76 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS, 



determined to do or die. The writer will never fora-et one 



o 



gallant old fox from Brindley's Wood, that was found 

 at three o'clock in a March afternoon, and was killed near 

 Yoxall, in the heart of the Meynell country, between five 

 and six o'clock, the hounds not orettins^ back to kennel till 

 after eleven. This was twenty years ago, though it seems 

 like yesterday, when one thinks of that delightful gallop ; 

 but we must not dwell upon this run now, as we shall 

 have to relate it in detail in its proper place in this 

 history. 



There are other coverts and meets which we have scarcely 

 space to describe at length, such as Cheswardine, Oakley, 

 the seat of that fine old sportsman and staunch fox- 

 preserver. Sir George Chetwode, who often provides a fox 

 for us in the laurels close to his house ; Stoke-by-Stone 

 for Orange Hayes, Norton Bridge for Shallowford Gorse, 

 Seighford for the Moor Covert and William's Wood, etc., 

 Dilhorn Hall for the Dilhorn coverts, Barlaston for the 

 Hall coverts, Trentham for the Home coverts and New 

 Park, Croxden Abbey for Chipperlee and Nothill, and 

 Dray cot Village for Dray cot Cross and Cheadle Common, 

 besides many others. The Adderley coverts (the property 

 of Mr. Corbet) belong to the North Stafford country, 

 though under a temporary arrangement the North 

 Staffordshire Hunt Committee allow Mr. Corbet to draw 

 them without acquiring any right. Birchwood Park, 

 between Draycot Woods and Chartley, is a neutral covert 

 with the Meynell Hunt, the North Staffordshire and the 

 Meynell each drawing it in alternate months. The hounds 

 hunt four days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 

 Saturday being the regular days. The rule as to fixtures 

 has varied from time to time considerably, but now and 

 for some years past the rule has been, and is as follows : 

 Monday for the Woore and Doddington country ; 

 Wednesday for the Draycot, Sandon, and Stone side ; 

 Friday for the Seighford and Eccleshall side'; and Satur- 

 day for the Trentham and Maer district. The Monday 

 meets are easily reached by outsiders by rail to Crewe, 



