34 HUNTING IN MANY COUNTRIES. 



the late 'sixties, and though I have not the exact date, I have 

 an account of the run which appeared in the local paper. 

 Hounds found in Rippon Burn, passed close by Woodlands 

 Hall, ran nearly to Castleside, turned through Lord Bute's, 

 and on by The Hermitage, Satley, and Broomshields, dov/n 

 the valley to Gladdow, thence to Browney Bank, Colepike, 

 Square House, Hamsteels, and down the Browney nearly to 

 Hill Top. They crossed the river, west of Hill Top, and ran 

 through the Langley coverts and Nursingfield Gill, killing in 

 a little ravine at Holmside. Those who know the country and 

 how far apart such places as Castleside and Holmside, or 

 Broomshields and Holmside, are will appreciate the distance 

 covered, which works out at over twenty miles, without allow- 

 ing for the twists and turns. The time was three and a half 

 hours, and seven were up at the finish. 



All the parts of the North Durham country which I have 

 already described are on the western side of Durham and north 

 of the river Wear. There remain a considerable district due 

 north of Durham, and another portion of the country south 

 of the Wear, and both were particularly popular not many 

 years ago; but the collieries have increased both in size and 

 number, and there are numerous " pit " railways and a good 

 deal of wire. Indeed, this country has to a great extent 

 collapsed, and, as far as I can judge, foxes do not often leave 

 it now when hunted, but ring the changes from one covert to 

 another, and seldom go very far afield. When Mr. Maynard 

 lived at Newton Hall, about two miles north of Durham, 

 Red House Gill was a famous place for sport, and meets at the 

 kennels were always well attended. Red House Gill is a 

 hanging covert on the river Wear, of considerable length, and 

 opposite parts of it are the coverts of Cocken Hall, which also 

 clothe the river banks, while further south, round a bend of 

 the river, is Brass-side Wood. At times foxes would run up 

 the banks and down the banks all day long, and vary the 

 proceedings by crossing the river, and recrossing it again a 

 little later ; but at the time I have in mind they used also to 

 go far afield, and I recollect in one season that a fox from Red 

 House Gill was killed by the lodge gate at Broomshields, and 

 another in one of the meadows below Cole Pike Hall. In the 

 first run, which very few saw, because the pack had divided. 



