388 The Hunting Countries of England. 



THE NORTH DURHAM.* 



Whether you glance at the labyrinth of red streaks 

 which on Stanford's map denote (and it would almost 

 seem, protest against) the evil course of railroads_, or 

 breathe awhile the smoke and dust from the coalmines 

 that surround the old cathedral town, the difficulties 

 of making Durham a hunting centre are only too 

 readily suggested. In the days of Ealph Lambton 

 and his celebrated pack the Durham Hunt no doubt 

 deserved its celebrity. To it belonged the whole of 

 both the present North and South Durham countries ; 

 and the way was then incomparably more clear for 

 fox and hound. The grassy hills of the north-west 

 were open as now ; and the centre of the county was 

 not cut up and marred by the blustering interference 

 of steam. Yet an excellent pack of hounds is still to 

 be found within a mile or so of Durham : in spite of 

 railways and collieries, the fox is still regularly found 

 and hunted in the home district ; while the more open 

 country at a distance is still replete with as sterling 

 sport as ever. That much of the North Durham 



* Vide Stanford's " Hunting Map," Sheets 2 and 5, and Hobson's 

 Foxliunting Atlas. 



