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JOHNA.SEAVERNS
HUNTING JOURNAL
OF THE
BLACKMOOR VALE HOUNDS,
FROM
1826 to 183L
SHERBORNE: PRINTED BY T. H. TOLL, CHEAP-STREET.
MDCCCXXXI.
^ty^ In perusing the Hnnting Journal of the Blackmoor Vale Fox Hounds, it must not be forgotten, — first, that a very considerable part of the Countiy wliich their Proprietor established in the Spring
of 182C, HAD NOT BEEN UUNTED AT ALL FOR NEARLY THIRTY
YEARS; — that the Foxes had been systematically destroyed, and even that their Haunts and Earths were known to few, if to any persons, except to those who dealt in their destruction. — Secondly, that this small extent of Country had never been hunted before by any Gentleman as an Entire Country.— Thirdly, that at its ex- treme north-eastern Wiltshire extremity the Covers are of enormous extent, and so full of Earths as to baffle the vii;ilance of the most careful and active stopper. — Fourthly, that a large portion of the Country lying between Yeovil and Compton Castle, is nearly desti- tute of Cover of any description capable of holding a Fox during the winter months, consisting almost entirely of sandy arable land, intersected by roads, and notorious as bad-scenting ground.^ — ^And lastly, that a system of annoyance bordering on persecution, in THE County of Dorset, was not wanting to superadd difficulties to the wliole of no ordinary kind, such indeed as must be continually kept in view by the Courteous Reader of the following pages.
THE
HUNTING JOURNAL
OF THE
BLACKMOOR VALE HOUNDS;
FOR 1826—1827.
Aug-ust 30th, 1826.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met for the first time this season at Stock House; — finding a litter of five Foxes at Stock Wood at six o'clock A. M.; the Hounds ran two hours in very g-ood VForking' style and killed a single Cub
September 3rd.
Found a leash of Foxes at Lilly Wood, nearBratton and Shepton Montag-ue; — running' one to ground at
Shepton Montag-ue and killing another
September 13th.
Drew Cog-ley Wood, (a particularly fine Cover belong-ing to Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Baronet, near
Bruton, of 200 acres;) found a brace of Foxes;
running- an old dog- Fox one hour and twenty minutes and killing- him in Cover
September 16th.
Met at Mr. Sherring^'s Slaits at Milborne Wick,
and found a brace of Foxes in his Brake adjoining- ;
killing one and whipping; off from the other. Found a third in the Plantation at Corton, and after a very sharp and short burst, ran him to Earth at Pointing-ton Down.
Carried forward ...
)^
( 4 )
September 19th, 1820.
Broug-ht forward ,
Met at Coombe Farm House, where Mr. Symes kindly introduced the Pack to a leash of Foxes, in the fine Brake adjoining- his House; — the Hounds g"oing" away with a fine young- dog- Fox, which they ran into after a very pretty run of thirty minutes. Found an old Fox in Mr. Tucker's Gorse, at Trent, and after a sharp burst of forty minutes. Earthed him in a drain at Rimpton
September 22nd.
Met at Stalbridge Park ; — found a Utter in the Park AVood, and killed one after very little running. Stopped the Hounds and went to Caundle Brake, (a fine Gorse Cover belonging to that generous and distinguished sportsman, Edward Hnddleston, Esquire,) where we got upon the walk of an old Fox evidently disturbed by having hear.l the Hounds in the Park; hunting him across Toomer Farm to Inwood ; in which Cover the Hounds got up to him, and after a short but sharp run, lost him among the Houses in Henstridge Bowden,
Tuesday, October 3rd.
Met at Stock House; — finding immediately in the Covers adjoining, and running for two hours, changing continually : at length we got away with the Fox across the Park to the river at Rowden Mill, which the Hounds crossed, working him on to Caundle Wood, where the Hounds changed and ran another hour very hard through the Covers there; and when the second Fox was sinking, changed again and stopped, but after great perse- verance on the part of the Men and Hounds we recovered the hunted Fox and ran into liim near Marsh Common, after four hours and half incessant and very hard work
Carried forward ,
Brought forward. . . . Friday, October 6th, 1826.
Met at Charlton Wood, near Charlton Horethorne, where the Hounds found a good Utter of Foxes, and ran two hours — going- away at length with one, and killing him at Stowel Hill, near Milborne Wick, after a severe burst of thirty minutes out of Cover
Tuesday, October 10th.
Met at Yarlington, (the seat of F, Rogers, Esquire;) finding immediately, and after forty minutes of very good hunting, killed our Fox
Friday, October 13th.
Met at Plumley Wood, Avhere Ave found a very fine litter of Foxes, and ran two hours ; changing con- tinually in the thickest Cover, and under a scorching sun. The Hounds being ?mich distressed, we stopped and went home
Tuesday, October 17th.
Drew^ the Gorse Cover at Annis Hill, Sparkford Wood, and Lilly Wood, blank : got upon a rambling scent near the Cover at Wadham's Down, but it being late in the day we went home
Friday, October 20th.
Met at Inwood, (a fine Cover belonging to the Rev. F. Glossop,) and found immediately ; and after running him forty minutes in Cover close to his brush, went away by Toomer Hill and Caundle Brake, for the Earths at Hanover; the Hoiinds running into him in vieic, before he reached them. We then drew the Temple Coombe Woods; finding immediately, and after a particularly quick and good run of fifty minutes, by Stowel Hill, through the village of Charlton Horethorne and over the down at Milborne W^ick, we Earthed him at Pointington Down
Carried forward ....
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Brought iurward. . . . Tuesday, October 24th, 1026.
Met at C cm pton Castle, (the romantic and pictu- resque seat of John Hunt, Esquire;) finding a liltei- of Foxes, killing one in Cover and running another to
Earth at Sigwells
Friday, October 27th.
Met at Cogley Wood, near Bruton, where we found a brace of Foxes and after one hour and a quar- ter's hard work, ran our Fox to Earth under a rock near the town of Bruton, in view of the leading Hounds, and left him
Tuesday, October 31st.
Drew Creech Hill and Henley Wood, blank; — getting upon a very stale scent at Batcombe Wood, the Fox having been disturbed by shooters
Friday, November 3rd.
Met at Plumley Wood; — finding a brace and half of Foxes, but in a very boisterous and windy day, with heavy rain blowing up from the south-west. Hunted our Fox to the Caundle Holts, and thence by Batcombe Wood across the Stalbridge and Weston Vale to Stal- bridge Park Wood, where toe changed to the litter there and stopped the Hounds
Tuesday, November 7lh.
Met at Stock Wood, where we found a leash of Foxes, running in Cover an hour, and getting the Hounds away after a Fox that had twenty minutes start of us; walking after him with an execrable scent bv Rooksmoor, and over the river to the Mill at Hazelbury, where we stopped the Hounds, being unable to hunt him any further, on any thing like terms. We then went back and found in the Covers near Stock House, a second Fox, going aivay at his brush, over the
Carried forward. . . .
10
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(_LJ
Broug-ht forward .... Caimdle River, for the Caundle Holt Covers; from whence the Hounds fairly turned him, and I'an into him in the open in forty minutes
Friday, November 10th, 1826.
Met at Cherton Wood, and ^ot upon a disturbed scent, the Fox having been disturbed by the foot people before we came. Found ag-ain at Elscombe Wood and killed in Cover, witTiout a run
Tuesday, November 14th.
Met at Milborne Slaits, drawing the Furze Brake there, as well as the Gorse Covers at Compton and Coombe Farm, blank
Friday, November 17th.
Met at Elscombe Wood and walked the Hounds on to Lilly Wood, where the Hounds found immediately, and after two hours and ten minutes very steady g-ood running through the Yarlington Cover, by Shepton Montague and Hadspen, we ran him to Earth near Holbrook House
Tuesday, November 21st.
Met at Batcombe Wood ; — drawing North Wood and Asham Wood near the Mendip Hills, (a Cover of 600 acres belonging to E. B. Portman, Esquire, M. P.) blank ; there was a good drag, but the Earths at Asham Wood were open !
Friday, November 24th.
Drew Yard Grove Coppice, near King's Mill, and the Hinton Covers, blank, with a scent that evidently showed the Fox had been disturbed by the foot people. In our way to the Rooksmoor Covers, &c., the Hunts- man was taken ill and obliged to go home
Thursday, November 28th.__Frost
Friday, December 1st Frost. . .
Carried forward ....
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Broug-ht forward
Tuesday, December 5th. 182G.
Met at Leig-h Common, near Wincantoii; — g'oing' away with a Fox, "svith a very bad scent {after the front ) by Kilmington to Bourton, and thence to the Covers at Stourton House, (the seat of Sir. R. C. Hoare, Baronet,) where we lost him after a run of one hour and twenty minutes ; having- hunted him up to the windows of the Mansion, among-st the shrubs adjoining ■which, he was seen lying down just before the Hounds came up. The scent was particularly bad for the last forty minutes, a heavy shower of rain falling- in torrents.
Friday, December 8th.
Drew Coombe Farm and Over Compton Brake ■with a lively drag', up to the Earths, which were open !
Thursday, December 12th.
Met at West End Wood, (a fine Cover of his Grace the Duke of Somerset;) finding- in the great Bradley Wood, from whence, after one hour and a quarter's sharp work in Cover, we g-ot him away and Earthed him (dead beat, and close before the Pack) at Long-leat Park
Friday, December 15th.
