238 THE BROCKLESBY HOUNDS. 



country west of the railway at Howsham Station, and 

 between it and the Ancholme, Poolthorn, Pepperdale, and 

 Howsham Barff being about the only coverts now drawn. 

 In the woodland district the best coverts are the Newsham 

 coverts and the Chase, Pond Close Wood, the Mausoleum 

 Woods, Cottagers' Dale, the Hendale Woods, Brompton 

 Dales, Foxdales, the Pillar Woods, the Swallow Top Woods,* 

 Swallow Vale, Henholes, Irby Dales, and Riby Bratlands, 

 always a stronghold of foxes. Below the wolds on the 

 west are the Wilderness, Donkey Park, the Somerby Woods, 

 and sundry osier-beds and spinnies. Near here was the 

 starting-point of Johnny Osborne's wasting walk, when 

 he had to get seven pounds off to ride Vedette at York. 

 Clad in a heavy woollen suit, he started with his brother 

 from the Ormsby Paddocks, near Caistor, in charge of six 

 brood-mares and three foals. Gainsborough was their 

 stopping-place the first night, Doncaster the second, Leeds 

 the third, and they reached Middleham the next day. 



Next to the marshes, the best bit of country is that 

 lying east of the Barton street, south of the railway from 

 Grimsby to Brocklesby, and west of the Great Northern 

 line from Grimsby to Louth, the cream of it being the 

 vale of Bradley ; indeed, many think this fine stretch of 

 country the best we have. The northern part fringes the 

 marshes, and being below the wolds the fences consist of 

 ditches and strong hedges, for the most part unplashed. 

 Round Roxton Wood it is nearly all grass, but the country 

 becomes more arable as Grimsby is approached, that round 

 Stallingborough, Healing, and Great Coates being of a 

 very sporting nature indeed. South of the road from 

 Grimsby to Caistor, and in the triangle formed by that 

 road and the one from Grimsby to Waltham and Raven- 

 dale, the Barton street being the base, lies the Bradley 

 Yale, and he who would negotiate it safely in close 

 attendance on the flying pack must be mounted on a bold 

 free-going hunter, for the fences are strong and there is a 

 wide, deep-cut ditch to each. Hounds always seem to 



* New Close Woods. 



