1888. 365 



" It was Jack Press, or old John Howe, of 

 Henstridge Ash, who recounted to me the history 

 of the Blackmore Vale, Howe being at that 

 time eighty years old, and he had followed the 

 Blackmore Vale the best part of his life. It 

 appears that Mr. Yeatman* started the country 

 as the B.V. in 1826, his Huntsman being John 

 Channings, and Joe Mitchel, one of the hardest 

 riders of the day, was his Whip. Mr. Yeatman 

 went through enormous difficulties in the 

 establishment of a hunting community here. 

 He was succeeded by Mr. Hall ; but when he 

 retired in favour of Lord Portman, the B.V. 

 Hounds were in high repute. Kit Atkinson was 

 Lord Portman's Huntsman, Channings having 

 died in Mr. Yeatman's service, and capital sport 

 was shown in this second decade of the Hunt, 

 which lasted seven years. Mr. Drax, of Char- 

 borough Park, succeeded Lord Portman, and his 

 Huntsman was John Last ; but after a few seasons 

 Mr. Drax retired, and sold the hounds in 1853 

 to Mr. Whieldon, Major Stanley, and Lord 

 Dungarvon,t their Huntsman being Harry 

 Honey. Lord Henr}^ Thynne had the country for 



* Died i86i. + The present Earl of Cork. 



