202 The Hunting Countries of England. 



the extreme nortli — tlie covert itself lying in Sir 

 Watkin Wynnes territory^ but lent by him to the 

 Shropshire. Many a good run into Cheshire or Stafford- 

 shire has had its origin here — though^ as from many of 

 the other places above mentioned, the chances are in 

 favour of Hawkstone being reached in the course of 

 the day. 



Friday includes the deep strong woodlands towards 

 Shrewsbury — Battlefield being usually named when 

 that stronghold and Preston Grubballs are to be drawn. 

 Holly Coppice, close to Shrewsbury, is the meet for 

 Sundorne and Haughmond Hill. These coverts are 

 chiefly of hazel ; and, as the season gets on, gene- 

 rally carry a good scent. Acton Reynold (Sir Yincent 

 Corbet's) is always considered a good meet, leading to 

 Grinshill (a rough wooded and sandy hill), with 

 pleasant open ground all round and a prospect of 

 running to Hardwick (Mr. Bibby^s) or Haughmond 

 Hill. Leaton Knolls is another strong woodland, and 

 about Shelf are several big woods. In the Baschurch 

 neighbourhood is again a nice bit of ground. Meeting 

 at Walford, they have some coverts of Mr. Eyton^s to 

 draw ; while at Merrington are several large coverts, 

 Merrington Green being the ordinary meet. The Fifth 

 Milestone, Baschurch Road, is often fixed for the same 

 district. Farther east, again, is Shawbury, for Sir 

 Thomas Meyrick^s good wood of Withyford. On the 

 Crudgington side the most common meet is Ercall 

 Mill, with the Wild Moors stretching for miles to the 

 south-east, a scarcely rideable waste. But away to the 

 north is all good country, with more grass than else- 

 where, and fences fair and tempting. The largest 



