260 The Hunting Countries of England, 



Sandon, with several coverts of considerable size. 

 From Draycott Wood, it may be instanced, hounds last 

 season ran a fifteen-mile point, killing near the town of 

 Lichfield. The Hiddlestone district is very much the 

 same class — perhaps in some respects rather better : 

 and most of the soil is laid down in grass. At the foot 

 of the Derbyshire Hills they get as far as Croxden 

 Abbey, and may run up to Alton Towers ; while 

 Dilhorn (Sir M. Buller's) is the most northerly meet 

 on this border tract of stone walls and steep grass 

 slopes. 



The Marquis of Stafi'ord took over the Mastership 

 of the Hunt seven years ago from Capt. Nugent and 

 the late Earl of Shrewsbury, who for five seasons had 

 been joint Masters. Before them Mr. Davenport had 

 held office for many years, following upon Mr. Wicksted. 

 Taking the whole pack as a foundation. Lord Stafford 

 has built the present one mainly by the help of The 

 Blankney, The Bramham Moor, and The Brocklesby 

 — the present result being some sixty couple of working 

 hounds conspicuous for quality and with a full allow- 

 ance of strength. The Kennels at Trentham are 

 splendid and well arranged buildings, quite in keeping 

 with the magnificence of the ducal residence to which 

 they adjoin. 



Great numbers of people attend the covertside on 

 popular days — notably, for instance, on a Wednesday 

 in the Wooze district, when the Cheshire and Man- 

 chester men appear in force. Not so much on account 

 of the number of horsemen, but to escape the crowd 

 of colliers who are keenly alive to the delights of 

 overrunning and damaging the coverts of the Hunt 



