12 HISTORY OF THE YORK AND AINSTY HUNT. 



in the same country. In the immediate neighbourhood of 

 Nun Appleton there are plenty of woods and plantations, 

 and Bolton Percy and Hornington Willow Beds are good 

 coverts, which generally hold a fox. From Oxton Hall 

 there are some nice plantations to draw, and then 

 Pallethorpe Whin^ is a tower of strength. The Steeton 

 country generally is tried in the afternoon of an Oxton 

 fixture. 



On Thursdays the hounds go westwards, and a special 

 train has generally to be requisitioned. This part of the 

 country is generally lighter to ride over than the rest of 

 the York and Ainsty, as it is also the most hilly. 

 Nearest to York are Thorpe Green and Kirby Hall, 

 round both which places there are numerous woods and 

 plantations. The country is a sporting one, and there is 

 a fair proportion of grass, but there are some formidable 

 fences in places, and the Jordan, with its difficult 

 approach and rotten banks, is a constant source of 

 tribulation to those gallant spirits who scorn to turn 

 round. It is, indeed, much easier to get into than to get 

 out of for the bottom is muddy and holding. Allerton 

 Park and Goldsborough are also within reach of York, 

 but they are rather a long ride, especially as it is within 

 the range of possibility that hounds will go from, rather 

 than towards, home. There is a lot of wood about both 

 places, and Goldsborough is by no means a good place 

 to get away from, though I have seen more than one 

 good run from it. From Allerton Park there are good 

 coverts to be drawn in the Lylands, Shepherd's Wood, 

 and some coverts on the Grass Gills Farm. Ribston 

 Hall is another fixture in this locality, and Ribston Great 



(i) This covert is being laid this year. It has got very open at the bottom, 

 and Sir Angus Holden has given Mr. Lycett Green ca7'te blanche to put it into 

 a fit and proper condition for a fo.x covert. 