Met at Cherton Wood ; — drew that Cover, and Tenant's Wood and Compton Wood, blank
Tuesday, December 19th.
Met at Cogley Wood, near Bruton, where we found immediately^ and breaking Cover as quickly^ the Hounds went awa^' at the top of their speed for King-'s Wood, under Alfred's Tower ; which they reached in about thirty minutes, the Fox and Hounds being- seen on the terrace there, a few yards only distant from each other, and making- for the g-reat Covers adjoining- Stourton House. Here (upon the hill) the
Carried forward ....
13
«
13
Broug-ht forward ... . 13
fog was so intense that we could hardly see each other,
and for a time we lost the Hounds. After a check of
fifteen minutes we got the Hounds tog-ether and hit him !^
off again towards the Earths at King-'s Wood, and over
them with a bad, catching scent for Brewham Wood, and
through Brewham Forest to the deep and heavy vale of
North Brewham, and thence without a turn to Upton
Noble, and for Asham Wood at the base of the Mendip
Hills; from which Cover (a Cover of 600 acres and
full of rocky precipices and main Earths) he was
turned by a woman who headed him in the turnpike
road. The Hounds still held the line, from this place
over the Commons to Nunny; and thence at a foot's
pace to Postlebary Great AVood (of 214 acres) which
he skirted, and on to Marston Forest ; through the
whole of which they carried him on rather better terms,
and onward to the fine and deep Covers of the Marquis
of Bath, at Longleat, where, bi/ a forward cast of two
miles they got up to him again, carrying as fine a head
as they did in the commencement of the day, and working
him in killing style through the spacious and beautiful
Covers of the Duke of Somerset (of at least 1000 acres:)
the foot people, the Fox, and the Hounds being in vieic
of each other; the eight horses which remained out of
a good Field in the morning being unable to make a trot!
By which means the Fox made his point and got to Earth
near Bradley Park, a few yards only before the
Hounds, at ten minutes after four o'clock, after a
hunting run of Four Hours and Fifty Minutes ;
covering at the least computation Thirty Miles of
country during this severe and trying run !
Friday, December 22nd, 1826.
After the extraordinary run of Tuesday last, the Hounds were compelled to rest this day. .
Carried forward. ... 13
8
Brought forward. . . . Tuesday, December 26th. 1826.
Found a Fox near Blackford Hollow; — running- him very sharply and quick throug-h Yarlington, by Lilly Wood, to the vale by Shepton Montague, and throug-h Mr. Hobhouse's Covers at Hadspen, killing behind the Mansion House
Fridajs December 29th.
Met at Plumley Wood, near Stourton Caundle, and found immediately ; — g"oing- away throug-h the Caundle Holt Covers by Ashcombe Wood to Haydon, and along^ the Vale to Purse Caundle, by Frith Wood to Stal- bridg-e Park, where he went to a drain and g-ot in. The Hounds g-oing- away to an halloo with another Fox, over the Park wall to Inwood, and throug-h that Cover by Henstridg-e Bowden, to Caundle Brake, and along* 3filborne Moor to Hanover Wood, where the Hounds, when close to his brush, were hallooed on to a Terrier ! Went back to Stalbridge Park,_bolted the first Fox, and killed him for the Hounds' sake
Tuesday, January 2nd, 1827 Frost
Friday, January 5th.
We unluckily chopped this day a fine do^ Fox in Caundle Brake, a sing-le Hound meeting- him in a rack way, the Fox having-^ot well upon his leg-s, A second Fox stole away, the Hounds not getting upon him for nearly thirty minutes after he had left his kennel. Bad and stormy as the weather was the Hounds hunted him on at a walking- pace, for Frith Wood and thence to Plumley Wood, and over the Earths there to the Caundle Holt Covers and Caundle Wood, where they g-ot up to him — when a tremendous shower of hail broug-ht Hounds and Horses to a stand-still: but by great perseverance we carried the scent along- as far as Marsh Common and North Wootton Coppice to Sherborne Park; where he
went to Earth
Carried forward ....
13
^3
03
16 I 9
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Broiig"ht Ibrwaid
Monday, January 8th, 1827.
Met at Pointing-ton Ridg^e, but the Earth at Hohvay Wood being- unfortunately open, our Foxes were drawn over: dug- for two hours after one, but could not g-et at him
Friday, January 12th.
Met at Stock House, and found immediately, a brace being- on foot ; the Pack going- away with one, without hanging- Cover a moment, to Rooksmoor, and over Holbrook Green to Deadmoor Wood and through it for Hazelbury, by Cockroad Copse to Zoar, leaving- Whit- moor Furzes to the left ; and across the larg-e enclosures towards Belchalwal to the left, where the Hounds (having- been at a racing pace from Stock Wood without a check) fairly turned him from the hills, going- by Kid- ford Coppice to Woolland Wood ; where the Hounds ran into him after a superior burst of forty-five minutes without a check, having covered eight miles as the crow flies in this chace
Friday, January 16th.
Met at Cogley Wood and found a brace of Foxes
immediately ; after fifteen minutes sharp running in
Cover, we ran him to a drain in Redlynch Park, the ancient seat of the Earl of Ilchester. The Hounds were hallooed to a second, and after running the Park Covers for some little time, and close to his brush, he was headed by the foot people, and though we hit him after long checks by a very wide cast, we could hunt him no further than Cogley — ^pointing for Pink Wood
Friday, January 19th.
Met at Caundle Brake, and drew Frith Wood, where we found a brace immediately ; — sixteen and half couple running their Fox to Earth in view, in Sherborne
Carried forward ....
16
^
.a nJ
17 I 10
( '^ )
Brought forward. . . . 17
Park, after a sharp burst of forty minutes : — we killing one Fox in Castleton Lane, (all but in the streets of Sherborne) in forty-five minutes with seven couple and fc4
half!
Tuesday, January 23rd, 1827 — Frost
Friday, January 26th Frost
Tuesday, January 30th.
Met at Jack White's g-ibbet, near Yarling-ton, and drew Lilly AVood, (a favourite Cover belong-ing" to U. and G. Messiter, Esquires. The Hounds ybwnc? imme- diately; — going- away in the same field with him along the vale by Shepton Montague towards Redlynch Park, from which the Hounds fairly turned him for the Covers behind Hadspen House ; and thence by Ansford Park, for the Earths at Creech Hill, the Hounds running in- to him in forty-five minutes before he could reach them.
Friday, February 2nd.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met at Plumley Wood. It being a very raw cold morning, with the wind south- east, and the Hounds late in consequence of the frost, we soon discovered by old Wildboy that our Fox was gone ! And that we had the heel of him. Catching the Hounds up as quick as we could, we hit him into the Caundle Holt Covers, and hunted him to Bull Close Furze, where the Hounds went away all hut in view of him^ racing him at the top of their speed to Bishop's Caundle village, and along the turnpike for nearly a mile and over the bridge at Woodbridge, and breaking over the enclosures for Holwell Borough ; and thence along the Holwell Commons and the enclosures in Glanville's Wootton to the summit of Castle Hill, which the Hounds reached in forty-five ninutes. An awkward check took place at this moment : the Fox having been headed — an immense flock of sheep having stained the
Carried forward .... 19
10
U
11
( 13 )
Broug-ht forward .... hill, and a fresh Fox having- been seen and hallooed before us, but the Hounds being" snug- and well together, they carried their hunted Fox through Wootton Wood to the road by the Castle Hill Gardens, and by the Spring Pond Heads to AVoodfall Coppice, where they got up to him, and killed liim after a g-ood run of one
hour and ten minutes, with one check only
Tuesday, February 6th — Frost
Friday, February 9th Frost
Tuesday, February 13th Frost
Friday, February 16th Frost
Tuesday, February 20th. __Frost
Friday, February 23rd Frost
Tuesday, February 27th.
Met at West End Wood ;_finding at the Lower Bradley Wood, and after forty minutes running, with a bad scent (in heavy rain) after the frost, ran him to an Earth near the Gardens at the Marquis of Bath's, at Longleat, where we left him
Saturday, March 3rd.
Met at Inwood, and finding immediately, and after one hour and twenty minutes good hunting by Toomer to Caundle Brake, and by Milborne Moor to Goathill and North Wootton, we got up to our Fox and ran him in view of the leading Hounds to the Earths in Sherborne Park
Tuesday, March 6th.
Met at Temple Coombe Wood, (a very fine range of Cover belonging to the Rev. P. Wickham,) but drew these Covers and Cherton Wood, blank, in a most tremendous rain : getting upon the Kne of a Fox near Charlton Wood, and after a very sharp burst up- tvind, by Charlton Horethorne and through the village by Milborne Slaits, the Hounds ran into him at Corton
in forty minutes
Carried forward ....
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( 1-t )
Brought forward. . . . Friday, March 9th. 1827.
Mkt at Stock House, where we were ag-ain fortunate in finding' a brace and half of Foxes ; the Hounds were settled to a Vixen, which they ran for half an hour, close at her brush : in the mean time a brace of dog- Foxes slipped away, and when by dint of great exertion we had succeeded so far as to stop them, we had lost more then twenty minutes upon the Fox that had last broken Cover. The Hounds, however, were laid on and hunted him very beautifully by the Plantation at Rodmoor to Hoi well Borough and across the river for Bishop's Caundle, carrying him well over eight roads and lakes, and getting up to him in the Caundle Woods. He then turned his head towards Phimley Wood, but was headed back for Caundle Wood again, by Ashcombe to Marsh Common and thence to Haydon, leaving Sherborne Park to the left and up to the Earths at Hanover Wood ; going through that Cover to Mllhorne Moor, lohere the Hounds began to run for him, hurrying him along the Vale to Purse Caundle, and over the enclosures to the top of Plumley Wood, lohei'e they ran into Mm and killed after a good hunting run of three hours and half.
