258 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



" Novcmher 20th. Doddington. — Found in Chapel Woods. Hounds went 

 fiway at a good pace by Walgliorton Pool, Jerusalem, Lea Park, and Shaw's 

 Kough, and beat us in Doddington Park. Found in Blakenhall Moss; beat us in 

 Kobin Hood's Wood. Found again in Shaw's Pough. Had a nice run with 

 a twisting fox to Checkley Wood. Here no doubt changed foxes, but liounds 

 kept going on to Blakenhall, and back to Checkley village, and beat us. We had 

 a very good day's sport, but never were more than two miles from the meet, 

 but were on the go all the time with bad-running foxes. Hounds worked hard, 

 and desen'ed a fox. His Grace hunted them. 



" November 22nd. ModdershaU.—Drew the Oaks blank. Found in the 

 Nurseries. Had a very good run through Stallington Heath, by Fulford to 

 Bromley Wood, through Sherratt's Wood, on to Fradswell Heath, where hounds 

 divided, I being alone with fourteen couples, and rattled one fox well about 

 Birch wood Park. The other lot ran over to Sandou Gorse. Drew Black Lake. 

 Found. Had a nice bit of work about Stallington. This ought to have been 

 a record day, but, owing to horses being out of condition, could not do justice to 

 the hunt. Had any of the whips been up at Fradswell Heath to help to keep 

 hounds together we should have done better, but as it was it spoiled a good 

 thing." 



The Doddington and Moddershall days were thus 

 recorded in the Staffordshire Advertiser of November 25th, 

 1899 : 



THE NORTH STAFFOEDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



These hounds met at Doddington on Monday, and had a very good day with 

 foxes that did not run very straight. Hounds, however, gave us plenty of 

 galloping and jumping over a nice country from Blakenhall Moss, Shaw's Rough, 

 and Checkley Wood, all on the Doddington estate. There was a large field out, 

 who much enjoyed the day's sport. The meet on Wednesday was at Modders- 

 hall. This meet was at one time thought of as only an odd day out, but now is 

 growing into favour owing to the good sport that has been enjoyed on this side of 

 the country of late years. This satisfactory result is due to the support the Hunt 

 receives from Sir Hill Child, of vStaUington ; Mr. J. Bourne and Mr. A. W. 

 Leedam, of Hilderstone ; Mr. W. Beech, of Painsley Hall ; and Messrs. Hill, of the 

 Spotacre Nurseries, who never wish to keep hounds out of their covers for shooting. 

 At the same time, the Hunt is also indebted to the tenants and friends who reside 

 in the district for their kindness in preserving good foxes and assisting in taking 

 down wire so loyally. Although Moddershall Oaks did not hold a fox, one was 

 found in Mr. Hill's Nursery, and he proved to be one of the right sort. After 

 taking a turn round the Nurseries, he was bold enough to go through the 

 carriages in the road into Stallington Heath, where he did not dwell a minute, but 

 went away at the far end at a capital pace, leaving Fulford quarry and village on 

 the right, and also the Bear Hole. He scurried on towards Hose Wood, Dray- 

 cot, but leaving that on the left he bore a little to the right by Mr. Pointon's, of 

 the New Buildings — a gentleman who is always glad to see hounds in full cry 

 over his land — away through Bromley Wood, not waiting a second, on by Mr. 

 Alcock's house to Wetley Brooks, thence through Sherratt's Wood to Fradswell 

 Heath. To this point we had only had one check, but when we ran on to 

 the Heath, hounds divided, the huntsman sticking to one lot and bustling a fox 

 round Birchwood Park. The other lot ran a fox over to Sandon Gorse, where 



