392 The Hunting Countries of England. 



a run that covered nearly twenty miles of country^ 

 For the greater part of the journey hounds entirely 

 beat their field; and when at length they ran into- 

 their fox, six hounds rolled over the side of a quarry 

 with him — one hound being killed, and others badly 

 injured by the fall. 



Brancepeth Castle, rather more to the south (the- 

 seat of Lord Boyne, who is a thorough friend of fox- 

 hunting), is, with its parks and coverts, of the greatest 

 service to the Hunt. The woods are chiefly spinnies 

 and belts of timber, through or among which hounds 

 and horses can move quickly and freely. But below 

 Brancepeth and Willington the coal district begins ;. 

 and foxhunting has once more to face difficulty and 

 entanglement. Occasionally, however, hounds are at 

 Tudhoe ; and, again, they may find a fox at Shincliffe- 

 and run to Quarrington Woods. 



The more open parts of the east of the country are 

 chiefly plough and chiefly hilly ; and carry a good 

 scent when the ground rides deepest. On this side 

 are Elemore Hall (the seat of the Baker family), Shat- 

 forth ; where is a gorse covert from which good runs 

 are often obtained; the wood of Rough Dean, and the 

 gorse of Cherry Knoll (Major Gregson^s). Then there 

 are Lord Durham's excellent coverts at Houghton and 

 Pensher — besides a new gorse which he has expressly 

 planted at Herrington, and which must prove of the 

 greatest benefit. Lord Londonderry — who is also a 

 strong supporter of the Hunt — always has foxes at 

 Seaham, close to the sea. Rymer's Moor is a very 

 popular meet in nice open country; and a fox from 

 there is very likely to take a six mile-point to the big 



