94 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



other good comrades of the hunting-field, gave his 

 hfe in South Africa, told me that when he was staying 

 at Melton he never grudged a fifteen-mile ride to see 

 Wardley drawn, and Harborough is quite four miles 

 nearer to the coverts than Melton. Indeed, as a 

 visitor who did not mind big fences once remarked, 

 some of the best country is nearer Harborough than 

 anywhere else. 



I am inclined to think that the future of Market 

 Harborough lies in its being chosen as a centre round 

 which people will buy or build houses. It is indeed 

 a pleasant place all the year round, and the country, 

 especially on the Rockingham and Northamptonshire 

 side, is beautiful and interesting and rich in historic 

 and hunting associations. In any case Market Har- 

 borough is a pleasant old town with the grace of 

 antiquity clinging to it. May it be long before so- 

 called modem improvements spoil it, as they have 

 spoiled so many other picturesque old English 

 towns ! 



There is one other attraction that Market Har- 

 borough possesses for the sportsman, and that is a 

 most excellent polo ground and a well-managed club, 

 of which Sir Humphrey de Trafford is President, and 

 Mr. Philip Beatty, Secretary. The polo ground is 

 boarded, and is of fine old turf in a pleasant and 

 picturesque spot between Lubenham and Farndon. 

 Most hunting men like to play polo in the summer, 

 and Market Harborough is so accessible that it is 

 easy for other clubs to visit it and for teams from 

 that club to go elsewhere for matches. It is, indeed, 

 an almost ideal situation for a polo club, and as it has 

 been well supported and well managed, its existence 

 may weigh with visitors when choosing a hunting 

 centre. Play is kept up well into the cub-hunting 