Tuesday, March 13th.
Met at Redlynch Park Gate, and drew Cogley, blank, but found at Pink AVood, and after a pressing run of fifty minutes, killed him in the open road before he could reach the Park Covers
Friday, March 16th.
Met at Yarlington, where we found a brace of Foxes ; running into our first Fox in racing style in thirty-five minutes. The day being but little advanced, and not knowing where to find a second Fox without marring another day's sport, (so small and inconvenient is our little tract of Country !) Ave trotted the Hounds on to
Carried forward ....
21
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23
., ( 15 )
Broug-ht forward . . where a Fox had been seen stealing" away, thirty minutes before. By the time that we arrived, three quarters of an hour had elapsed, but after a little coaxing, the Hounds began to own him, and by dint of the most extraordinary cold hunting and stoop, they held him on to a dell near Redlynch Park, where they dropped their sterns and set at him in earnest! Running- by Holm Wood and close to the town of Wincanton, to Holton, Yarling-ton, and on to Wolston Coppice and over the Earths for Compton, where he went to ground, (after a fine run of one hour and ten minutes) in front
of the Castle ; all but in view
Tuesday, March 20th, 1827.
Met at West End Wood, (a very fine Cover of the Duke of Somerset's, adjoining Maiden Bradley Park.) Found a Fox of the year in very exhilarating and lively style, but our hopes were disappointed ! He hung Cover and would not leave the Earths ; and in fifteen minutes he was killed. Found a second in the lower Bradley Wood, and in thirty-five minutes got him throug'h those large Covers and Earthed him near the Tower. Found a third in Penny's Wood, adjoining Long-leat Park, the Hounds working" him in very g-ood style throug'h the whole range of these most extensive Covers, and away for Bradley Knoll ; and thence to Witham Fiary, where the Hounds got upon the stale scent of another Fox which had been seen to g"o away for Deverell Longwood three quarters of an hour before, we therefore stopped the Hounds at three o'clock on the Mere Downs; and
took them their eighteen miles home
Friday, March 23rd.
Met at Coombe Farm, near Sherborne; — drawing the Gorse at that place, and Compton, blank, with a drag, however, that told us he had been there. Went on to Tenant's Wood and finding a brace of Foxes, we
unluckily g-ot away with the Vixen and stopped
Carried forward ....
23
13
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25 I 15
l_il_)
Broiig'ht forward . • . . Tuesday, March 27th, 1827
Met at Henley Wood, near Bruton, and walked the Hounds on to Batcombe Wood, where we found imme- diately ; goin^ away close to his brush for Monk Wood
and thence to Asham Wood, where the Hounds ran him forty minutes and Earthed him under a rock. Ten couple of Hounds slipped down-wind with a second Fox, hunting him nearly to Mells Park, and thence to Wan- strow, pointing- for Orchardleigh Park, but as no one was there, they were stopped, though on good terms
and the Fox close before them
Friday, March 30th.
Met at Stalbridge Park ; — walking the Hounds on to Inwood, where they found in very good style, racing their Fox at the top of their speed towards Stalbridge Park; topping almost every wall in Henstridge in their way, turning down the fine Vale under the town and keeping their heads very straight along this very high- scenting ground till they came to Yeanston, crossing the road there and pointing towards the Temple Coombe Woods, from whence the Hounds fairly turned him, and ran into and killed him after a severe burst of forty- five minutes. We then drew the Temple Coombe Woods, blank, but found at Cherton Wood, and when on TcHling terms, stopped at the request of W. M. Dodington,
Esquire, to whom the Cover belonged
Tuesday, April 3rd.
Met at Cogley Wood and walked the Hounds on to Little Bitcombe Wood, where we found a fine dog Fox, and got away with him after fifteen minutes warm work in Cover, close at his heels, racing him to Grove Wood and King's Wood, and up to the Terrace Earths; but finding them stopped, he came back all hut in vieio, and unluckily got in ; the Earths under the Tower having, by some accident, been left open ! Found a
Carried forward ....
25
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( 17 )
Brong"ht forward
second at the Bradley Wood, and after two hours hard work for the Hounds, the scent g-etting- worse and worse, we stopped the Hounds late in the day and took them home ; twenty miles
Saturday, April 7th, 1827.
Met at King-weston Inn, and walked the Hounds
on to Coppley Wood, which we drew with a lively Drag- ;
and thence to Butleig-h Wood, near Glastonbury. In this Cover we found an immense dog- Fox immediately, hunting- him throug-h Coppley Wood (a Cover of 500
acres) without a turn, and away for the Somerton Woods ;
but the Hounds turned him from thence to Charlton Adam, and to the fine wide vale near King-ton, Avhere they raced him at their best pace to King-weston : (the seat of W, Dickinson, Esq., M. P.) forcing- him throng-h the back yard and under the Mansion House windows, and thence across the Park, where the Hounds ran into him, after a fine burst of forty-five minutes without a check
Thursday, April, 10th Did not hunt.
Friday, April 13th — Did not hunt.
Tuesday, April l7th.
Met at the Kennel, and tried for an out-lying- Fox, but did not find him
Friday, April 28th.
Met at Redlynch Gate and walked the Hounds on to Postlebury Wood, where we found a short-running- Vixen, with a bad scent, and stopped the Hounds ....
Thursday, April 24th.
Met at West EndWood and found a leash of Foxes at the Bradley Covers ; stuck to one merrily for two hours, and when dead beaten, and the Hounds in the same belt of firs icith him, we unluckily changed, and
stopped
Carried forward ....
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. ( 18 )
Broug-ht forward .... Saturday, April 28th, 1827.
Met at Pen Forest; finding- at Cockrode, and run-
nino- him very sharp throug-h that Cover and by Stavor- dale Wood to the Stourton Covers, where the Hounds slipped away from the Field, and when we found them, they were at fault upon a small bed of Earths, and
some were marking-. Thus closed the season
Total....
END OF THE FIRST SEASON.
j^::y= Hunted during the season 52 days.
Blank days 10
Found on ditto 42 days.
Killed and Earthed, 44 Foxes.
( 19 )
THE HUNTING JOURNAL
OF THE
BLACKMOOR VALE HOUNDS;
FOR 1827—1828.
Friday, Aiig-ust, 31st.
Met at Monk Wood, below Brulon, at half-past five A. M.; found a Utter in Norwood, adjoining" Asham Wood, at ten minutes after six ; and in two Jiours g"ood work. Allied a fine young- dog Fox
Wednesday, September 5tli.
Met at Copley W~ood, at a quarter before eight A M.; found a brace of Foxes, and after tivo hours and a quarter very g-ood and severe running" in Cover, killed a young dog Fox
Thursday, September, 13th.
Met at the Bradley Woods, but by accident the Earths Avere open, and as incessant and heavy rains had fallen for the three preceding days, the Foxes -vvere at Earth, and we drew the Covers, blank !
Monday, September I7th.
Met at Yarlington, — found an old Fox, ran him twenty-five minutes and stopped: went back and found a brace of Cubs lying together, ran one hour and fifteen minutes, and Allied under the Earths at Wolston Cop- pice
Saturday, September 22nd.
Found a very small Cub on Milborne Slaits and stopped the Pack, going (by desire) to Compton Wood, where we found a litter, and after two hours hard work
in a tremendous rain, zve killed,
Carried forward. • . .
M
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( go )
Brought forward. , . . Friday, September 28th, 1827.
Met at Monk Wood; found a Marten Cat, and
stopped. Drew Norwood and part of Asham Wood, but found the Cover disturbed by people nutting-
Friday, October, 2nd.
Found a brace of 3'oung Foxes at Fifehead Mag-dalene Coppice ; killing the first in thirty-five, and the second in thirty minutes, with sharp g-ood running ; drew on to Thornhill Coppice, where we found a littei', ten couple Earthing /AezV Fox in a drain atBagber, and fifteen couple running ^7(teo/(/ Fox to the Caundle Holt Covers, where they were stopped
Friday, October 5th.
Mf.t at Coombe Farm, found an old Fox imme- diately, and lost as quickly, owing to the wildness and unsportsmanlike riding of the Field! — Hit him again, however, after a very long check, and Earthed him at Holway; abundant leisure being afforded him to open the Earth at this mound of sand! Found a second Fox in the Brake above the Earth, and Earthed him in thirty minutes, and left him, the Hounds not wanting blood. "Went on (by DESiRE)^Ye miles, to Compton]AVood, finding an old dog Fox at four o'clock, and after a very sliai'p burst of forty-five minutes, killing him hand- somely
Tuesday, October 9th.
Met at Plumley Wood, and found a brace of Foxes immediately in a very heavy rain, running forty minutes in Cover with a very middling scent — but losing him when we got upon the fallows near Hanover "Wood. Went to the Caundle Holt Woods and found four Foxes, running and changing 'till half past twfl — Avhen the Hounds were ordered to be stopped; — and by a very WIDE and persevering cast, a single scent was hit off,
Carried forward. . . .
