THE BRAES OF DERWENT COUNTRY. 93 



How the Haydon ever found their way into the extreme 

 west of the Derwent Valley is explained by the fact that Mr. 

 Joicey, when master of the pack, brought his hounds to New- 

 biggin House to hunt his own coverts at a period when Col. 

 Cowen's hounds had ceased to go so far west. Indeed, I do 

 not know that Col. Cow en ever drew the moor edge coverts, 

 which have been mentioned, and which are several miles west 

 of Blanchland; and after Mr. Joicey retired there was a short 

 period when the Haydon was called the " Hexhaonshire and 

 Haydon," and had for a master a Mr. Wear, who lived within, 

 a few miles of Blanchland, close to the Braes of Derwent 

 border. After Mr. Priestman took the last-named pack this 

 Hexhamshire hunt drew certain coverts further down the Der- 

 went Valley than Blanchland, and to which the Haydon had no 

 right whatever. The two packs clashed once, and there was a 

 good deal of friction, but when the lat© Major Harvey Scott 

 took the Haydon an amicable arrangement was quickly arrived 

 at, and now, as I have explained, certain coverts at the head 

 of the valley are neutral to the two countries. On the north 

 side of the Derwent, west of Eddys Bridge, about a mile 

 from the river, there is a fine whin covert quite in the open, 

 on Birkenside farm. This covert I have seen drawn by the 

 Tynedale in two masterships, but since Mr. Priestman took 

 the Braes of Derwent it has been exclusively his covert. Un- 

 fortunately, Birkenside whin has been burnt more than once, 

 but it quickly recovers again, as it lies in a sheltered position 

 and faces south ; foxes are very fond of it. Other coverts here- 

 abouts are Cronkley Banks, where cubs are usually bred, and 

 Espershields, the last-named a narrow fir plantation with a 

 heather bottom, almoeti a, mile long, and extending fro^m the 

 crown of the ridge half-way to the river. This is one of 

 tile best coverts in the hunt as far as lying is concerned, and 

 a fairly sure find, but Acton Wood and the Priest's Bank 

 further west, and quite near to Blanchland, are by no means 

 certain finds, and not very frequently drawn. Birkenside 

 and Cronliley are on the Minsteracres estate, and Mr. John 

 Cowen, secretary of the hunt, is the tenant of Minsteracres, 

 and has the shooting in his hands. Minsteracres is, when 

 everything is considered, the most sporting place in the 

 hunt. It lies high, and is remote from population, has no 



