CHAPTER IV 



MR GERALD HARDY AND THE MODERNISED MEYNELLS 



Mr Hugo Meynell first master of the Quorn and " Father of Fox-hunting" 

 — The old cherished strains of Meynell blood in the kennel, and Charles 

 Leadham, breeder of Linkboy (1872) — Mr Gerald Hardy's mastership, 

 1903, and his first successes at Peterborough Hound Show with 

 "modernised Meynells " — The Meynell kennel at Sudbury Park — 

 Charles Gillson, huntsman — The winning two couples of dog-hounds 

 at Peterborough, 19 10 — Waverley, Warner, Cranmer and Hampton — 

 Another winning four-in-hand — Meynell Whynot (1905), the king of the 

 kennel — The four " white ladies," winners on the flags 1909 — Meynell 

 Heedless (1910), best unentered bitch at Peterborough — Mr Gerald 

 Hardy's joint-mastership with Sir William Bass — Foston Hall and 

 Stables — The hunt horses — A morning's cub-hunting in Rangemore 

 Park — Well-known followers of the INIeynell, and covert owners — 

 The puppy walkers. 



" If we heed him he'll d — us. We view ! Tally ho ! 

 Whilst the hounds ring the scent from the valley below, 

 All carrying a head, Sir, like pigeons in flight. 

 And beating the redcoats almost out of sight. 

 The hounds of Squire Meynell for me.'' 



— Mr Loraine Smith, 1790. 



The names of Beckford and Meynell are corner- 

 stones in the history of the chase ; the first being 

 the greatest literary authority, the second the 

 founder of the Quorn, and " Father of Fox-hunting." 

 Record shows that the hounds of Mr Hugo Meynell 

 were amongst the earliest to awake the sylvan echoes 

 of Leicestershire, the whole of which county about 

 1750 was their territory, from Clifton Gardens, 

 near Nottingham, to Market Harborough. Mr 

 Meynell was a great houndman, and his system 

 has been little if at all improved upon by the march 

 of time. Employing Jack Raven as huntsman 

 he rode strictly to hunt — a hard man determined 



