. Others that gave advice were Lord Willoughby de Broke, 

 the late Duke of Beaufort, the late Lord Chesham, Sir Ian 

 Heathcoat Amory, ?vlr. J. Arkwright and Mr. Godfrey Heseltine. 

 They were modelled on the kennels of Mr. W. H. Grenfell (now 

 Lord Desborough), of Taplow Court, where he kept a pack of 

 harriers for ten years, and where the Old Berkeley Foxhounds 

 were kennelled for some time. Everything that was defective in 

 the original was corrected in the copy. 



The buildings were finished on February 26th, 1899, and 

 were occupied a week later. In the meantime a difficulty had 

 arisen about the hounds remaining at Lock's in the High Street. 

 So they were removed to a barn on Agar's Plough for the time 

 being. It was a great day for the E.C.H. when on March 3rd 

 they were established for the first time in their own kennels with 

 their own whole-time kennel huntsman. The building of the new 

 kennels cost £574 3s. 2d., leaving a balance of ^61 14 17s. 8d. 

 In the meanwhile an excellent letter appeared in the Chromcle 

 of November 17th, 1898. 



" Dear Sir, — As no small amount of controversy is at the 

 present time taking place on the standard of height best suited 

 to show sport to a field one and all mounted on shanks' mare, I 

 understand that there will shortly be new kennels at Eton main- 

 tained by the School in a satisfactory and orthodox manner, and 

 I hope in some years they will give shelter to one of the best 



