CHAPTER X 



SANDRINGHAM 



The history of Sandringham as a royal demesne begins no 

 further back than 1861. In that year the estate was bought 

 from the Hon. C. Spencer Cowper for His late Majesty, then 

 Prince of Wales. At the time of purchase it contained rather 

 less than eight thousand acres, but several additions having 

 been made since, its present area is about fourteen thousand. 

 Five parishes and parts of three others are included in its 

 boundaries. It is situated in the north-west corner of the 

 county of Norfolk, near the coast of the Wash, about half- 

 way between King's Lynn and Hunstanton. The mansion is 

 a little over two miles east of Wolferton station, and the same 

 distance south of that at Dersingham. In addition to many 

 fertile farms and pretty villages the domain embraces wild 

 tracts of heathland and extensive pine and fir woods. These 

 features have led to a description of it as " part of Scotland 

 brought south of the Tweed," and they also help to account 

 for Sandringham having the reputation of being one of the 

 very best shooting estates in England. 



The park, which is about three hundred acres in extent, 

 contains many large and ancient oaks among numerous fine 

 specimens of other trees. It is well stocked with deer, whose 

 graceful forms and movements under the gnarled branches 

 of the old trees enliven a delightful scene. In the park is 

 Sandringham Church, which contains many memorials of 

 King Edward's affection for the place, and many mementoes 

 of other members of the Royal Family. In surface the land 

 is decidedly undulating, and several little streams have broad- 

 ened out into pools and small lakes in its valleys. From all 



