MEET AT RIDCnVARDINE. 181 



again in Black Lake. Ran fast to Moddershall, and over to Hartwell to gi'ound ; 

 got him out and killed him. Drew Grange Wood blank, but found at Leacroft 

 Sprinks, and ran by Saverley Green to Draycot Woods, and on to Sherratt's 

 Wood. Stopped hounds. Dark." 



On Monday, February 23rd, 1891, the meet v^as at 

 Ridgwardine, and the day's sport is thus recorded in the 

 Staffordshire Advertiser of the same week : 



THE NORTH STAFFORD HOUNDS. 



On Monday the meet was at Ridgwardine for the first time in the memory of 

 man. " Richwardine " was the meet as generally announced, and it is afiRrmed 

 that this is the ancient way of spelling the name of the little hamlet. However, 

 be it as it may, Ridgwardine was the ve?me on Monday last, and from there we 

 had a long journey to Baker's Gorse, or Corbet's Gorse, as is the name by which 

 it is more generally known. A fox was on foot directly, and, contrary to the 

 habits of the foxes in this part, broke away without dwelling, and rattled off at 

 a rare pace in the direction of Woodhouse Lane, thence, skirting the cover at 

 Buerton Gorse, was lost through scent suddenly failing. Close by, another fox 

 made his appearance as he jumped out of a pit-hole, and, hounds being put on 

 his line, made oft for Woore, and, passing Gravenhunger, came to grief just 

 beyond, scent again failing. From there we retraced our steps to Bellaport, and 

 here we had a plethora of foxes, a brace going away together, one of which ran 

 to ground at Norton Wood, and the other, after trying several dodges, lay down 

 in a pit-hole on the Brand Farm. From this he was viewed away, and led his- 

 field to Bellaport and on to College Fields, doubling back again through Bella- 

 port and past Norton Wood and on to Betton Covers, when he was lost, after 

 running through the Glade Wood on the way to Ridgwardine. Brown Hills 

 cover was next tried, and, as is always the case upon the estate of that staunch 

 fox-preserver, A. W. Radford-Norcop, Esq., gave favourable promise of sport. 

 A brace were soon afoot, with one of which the hounds got away upon excellent 

 terms, and away they went past Betton Coppice and Ridgwardine and on for 

 GoUing's Rough. Skirting the cover without entering, oS' he went for Swanbach, 

 and across both railway and canal he made, and away into the South Cheshire 

 country, and at length he was lost near Haywood, scent being fickle throughout 

 and so finished a far from uneventful day. Among those present were the 

 Marquis of Stafford, the Marchioness of Stafford, Miss Davenport, Mr. H. R. 

 Corbet, M.F.H., Mr. Ker-Colville, Mrs. Ker-Colville, Sir George Chetwode, Bart., 

 Lady Boughey, Mrs. Dobson, Miss Cartlich, Miss Evelyn Tayleur, Mr. Stanley 

 Hincliffe, Mr, Dobson, Mr. Cartlich, Mr. Reginald Wood, Mr. Peake, Mr. F. R. 

 Twemlow, Mr. D. Eardley, Mr. J. D. Eardley, Mr. J, Bourne, Mr. Wilkinson, 

 Mr. W. Blockley, Mr. WooUey, Mr. W. Eardley, Mr. Furnival, Mr. Beech, etc. 



On March 16th there was a really good day's sport 

 from Highfield House, with two good straight gallops, 

 the only drawback being that hounds did not get their 

 reward with either fox, though they richly deserved it. 



Fortunately, again " Double Snaffle " has contributed to 



