CHAPTER III 



SOME ANCIENT "SURREY" MASTERS 



A MONGST the supporters of these hounds during the 

 ■* *■ last hundred years or so many curious and interesting 

 sporting characters may be numbered. The earliest 

 records are, of course, somewhat vague and misty ; but, 

 by means of diligent research, one finds a great deal of 

 information that is worth the trouble of exploration. It 

 serves to show that our sporting forefathers, especially in 

 the Surrey district, were (what are termed) really "good 

 sorts," that their chief enthusiasm seems to have been 

 reserved for hunting, and that they enjoyed themselves 

 exceedingly in pursuit of fox. They were very keen 

 " customers " indeed. 



To go back as far as possible, we may note that about 

 1770 mention is made of these hounds by a Mr. Dudin, 

 who described how he used to visit Bermondsey for the 

 purpose of seeing the huntsmen and whips turn out of a 

 morning, and also how he frequently used to meet the 

 hounds at Peckham Rye. Forest Hill, too, was a favourite 

 meet for them, and Sydenham, for miles round, was 

 surrounded by open commons. Many capital runs were 

 enjoyed in that locality — a fact which will appear not a 

 little strange to residents there at the present time. 



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