356 The Hunting Countries of England, 



THE WHADDON CHASE.* 



A SWEET little country is the Whaddon Chase^ 

 offering Londoners two days a week on the grass at 

 no distance from their home. They can run down 

 from town on the morning- of hunting, leaving Euston 

 Square at the comfortable hour of nine ; a slip 

 carriage drops them at Leighton, or the train sets 

 them down at Bletchley, in time for all meets ; while 

 the up express stops specially for them in the evening, 

 and brings them back in time for dinner. These two 

 places are the best resorts for the man who can only 

 afford twelve hours at a stretch for fox-hunting. The 

 town of Aylesbury is thoroughly situated to command 

 the Vale ; but, standing as it does off the main line of 

 railway, is most frequented by those who can station 

 themselves on the spot, and give fuller fling to their 

 appetite for sport than is allowed to the man escaping 

 for the day from his business. The same remark 

 applies to Winslow ; as well as to Stony Stratford 

 and Newport Pagnall, which hold good also the Duke 

 of Grafton's and the Oakley. 



The Vale of Aylesbury is the Londoner's Leicester- 



* Vide Stanford's " Hunting Map," Sheets 15 and 16. 