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i 21 )
Broug-ht forward. . . . and in forty minutes we ran an old Fox to a small Earth — bolting- and g-oing- aAvay at his brush throng-h the Holt Covers, by Ashcombe Wood and Haydon to Marsh Common, running into and killing him handsomely near Broke Wood, at five P. M. : havings ran six hours
in an incessant and heavy rain !
Friday, October 12th, 1827.
Found in Cog-ley Wood, near Bruton; ran our Fox
very sharply for thirty minutes, when he went to a drain in Redlynch Park: found a second in Pink Wood, and in a very severe burst of fifty minutes across the vale by Brewham, ran himto Earth, dead beat, at West End Wood
Monday, October loth.
Met at Yarlington, running over the whole of the adjoining- Country for one hour and thirty minutes. The Hounds having- been brorg-ht to a check at Blackford for thirty minutes, most of the Field went home, but by a long- and persevering cast we hit off the scent ag-ain, two miles at least doicn-wind , hunting- up to him in the vale near Redlynch Park, and after a severe and brilliant burst, killing, and running into him in view at Shepton Montag-ue
Friday, October 19th.
Met at Postlebury Wood, near the Earl of Cork's ; drew this Cover and the Bitcombe Woods, blank: went on to Batcombe Wood, and found that the Earths had only just been stopped — and therefore thoug-h Ave bad a lively Drag and could ball the Foxes, we drew the Cover, blank
Tuesday, October 23rd.
Met at West End AVood, in a perfect delug-e of rain : found a good flying Fox, but could not run him a yard.
Carried forward , , , .
t4
( 22 )
Friday, October 20th, 1B27. Broug-ht lor\vard. ..
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day at Inwood; — findin;>- immediately, and g'oing- away by Caundle Brake at a severe and pressing- rate to Stal- bridg-e AVeston, and over a corner of the Stalbridg-e Park to Thornliill Spire, chancjing at Thornhill Coppice, and running" our second Fox to a drain at Bag-ber: bolting" and running him one hour and thirty minutes,
and kiUinc) close to Thornhill House
Tucvsday, October 30th.
Found a brace of Foxes in Brewham Forest, and after two hours and a quarter's running' with a tolerably g-ood scent along* the Brewham Vale, and the Covers adjoining Stourton House, Earthed near the Keeper's
house there
Friday, November 2nd.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day at Stock House; — finding a brace of Foxes at Stock AVood, the Hounds (being' baffled at starting" by the Park Pales) breaking" Cover some distance behind their Fox, but g-etting" up to him at Caundle Wood, and going* on rather better terms to Marsh Common, where the Fox was thirty minutes before them, and the scent very bad Mith a white frost slowly going off. By exquisitely stooping and persevering, however, the Honnds hunted him on to Bishop's Down, and by Buckshaw House to Glcvnville's AVootton Common, where they be- gan to mend upon him, when they were unluckily hallooed to a fresh Fox that crept out of the plantation in Holwell Common, the Hounds going awa}^ at a pressing pace to Bishop's Caundle and to the Caundle Holts, where they were stopped at four, P. M., with
three fresh Foxes before them !
Tuesday, November 6th.
Met at Henley AA^ood; — drew that Cover, AA^ooUy
AA''ood, Creech Hill, and Cogley AA'ood, blank —
the Fox at Cogley having been disturbed by shooters.
Carried forward ....
10 1 6
( 23 )
Brought forward. . . . Friday, November 9tli, 1827.
Met at Cherton AVood; drawing that Cover, hlank,
but finding" at Compton Wood, and after a sharp racing- run round the hills killing in forty minutes. Found
again at Tenant's AVood, and ran our Fox one hour and thirty minutes, losing him late in the da^^, in a heavy storm near Blackford,
Tuesday, November 13th.
Met at West End Wood; — found a brace imme- diateW, running to King's Wood, where the Hounds again divided and the Fox was lost; but in Brewham Forest we foui\d again, or ^0/ again upon one of the hunted Foxes, but as the scent was very bad, and the Foxes could not be separated, we did nothing — and took the Hounds home.
Friday, November 16th.
Found at Stert Coppice near Thornhill; — running at the top of our speed to Bishop's Caundle Wood, and into the Caundle Holts, where we again had three or four fresh Foxes on foot, and by continued changing, did nothing
Tuesday, November 20th.
Drew Cogley AVood, near Bruton, blank: found at Yarlington, in an intense fog, after running the Covers in that neighbourhood for an hour and a half, the Fox made a sudden turn, and the Pack slipped away from the greater part of the Field, going by Elscombe Wood and Holbrook House, across the river Cale and along the Vale by the town of Wincanton, pointing for Cuckling- ton, but it being nearly dark, and the Hounds on very bad terms with their Fox, they were stopped at four o'clock, after three hour's Avork
10
-a 3
rt W
Carried forward .
11
( 24 )
Broiig-ht forward .... Friday, November 23rd, 1827.
Chopped a Fox at Holway Brake, g-oing away with a second for thirty-five minutes very sharp and quick ; but at our first check we lost a good deal of ground, and a cold rain setting in, we lost him in the fallows in
Sherborne Field
Tuesday, November 27th.
Found at Hicks's Park, under West End Wood, — running- our Fox one hour and five minutes, and when on killing terms, and the Fox dead beat and close before us, loe changed and stopped the Hounds
Friday, November 30th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Plum- ley Wood, and found at the Caundle Holts, running their Fox to Caundle AVood, where they pressed him nearly in view for twenty-five minutes ; but finding the Hounds in earnest, he went away by Ashcombe Wood and Marsh Common to Folke and North Wootten, the Hounds killing Mm handsomely, under Sherborne Park Wall in one hour and forty-five minutes
Tuesday, December 4th.
Drew Compton Wood, Sigwell Gorse, Tenant's Wood, and Cheriton Wood, blank; the Earths being negligently stopped
Friday, December 7th.
A very large Field met the Blackmoor Vale Hounds this day at Stock House, the Hounds finding a brace and half of Foxes in Stock Wood, after forty minutes sharp running in Cover, the Hounds went away at the top of their speed across the river Lyddon to Deadmoor, and on to Fifehead, and by Whitmoor to Belchalwal and Okeford Fitzpane, where they fairly turned him, forcing him up-wind lo Fiddleford, and through Fiddle's
Carried forward ....
11
( 25 )
Broug^ht forward .... Wood, (a Cover of 200 acres) without a turn, for the banks of the river Stour, by the side of which they raced him at a tremendous pace nearly to Sturminster bridge, where they dashed into the river in splendid style, carrying their Fox through the gardens of the town, and on for the fine and extensive enclosures at Manston; running into him in open vieto, after one of the finest runs of two hours and forty minutes ever seen in the County of Dorset ; having traversed nine several parishes in their progress, and covered a good eighteen miles of ground
Tuesday, December 11th, 1827.
Found a Fox at Innwood, and unluckily chopped immediately. Found a second at Martin's Coppice, and after a sharp burst of thirty-five minutes, ran him to a drain in the streets of Yeanston, in a barnyard occupied by Mr. Davis. Found a third at Temple Coombe Wood, running for fifty minutes at a very pressing pace to Charlton Horethorne and away for Milborne Slaits, where the Hounds got up to him, going away in view of him across the vale to Stowel, and into the Temple Coombe North Wood, where they changed to a brace of fresh Foxes and were stopped, when nearly dark"
Friday, December 14th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day in a tre- mendously heavy rain at Fifehead Magdalene, where they found in the Coppice immediately, going* away at his brush across the Vale for East and West Stour, and after a very brilliant run of one hour and five minutes, running him to Earth at Duncliffe Wood, when dead
beat, and only a few yards before them
Tuesday. December 18th.
We found this day at Holway Brake, and in a sharp and brilliant burst of thirty-five minutes, ran into our
Fox in view, killing near Sherborne Town
Carried forward. . . .
13
^
16
• ( 26 )
Broug"ht forward , IS
Friday, December 21st, 1827. 1
Found at Caundle Brake; gfoinsf away at bis brush i ^
for Purse Caundle, and Plumley Wood, breaking- Cover i '^ in the same field with him; g-oing- across the Yale to Hanover Wood, and along- Milborne Moor to Pin- ford, running into our Fox in open vieio by the piece of water in Sherborne Park, in a brilliant burst of fifty- five minutes without a check
Monday, December 24th.
Found at Elscorabe Wood, and after a brilliant run of one hour across the Yarlington vale, and throug'h | the Covers at Compton, the Pack ran up to their Fox ; 2LXt& killed hij7i on the Earth at Sig-wells. Found a second j at Yarling-ton, running- him for forty minutes at the top of i their speed when it was deemed prudent to stop the Hounds, the Horses being' most distressed after this very severe day, from the pace the Hounds had ran
Friday, December 28th.
Found at Penny's Wood near Long-leat, Avhere the Hounds worked their Fox for thirty minutes in Cover close at his brush; when finding- himself pressed, he entered the great Bradley Woods (about 000 acres) throug-h the whole of which the Hounds forced him at full speed nearly, carryings as fine a head at times as could well be seen, and g-etting- him away by Whitham Park for West End Wood, "where he unluckily forced himself into the main Earth (most neg-lig-ently stopped with a clofll) ichen the Hounds ivere killing him in most handsome style
Tuesday, January 1st, 1828.
Drew Cog-ley, blank, in a very heavy rain, and in consequence of the storm increasing , took the Pack home
at the request of the Field
Carried forward .... ' 18 i 9
iJlJ
Brong"ht forward .... Friday, January 4tli, 1828.
