74 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



of eleven himdred acres in extent, and are much in 

 the same category as the well-known Bagots Woods in the 

 Meynell country. The Hon. Mrs. Meynell Ingram is the 

 owner of the Burnt Woods and other large coverts in that 

 district, which she kindly leases to the Duke at a moderate 

 rental in the interests of fox-hunting, for which the family 

 have always been distinguished. Bishop's Woods and 

 other large property in that district belong to the 

 Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who, we are informed, do not 

 set a good example as landowners in the matter of wire. 

 The most popular and fashionable and the best-known 

 part of the North Stafford country is undoubtedly the 

 Woore district, comprising also Doddington and Adder- 

 ley. This is to be accounted for, in part, because it is 

 more accessible than most of the North Stafford area, and 

 also because it is no doubt a very good hunting country, 

 resembling (as " Brooksby " has pointed out) the Cheshire 

 in its main features ; but the present writer is of opinion 

 that the Draycot country is intrinsically little, if at all, 

 inferior to the Woore district. Belonsing to Doddino[ton 

 Park, the seat of Sir Delves Broughton, there are some good 

 coverts, notably Chapel Wood, Shaw's Rough, Checkley 

 Wood, and Wrinehill, which are seldom drawn blank. Then 

 the Woore coverts are well known, from the days of Egerton 

 Warburton and Mr. Wicksted down to the present time, 

 and the very names of the Canridden, Mill Hay, and Har- 

 row's Wood are dear to every North Stafford fox-hunter. 

 Buerton Gorse and Highfield Gorse near Adderley are 

 nearly always safe finds in this part. Finson's Hay Gorse, a 

 noted gorse covert made by Captain Edwards Heathcote, is 

 also a sure find, as a rule, in the same district. The largest 

 fields are generally at Woore and Doddington, these meets 

 being very handy for Cheshire men, either by road or rail, 

 and also for the Manchester division by rail. There are 

 also some extensive coverts near Madeley ; the Claddings, 

 and Heighley Castle, and at Maer, the Hills, large fir 

 woods, extend to several hundred acres, and usually 

 abound with foxes, and are regularly visited in the cub- 