Found at Temple Coombe Wood, the frost being"
hardly out of the ground ; the Hounds however working
their Fox In verv good style indeed by Stowel and
Cheriton to Blad^ford and vnder Elscombe ^^ ood, to
Home Wood near AVincanton, where they killed him
handsomeh' in 1 hour and 50 minutes. Found a second
late in tlie day at Tenant's AVood, running him for fortj-
five minutes, and losing him near AA olston. in the cross
road at that place, in a very heavy storm of rain and hail
Tuesday, January 8th.
Drew Fifehead Coppice, Hinton Coppice, and Start Coppice, blank
Friday, January llth Frost.
Tuesday, January 15th.
Found a gallant Fox at Monk Wood; — going away close at his brush at a clipping pace across the Somer- setshire deep vale by Batcombe to Creech Hill, and on to Evercreech and Ansford, where the Fox was dead beat, the foot people coursing him round a rick yard;
BUT THE RIVER BRUE BEING EXCEEDINGLY
SWOLN BY THE FLOOD, the Houuds and Horses were oblio^ed to go three miles round to a bridge, and as snow and sleet were falling in abundance, they could merely mark his line towards Hadspen, and lost him after a run of three hours over fifteen or sixteen miles of Country,
as the crow flies
Friday, January 18th.
Found at Inwood; getting away immediately, close
to our Fox by Caundle Brake, and along the Milborne Moor at a racing pace for Lord Digby's Park; where the Hounds were all hut in vieic of him, and where they lost him in an unaccountable manner; it being since ascertained that he swam the large sheet of water,
and laid down on the Island I
Carried forward. . . .
18
u
si
19
( 28 )
Brought forward .... Tuesday, January 22nd, 1828.
Found at Hicks 's Park, under "West End Wood, near Brewham, and after a sharp and brilliant run of one hour and five minutes, with scarcely a check, the Hounds ran into and killed him under the windows of Brewham Lodge. It being early in the day, the Hounds were walked on toKilmington Common, where they found a second immediately) going away at his brush to West End Wood, and over the Earths to Grove Wood, Kings Wood, and Brewham Forest, trying the Earths at New Park, and away for the grounds near Stourton House — and through them for Norwood, and the open Country towards the Mere Downs, making Knoll Wood, and half way up the hill, where the Hounds fairly turned him, and ran into him in very handsome style, after a run over every variety of country of three hours and fifteen minutes : walking their twenty miles home with every stern an end ! ,
Friday, January 25th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day at Stock House, where, as usual, a very numerous Field was assembled. The Hounds were walked on to a favourite Cover of Mr. Yeatman's, in the Vale, called Rooksmoor, where a brace of Foxes were found imme- diately, both of them going before the Pack to Dead- moor, and across the open Commons to Fifehead and on to Plumber Coppice, and over Sturminster Common to Fiddle's Wood, where the Hounds, which had crossed and changed from the line of one Fox to the other, settled themselves closely to the dog Fox! going away, all but in view of him, across the Vale to Connygar AVood, and from thence across the enclosures to the village of Shillingston, and up the steepest part of the hill at that place at a tremendous pace, carrying as fine a head as was ever seen on the most level piece of
Carried forward ....
19
21
( 29 )
Broug'ht forward .... ground, racing' him at the top of their speed to Dur- weston Common, and on to Filgrove, through which they forced him without a turn, running- into him in splendid style on Stickland Commou, after a run of two hours and thirty minutes without a check, over at least seventeen miles of ground, to the admiratiou of the whole Fi eld : of those at least tvlio witnessed the conclusion of the run / ,
Tuesday, January 29th, 1828.
Found at Coombe Wood; — going away across the Vale, at a pressing pace for Charlton Horethorne, and along the Vale by Stowel for Henstridge Bowden, running him in a burst of fifty minutes into a cyder cellar, where he was killed
Friday, February 1st.
AVe met on this day at the Caundle Holt Covers;
finding at Plumley Wood, and where, after one hour and five minutes, principally in Cover, the Hounds got up to their Fox, and killed. Found a second in the Caundle Holts, and after a very sharp hurst of fifty minutes, killed a very stout dog Fox in New Lease Coppice
Tuesday, February 5.
Fou^D at Cheriton Wood, and after a ringing run of one hour, the Hounds ran their Fox to a stone quarry on Charlton Hill, dead beat. Having heard of another that crossed the hill about half an hour before, the Hounds were laid on, and by dint of great perseve- rance on the part of the Hounds, they got up to him at Charlton Wood, going away by North Cheriton to Blackford, and up the hill to Elscombe Wood, which he skirted, making his point for Wadham's Down and on to Bratton, and Shepton Montague, and across the Vale nearly to Redly nch Park, and by Roundhill House
Carried forward ....
21
-a
0)
a H
25
( 30 )
Broug-lit forward. . . .
to Chnrlton ^lungrove, pointing- for Pen Forest, the Hounds running- into him hefore he reached it in open view, after a brilliant run of one hour and thirty minutes as direct as the crow flies, with scarcely a sing-le turn.
Friday, Feb.uary 8th, 1828.
Met at Nether Compton, where we laid the Hounds upon the line of a Fox that had crossed the road towards Bradford thirty viinutes before we came : working- him in a very superior style by Wyke Park, to Potter's Lease, and over the river to Clifton Wood, where the Hounds got up to him, g-oiug away without dwelling' a moment, close at his brush towards Coker Wood, from whence the Hounds fairly turned him, making- his point for Closworth and across the Vale to Yetminster, and on to Whitfield Wood, and throug-h it without a turn for Knighton Common, and up the hill to Lewiston Wood, running- him in view into one of the building-s adjoining the house and JcUling him (a very old dog- Fox) after a brilliant run of two hours and thirty minutes, over the finest part of the County of Dorset: having measured out a good fifteen miles of ground.
Tuesday, February 12th. Friday, February loth.
-Frost.
Found at Caundle Brake; — g-oing- away to Plumley Wood, and the Holts, where the Hounds changed; after getting- the Hounds tog-ether, we made the best of our way with a very catching- bad scent, to Marsh Common, and thence to Broke Wood and Butterwick, and away for Glanville's Wootton and into the Grange Woods, where the Hounds changed again and were
stopped, late in the afternoon, after a very hard day
and a run covering at least twelve or fourteen miles of ground
Carried forward ....
25 9
27 I 10
( 31 )
Tuesday, February 19th, 1828. Brought forward . .. Met at Redlynch gate, and found at Cogley Wood; — running' him in Cover about fifteen minutes, and going away to Redlynch Park, where the Hounds got upon the heel of another scent and lost. Found a second at Pink Wood, going away with a very middling scent to Henley AVood, and across the enclosures to the town-end of Bruton, where he was coursed by a cnr
and lost '•
Friday, February 22nd.
Met at Cadbury House; drew Cadbury Castle,
Compton Wood, Yarlington, Lilly Wood, Elscombe Wood, and Milborne Slaits, blank, owing to the neg-
li gence of the Earth stoppers
Tuesday, February 26th.
Met at West End Wood; getting upon the walking
scent of a most gallant Fox, going away after him to Brewham Common, and Pink Wood, and away to Postlebury Wood, (a Cover of two hundred acres) and across the corner of it without getting upon any better terms, and without his waiting a moment, though we had covered twelve miles of ground up to this point : crossing the road by Wanstrow and pointing for Marston Vale. x\t this part of the Chace, having ascertained the point he had in view, we took the Hounds on, at a hand gallop about four miles, and hit him short into the great Bradley Wood, where they got up to him; running through these Covers to Horning- sham, and over the hill to Bradley Park, trying every Earth as he passed, and on to the Wiltshire Downs, leaving Longleat to the left, and away to Bidcombe, and through the Cover there for the Earth on the open down near Hill Deverell, (within three or four miles of Hindon,) which he unluckily found open, after a run of three hours and thirty-five minutes,
over at least twenty-four miles of ground
Carried forward ....
27 10
«
^
]
TT
( 33 )
Broug-ht forward .... Friday, February 29th, 1828.
Met at Henstridj^e Bowden, and found our Fox immediately in the Temple Coombe Woods, g^oing- away at a pressing* pace to Henstridge Bowden, and across the Vale to East Hill, leaving- Milborne Port a little to the left, and away for Milborne Wick, and along- the Pointington Ridge, running their Fox in view along the terrace, and killing him in forty-five minutes without a check
Tuesday, March 4th.
Met at Plumley Wood, and found immediately in the Caundle Holts — and after three hours and twenty five minutes very good hunting, in a very bad- scenting day, working our Fox through Plumley Wood, Frith Wood, Caundle Brake, Hanover Wood, and Haydon Coppice, by Ashcombe Wood, to Caundle Wood, the Hounds got up to him, forcing- him at a rattling pace across the enclosures to Stourtcn Caundle, and away for New Lease Coppice, killing him hand- somely in Plumley Wood
Saturday, March 8th.
Met at Monk Wood, in a very heavy fog: — finding immediately, and going away for Batcombe Wood, but the fog' increasing in density, we stopped the Hounds and took them home
Tuesday, March 11th.
Met at Pen Forest; — drawing the whole of the Covers there, and West End Wood, blank — the Earth having been by accident put to, only late that morning!
Friday, March 14th,
Found at Holway Brake, near Pointington; — going
away close at the brush of a fine dog Fox, and killing
him handsomely in forty minutes with scarcely a moment's
check, near Sherborne
Carried forward. . . .
(_33_)__
Brought forward , . Tuesday March l8th, 1828.
FuoND a dog Fox at Sparkford Wood, running- him across the vale to North Barrow, and nearly to Camel, killing him in a burst of thirty minutes. Found a second late in the afternoon at Cherton Wood and after a sharp burst towards the Temple Coombe Woods, stopped the Hounds for fear of doing mischief.
Friday, March 21st.
Met at Cogley Wood ; — drawing that Cover and Pink Wood, blank, but finding in Woolley Wood, below Bruton, and in a very beautiful burst of fifty-five minutes running our Fox to a drain in Redlynch Park.
Tuesday, March 25th.
Met at Batcombe Wood ; — drawing that Cover, Monk Wood, Asham Wood, and Postlebury Wood, blank; finding late in the day at Bitcombe Higher Wood, and after a very good run of two hours and five minutes, stopping the Hounds, and taking them their eighteen miles h.ovi\e,from loant of day light
Friday, March 28th.
Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Horsemen met the Blackmoor Vale Hounds this day, at Stock House; — finding immediately, and after a brilliant burst of forty minutes, killing our Fox in very superior style in the open, before he could reach the Caundle Holt Covers. Found a vixen Fox at Hanover; ran her about hour, when the Hounds were stopped late in the day, and taken home
Tuesday, April 1st Did not hunt
Friday, April 4th Did not hunt
Tuesday, April 8th.
Met at the Warren Hill, near Hinton St, George
Found the Earths open, and lost the day in a most un- satisfactory and unhoped-for manner !
Carried forward. .. .
30
W
11
c6
32
12
( 34 )
Broug-ht forward. . . . Saturday, April 12th, 1828.
Found a Vixen in the Bradlej Wood, which the Hounds ran for a considerable time, but reluctantly, as usual in those cases ; — when we crosed the line of the dog- Fox, thirty minutes behind him — huntings him on by Bradley, to the Mere DoAvns, where we were beaten
out of scent, and took the Hounds home
Friday, April 18th.
Drew Creech hill, Woolley Wood, Henley Wood, Pink Wood, and Hicks's Park, blank, in a very wet day.
Tuesday, April 22nd.
Met at the Half-way House; — found a crippled Fox and killed immediately. Drew on to Gorton Wood; found and chopped another, in a most unfortunate manner. Found a third at Sparkford Wood, and after a sharp burst of thirty minutes, stopped the Hounds by desire, it being* a Vixen, and heavy
Tesday, April 29th.
Met at the Bradley Woods; — finding a crippled dog Fox and killing immediately ; getting at the same moment on the line of another, and after two hours good work, principally in Cover, killing our Fox, and finishing the season to the satisfaction of all present. . .
Total....
32
12
3(j
12
END OF THE SECOND SEASON.
^^Hunted during the season 61 days.
Blank days 10
Found on 51 days.
Killed and Earthed, 48 Foxes
( 35 )
THE
HUNTING JOURNAL
OF THE
BLACKMOOR VALE HOUNDS;
FOR 1828—1829.
Tuesday, Aug-ust, 26th, 1828.
Tee Blackmoor Vale Hounds met at Creech Hill
on this morning- at seven o'clock; — found a fine litter
of Foxes, and after three hours steady and g-ood work,
killed one
Saturday, Aug-ust 30th.
Found a brace at Monk Wood at six A. M., (the litter having been taken, as well as at Bitcombe Wood, which we tried also) and after a sharp rattle in Cover,
ran our Fox to Earth, bolted in view and killed
Wednesday, September 3rd.
Met at Nether Compton at eig-ht A. M, where we
found a fine litter, and after some very g-ood running",
we g-ot one to a drain. An old Fox was so dead beat,
that he was caug-ht hy some labourers at Wyke Farm,
and broug-ht back to us: we turned him quietly into
the Cover where he was found, and killed.
Tuesday, September 9th.
Met at the Bradley Woods, at eight A. M ; found
a brace of Foxes in the great Wood; gfoing" away with
an old Fox to Marston Forest, and nearly to Lord Cork's,
from whence the Pack fairly turned him, and after a
severe burst of 40 minutes ran into him at Long-leat and
killed. Ran a second one hour and half and stopped,
late in the day, with twenty miles home
Carried forward ....
^
OS
( 36 )
Broug-lit forward. ■ . . Saturday, September 13th, 1828.
Met at Yarling-ton at eight o'clock ; — found a very fine litter, and after three hours and a quarter very g-ood running-, over a great deal of ground, we killed a sin- gle Fox
Friday, September 19th.
Met at Holway Brake at eight o'clock; — found a litter of eight Foxes, and after a sharp burst of thirty minutes with the old Fox, we stopped the Hounds at Coombe Farm, the Earths being open at Nether Compton, As these Foxes had done a great deal of mis- chief at Sandford, we came back and killed a brace of Cubs in one hour ; and after the Hounds had been taken aicay, and were got into the road leading to Pointington, they unluckily chopped another lying under the wall hy the road side
Tuesday, September 23rd.
Met at Creech Hill; — found a leash of Foxes in Milton Wood, and after a sharp run under a burning sun, we ran our Fox to a stone quarry and left him. Ran a second some time, and lost him amongst the out- buildings of the farm house under the hill
Friday, September 26th.
Met at Compton Castle at nine o'clock ; — finding a fine litter immediately, and after nearly two hours good work in Cover, getting away with the old dog Fox, and in a beautiful burst of thirty minutes by Sigwells, and round the hills leading to Gorton, run- ning into him in open view on the Charlton Downs . . .
Thursday, October 2nd.
, Found a brace of old Foxes in West End Wood fthis being the third litter already taken and sold !) and after one hour's very sharp work, we Earthed the Fox
Carried forward. . . .
«
( 37 )
Broiig-ht forward . .
all but in view under Sir R. Hoare's Tower, the Earth having- been left open ! Drew Gruve Wood, and Hicks 's
Park, but did not find a second.
Tuesday, October 7th, 1828.
Met at Sparkford Wood; — drew that Cover and the Yarling-ton Covers, blank; the Utter at Yarlin;>-ton, not having- been, (by mistake,) stopped out !
Friday, October 10th.
Found three or four old Foxes at Plumley Wood, and after two hours and a quarter, we ran into an old dog Fox and killed
Tuesday, October 14th.
Gave the Foxes a little respite, having' killed five brace and Earthed a brace and half more up to this day
Friday, October 17th.
Found an old Fox in Cogley Wood, and after a very g-ood run of forty-five minutes, round the whole of Redlynch Park, we killed behind the Mansion House. Hearing that four more had been seen in different direc- tions, we laid the Hounds upon one that had been hal- looed/ir///" ore 1iou7' before^ by dint of great stoop and perseverance, the Pack worked his line up to a drain near Moor Wood ; bolted him, and in one hour and fifteen minutes we X;?7/efi^ in Cog-ley Wood, in superior style
Tuesday, October 21st.
A large Field met us at Tnwood, where we found a litter, and after running an hour in Cover, we laid on to a Fox that had stolen away towards Yeanston ; the Hounds running- him most beautifully along- that fine vale for a mile or two, and on to Temple Coombe Wood, g-oing away for Charlton Wood, and after a good run of two hours and ten minutes killing at Charlton
Carried forward ....
9
5
■«-►
13
13
W
( 38 )
Brought forward .... Friday, October 24th, 1828.
Met at Compton Castle, where a large Field met Hs at Mr. Hunt's gates ; A-illing a young Fox in Cover
in fifteen minutes, and clapping on to an old Fox, which, after thirty minutes running, with a bad scent, we lost, getting upon the heel of another
Tuesday, October 28th.
Found a brace in the great Bradley "Wood, one of which we Earthed in thirty minutes. Walked after the other Fox, but owing to the very indifferent scent, we could never hunt up to him
Friday, October 31st.
Rather more than one hundred horse met us at Stock House. The Hounds found a fine litter of Foxes in the Covers there ; and after running in Cover one hour very sharp, close to the brush of a Cub, (which we whipped off {rom,) we got away twenty minutes be- hind an old Fox, which we ran to Lord Digby's Park Wall, where we stopped iheWoMuds, the Earths being open: Ave then walked the Hounds on to Caundle Brake, and found a leash of Foxes presently, and after a pretty hunting run without any scent, we stopped the Hounds at four P. M., just above Ashcombe Wood, with three Foxes on foot
Tuesday, November 4th.
Met at Postlebury AVood, below Bruton ; drew
tliat Cover and Bitcombe, and Monk Wood, (two litters having been taken and sold here) and some small Covers, 'till half past two o'clock, blank
Friday, November 7th.
ForxD alitter of Foxes in Tenant's Wood, near Charlton, and after a good run of one hour and ten minutes, by Charlton Hill to Temple Coombe Wood
Carried forward. .. . 14
-a
•♦.» 08 f4
( 39 )
Broug-ht forward ....
and back, we killed an old dog' Fox. Laid the Hounds on to another that had been seen three quarters of an hour before : hit him into Charlton Wood, and got up to him in Cherton Wood, and after a pretty hunting run to Temple Coombe Wood, we changed again, and stopped at half past two P. M
Tuesday. November llth, 1823.
31et at Ashington Wood, near Mudford; — drew that Cover, Xet':er Compton. and Holway Brake, blank; the Harriers baring disturbed the Foxes at Holway, and near it the day before
Friday, Xovember 14th.
Met at Pen Forest; found a brace of Foxes in
Ccckroad Wood, and after a run of two hours round the Stourton Covers, we lost our Fox in a very heavy rain and high wind
Tuesday, Xovember 18th.
Met at Compton Pauncefoot, but found the Earths had been opened ; — found a Fox at Temple Coombe ^\ ood at fico o'clock, ran him at a killing pace to Caundle Brake, where we changed: and after running the fresh Fox to Frith Wood, and to Henstridge, stop- ped the Hounds in Stalbridge Park twenty minutes before five P. ^I., — nearly dark, making for the Park ^^ ood, where we were sure to chana-e to a litter
Friday, November 21st.
3Iet at Plumley Wood, where a very large Field were present. Drew the Caundle Holt Covers and found five Foxes immediately: gettinof awav with a dosr Fox to Caundle Holt, to Woodrow, and Rowden Mill, across the river to the lower Plantation and for Stock Wood, where we headed him, (so as to prevent the Cover from
Carried forward ....
14
4
-3
^
H
15
L^oj
Broug-ht forward ....
being disturbed) forcing- liim away for the Caundle river, and over it to Stourton Caundle parish, where the Hounds turned him for Wall Bridg-e and over thebridg-e for the enclosures under Thornhill House, where the Hounds ran into him, killing iiim in the river, after a severe run of one hour and thirty-five minutes.
Tuesday, November 25th, 1828.
Met at Creech Hill; — drawing- that Cover, Woolley Wood, and Henley Wood, blank; g-etting- a lively drag' at Pink Wood, and finding- a brace at a quarter before two P. M., at Cog-ley Wood: after running half an hour in Cover, we forced him on to Henley Wood, and to the corner of Woolley Wood, where he was turned by a boy ; — the Hounds getting- up to him and killing under the villag-e of Batcorabe, after a run of one hour and forty-five minutes
Friday, November 28th.
Met at Milborne Slaits; — found and ran to Earth at the Wheat Sheaf Earths in thirty minutes. Found a second and killed in twenty minutes. Found a third at Holway, and killed in thirty minutes near Sher- borne, without any running-
Tuesday, December 2nd Did not hunt
Thursday, December 5th Did not hunt
Tuesday, December 9th.
Met at Horwood Well at twelve o'clock, on account of the frost. Found a Fox- in Stavordale Wood, ran him very sharp round the Stourton Woodlands for forty minutes, when a heavy sleet and rain set in : we hunted him however most beautifully for four Jiours and a quarter, when we stopped the Hounds on their
entering- Pen Forest, as it was getting dark
Carried forward ....
19
( 4L )
Carried forward .... Thursday, December I2tli, 1828.
Met at Cattle Hill Gate ; — found a Fox twenty mi- nutes after 11, in Lilly Wood, but he was headed back into the Honnds' mouths at Bratton, and killed. Found a second in Holm Wood, near Holbrook House, g"oing- away at a tremendous pace for Redlynch Park, and away for Shepton Montag-ue and Hadspen, where we had a check, but hit him off over the wall, and killed in vieio near Pitcombe, after a very severe and fine run of one hour and twenty minutes
Tuesday, December 16th.
Met on this day at Tenant's Wood; — found a brace of Foxes in Cherton Wood, and after a g-ood hunting- run of one hour in a driving- rain, lost the Fox on the Charlton Hill near Temple Coombe Wood : made a persevering and wide cast on the foil ; recovering in Cherton Lower Wood, and in a sharp burst of twenty- Jive minutes killed in the parish of Charlton
Friday, December 19tli,
A very large Field met us at Caundle Brake ; — found a brace of Foxes g-oing away in about thirty minutes to Frith Wood, where we crossed a staler scent, and hunted him sloivly to the Caundle Holts and lost. Went back and found a brace and half of Foxes in Stal- bridge Park; cliopped one unluckily, and went away in a VERY HEAVY RAIN Avith another over the wall to the vale below the town, stoppings the Hounds when nearly dark, almost upon the banks of the Stour, most of the horsemen being- tired and gone home, though the Hounds were upon killing terms •
Tuesday, December 23rd.
Met at West End Wood, near Stourton, where we found a brace of Foxes in Hicks's Park; — going- away
Carried forward....
7
19
W
(S5
23
(_42^)
Broug-ht forward ....
at the top of their speed, the Pack raced him to West End Wood and over the Earths to the Tower, and down the vale towards Wanstrow, running- into a fine dog- Fox IN OPEN VIEW in the centre of Whitham Park, before he conhl reach the Bradley Woods, in fifty m inutes
Friday, December 26th, 1828.
Upwards of one hundred horse met us at Compton Lodcre g-ate, near Yeovil; — drew from thence to Comp- ton Pauncefoot, blank, from ten till a quarter past two P. M., beings our fourth blank day
Tuesday, December 30th.
A large Field met us at Inwood, where the Hounds unluckily chopped a Fox in his kennel. Finding a second immediately, and after a g-ood hunting run of two hours and thirty-five minutes, kiUlng in Caundle Brake
Friday, January 2nd, 1829.
Met at Stock House, upwards of one hundred horse accompanying- us to Rooksmoor, where we found a brace of Foxes immediately; — g"oing- away at the brush of one over the river by Ramsbury to Holwell, and over the river at Woodbridge to Bishop's Caundle, crossing- the river by Holwell Church for Buckshaw, and over the Holwell Commons to the enclosures at Pulham, where the Hounds ran into their Fox in view, after a very good run of one hour and five minutes
Friday, January 6th,
At Zeals Green ; — Frost and no hunting-
Friday, January 9th.
Met at Plumley Wood ; — found a brace of Foxes in the Caundle Holt Covers, and afterarer^ severe burst
Carried forward ....
23
W
5
27
( 43 )
Brought forward. .
of twenty minutes ran into a very larg-e and old dog* Fox, killing in the enclosures near Marsh Common. Found again a brace and half of Foxes in Plumley Wood; going away with one to Frith Wood, and to Stalbridge Park, and on to Stalbridge Weston, and thence through Plumley to the Holts and on to Caundle Wood, where we got upon another Fox, which we ran to Marsh Common, and thence at a killing pace to the Holts, and to a fallow close to Plumley, where we had a check, and stopped the Hounds, when nearly dark, TEN MINUTES BEFORE FIVE, after a wer^^ooc? run of two hours and forty minutes
Monday, January 12th. At Holway ; — Frost
Friday, January 16th.
Drew Yarlington, Elscombe Wood, &.c., blank...
Tuesday, January 20th. Stourton Inn ; — Frost
Friday, January 23rd. Cherton Wood ; — Frost
Tuesday, January 27th.
Found a brace of Foxes at Bradley Wood ;_ran two hours and tvventy minutes very brilliantly in Cover, changing from one to the other ; getting away at length for Knowl Wood, and pointing for the Wiltshire Downs, ■where we were obliged to stop the Hounds, as the Frost was not out of the ground, and the liorses could not, really, stand, when upon the down
Friday, January 30th.
Met at Stock Wood, and alter trying Rooksmoor (leaving our Fox in a small Plantation near the Green Man) we found in Stock Wood, and after a brilliant burst of thirty-five minutes, Earthed him at Hanover Wood, close to Lord Digby 's Park
Tuesday, February 3rd. Stourton Inn ; — Frost
Brought forward. . . .
27
M
J3
as
28
. ( 44 )
Broug^ht forward. . • . Friday, February 6th, 1829.
Met at Stalbridge Park ; found a brace and half
of Foxes at luwood, and after a superior run of one hour and forty minutes, by Temple Coombe Wood, Henstridge Bowden, Caundle Brake, Plumley Wood, and Hadspen, ice got up to him in Goathill, adjoin- ing Lord Dig-by 's Park, and when the Hounds were killing him, he went to an Earth that had been left open at Mews Hill, and saved himself, when a few yards only before the Pack
Tuesday, January 10th.
Met at Monk Wood, near Mendip, where we found a brace, and in thirty-two minutes killed in Asham Wood. The Hounds were hallooed on to a second, which went away towards Mells Park, and across the corner of Mendip, Avhen heing pressed, he turned and went to a rock in Asham Wood in fifty minutes
Friday, January 13th.
Met at Nether Compton ; — heard of a Fox that had g-ot away from the Earths, but could not find him. As we were g'oing- to Hoi way Brake, heard of a Fox that had been seen at Sandford twenty minutes before ; the Hounds hunted him very beautifully across to the Trent Earths, and away for Rimpton Hollow, where they got up to him and as he had been worried by a sheep dog in the morning, they ran into him in view before he could reach the Compton Earths, in a very severe burst of eighteen minutes
Tuesday, February 17th.
Met at Cogley Wood, and found a brace of Foxes immediately ; — after a ring or two in that fine Cover, the Fox being headed, he made a point for Godmanstone Coppice, and behind the Mansion in Redlynch Park for Moor Wood, and away for Round Hill, and thence
Carried forward. . . .
28
W
0
-3
30
C 45 )
Brought forward ....
almost to Bratton, but being* headed, he made his way across the vale to Redlynch Park, where the Hounds g"ot up to him and Earthed him in a drain in the Park Wood, in one hour and thirty minutes, very good run- ning", from V, hence we bolted him
Saturday, February 21st, 1829.
Met at Stourton Inn ; drawing Deverell Long- wood, blank, but finding in Bradley Wood ; the Hounds going away to Horsingsham Hill, where they divided with a brace of Foxes, about five couple racing their Fox to Longleat and across the Park to the Covers near Marston, Avhere the Pack were got together, and after working him in good style for one hour and ten minutes, they ran into and killed him in Penny's Wood
Tuesday, February 24th,
Met at Pen Forest ; finding a brace of Foxes im- mediately, and after two hours good work, (the first fifty minutes close at his brush) through the Stourton Covers, we ran him to the village of Penselwood, and lost (and no doubt left) him somewhere among the houses ,
Friday, February 27th.
Met at Cherton Wood ; — finding immediately, and going away close at his brush for Temple Coombe Wood, and thence to Inwood, where he waited a little, and then made his way to Caundle Brake, and to Frith AVood, under Stalbridge Park, where the Hounds ran into and killed after a severe run of one hour and forty minutes.
Tuesday, March 3rd.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Bit- combe Wood, near Frome. The Hounds were thrown in to Cover at eleven o'clock, and in fifteen minutes precisely after that time, a fine Fox was hallooed away,
Carried forward ....
30
W
8
33
( 46 )
Brong-ht forward . .
with the Hounds pretty close at his brush, pointing' for Lower Bitcombe Wood, from whence he was headed, making- his way for Postlebury Wood, (a fine Cover belonging to the Earl of Cork, of about 200 acres,) which he merely skirted, however, g'oing- across the vale for Wanstrow, and thence over the common, at the top of the speed of these staunch Hounds, for Witham Friary, and across Witham Park for West End Wood, (a fine rang-e of Cover of the Duke of Somerset of about 200 acres;) but finding the Earths well stopped, he went through it, ^Yithout a turn, for Yarnfield Common, where the wind being rather too much in his teeth he made for Sir Richard Hoare's extensive Covers, for King's AVood, and over the Earths at Alfred's Tower, and along the Terrace at this magnificent spot for Brewhara Wood, across the corner of which he directed his way, at his best pace, for Xew Park AVood and Ccckroad, leaving Stavordale Wood to the right, and thence for the depths of Pen Forest, the glades of which he threaded direct for Leigh Common, leaving the town of Wincanton a little to the right, and on to Stoke Trister, and under Cucklington Hill, for the fine vale which there opens upon the view, by Horwood Well to Rodgrove, and away for the River Cale, through which these gallant Hounds dashed in splendid style, evidently showing-, however, by the relaxation of their speed, and occasional checks, that their Fox was getting a g-ood way a head of them. The stoop and perseverance of these Hounds, at this period of the chase, was much and deservedly admired; and across Horsing-ton Marshes they showed their determination to get up to him if possible, carrying as fine a head as at any part of the previous run, working him through the orchards and farm-yards of the parish of Horsington, where they hunted up to him in a piece of wheat adjoining the Vale i
Carried forward .... I
33
-a
«
33 8
47
Brought forward . ■ . . 33 8
of Blackmoor Turnpike Road, runninsfhiin in view across' _ the grounds of ^V. M. Dodington, Esquire, and JciUing , ^^ him in superior style, after a run (unsurpassed in the | W opinion of the oldest sportsman present) of three honrs and forty minutes, over at least twenty-five miles of ground
Friday, March 6th, 1829.
A very lai^e Field met at Stock House: after
drawing Rooksmoor, blank, the Hounds found a Vixen in Stock Wood, from which thev were stopped. They then found a brace of Foxes in Thornhill Coppice, going away all but in view with the dog Fox in front of Thornhill House, and by the obelisk across Stal- bridge Weston Common to Xew Lease Coppice, and away through the Caundle Holts to Caundle Wood, and thence by Marsh Coppice to the enclosures and orchards under Bishop's Caundle; in the roads of which village he WAS COURSED by acur dog; after a Ions' check, however, the Hounds hit him on again for the river at Woodbridge. and for the Plantations and Park at Stock House, for Stock Wood, and through it for LyJlinch Common, where the Hounds hunted him into an orchard adjoininor a cottage : beyond which spot they could not mark his line and lost him accordingly. ...
Tuesday, March 10th.
Found at Hicks's Park, near Brewham Common ; — running one hour and forty minutes round the Stourton Country and killed
Friday. March ISth.
Drew Thornhill Coppice. Stalbridge Park, and In- wood, blank. ^^ hen on our way to the Coombe ^^ oods, we were hallooed to a Foxs — cent half an hour old; hunt- ed him, however, fifty-five minutes by Toomer, Frith
Carried forward .... 35
( -tg )
Brousfht forward .... Wood, and throug-h Plnmley Wood pointing- for the Earths at Sherborne Park, but the Fox being- a lono; while a head of us, and the snow which had fallen in the morning, being still in patches on the surface of the gfround, we came to a stand-still, and took the Hounds
home
Tuesday, March 17th, 1829.
FouXD in Cog"ley Wood ; — ran our Fox forty-five minutes to Redlynch Park, where we Earthed and kill- ed. Found a second, which we ran one hour and a quarter, but the Fox being coursed by a dog-, we lost in the fallows near Hadspen
Friday, March 20th.
Drew Milborne Slaits, Temple Coombe Wood, Cherton Wood, and Tenant's Wood, blank. Found at Hicknell Furze at Compton, and chopped. Found a second at Holway, and after a sharp run of one hour and ten minutes, ran him to Earth at Xether Compton.
Tuesday, March 24th.
Drew Sparkford Wood, Annis Hills, Yarlington, and Elseombe Wood, blank
Saturday, March 28th.
Found a brace of Foxes at Bidcombe, on the down above Long-leat ; — the Hounds dividing, we g-ot them together, and by a very forsvard cast, hit our Fox over the Earths at Penny's Wood, running* throug-h Bradley Wood and over the hill to Horsing-sham, and across Long-- leat Park to the Frome Woodlands, where w^e had a brace of Foxes before us, but after incessant running" from a quarter before tivehe 'till six P. M.^ we killed in superior style at six precisely, only ten in at the death, out of a large Field. The Hounds had twenty miles home, which they reached, fresh and well at half past
ten at night
Carried forward. . . .
38
( 49 )
Carried forward .... Tuesday, March 31st, 1829.
Drew Bitcombe, Postlebury, and 3Ionk Wood, and Bitcombe Wood, blank, — when we were hallooed to a Fox that had been seen sinking- the wind and slip- ping' from us half an hour before : the Hounds hunted him about a mile and lost him in a farm-yard, where it has been since learnt, that he went into a drain
Saturday. April 4th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Xether Compton Lodge Gate ; — drew Potter's Lease, blank, and were turning to ^^ yke Furze, when we were hallooed across the river to Clift AA ood, where the Hounds g'ot up to a Fox in a few minutes and pressed him severely for half an hour : it being' discovered, however, that the Hounds had been treacherously hallooed across
the river to Mr. Farquharson's Country. thev were
immediate!// stopped. Found a second Fox at Coombe Farm, but the rain coming- down in torrcJits, the Fox was lost, and the Hounds walked home ; the day having' been completely thrown away I
Wednesday, April 8th.
Drew Coppley ^^ ood, near King-weston: — ran our Fox across to the vale near Soraertou, but lost him in the fallows near the town, after fifty-five minutes running' with an execrable scent : the Fox, also, having- been evidently coursed by a sheep dog'
Saturday, April 11th.
Found at Cockroad, near Pen Forest, and in a brilliant burst of forty minutes. X.v7/if/ a slapping^ dog Fox. Found a second in West End Wood, and after a capital run of one hour and ten minutes through Brewham Forest, by Gasper Common to Stourtou, we k illed another verj" old dog Fox near Stourton House,
after the finest daj's sport ever seen at Stourton
Carried forward ....
38
40
( 50 )
Broug^ht forward. • . . Thursday, April 16th, 1829.
Drew Annis Hill and Sparkford Wood, blank;
but g-ot upon a Fox that had been pinched in a trap, and in a burst of fifteen minutes, killed him
Wednesday, April 22nd.
Found at Penny's Wood, and after runjiing a brace of Foxes in the Bradley Woods and the Covers adjacent, for three hours and three quarters, g-ot up to the Vixen that had laid down her Cubs and stopped
Total....
|
40 |
9 |
|
rz |
|
|
0) |
|
|
-a 0) |
|
|
^ |
s^ |
|
..^ |
c3 |
|
^ |
H |
|
1 |
|
|
41 |
9 |
END OF THE THIRD SEASON.
^:;/='Hunted during the season 57 days.
Blank days 5
Found on 52 days.
Killed and Earthed, 50 Foxes.
( 51 )
THE HUNTING JOURNAL
OF THE
BLACKMOOH VALE HOUNDS;
FOR 1829—1830.
Saturday, August 29th, 1829.
Met at Penny's Wood, near Longleat, at eig-ht A. M; — found a strong and good litter immediately, but running four hours and three quarters, changing continually, we were obliged to stop the Hounds, from
the excessive heat, having twenty miles home
Thursday, September 3rd.
Met at Monk Wood at seven A. M ; not finding
at Monk Wood, we proceeded to Batcombe Wood,
where the Pack found an old *Fox at a quarter after
nine o'clock, going away at the top of their speed for
Weston Town Wood, and across the vale for Monk
Wood, reaching Asham Great Wood (of 600 acres)
with the Fox only two fields before them, and through it
without a turn, as if pointing for Mells Park, but being
hard pressed, he turned again for Asham Wood, and
through it, the Hounds working him over the high rocks,
for the road near North Wood. The heat being excessive,
we stopped the Hounds, though the Fox was hallooed,
dead heat, in to Batcombe Wood, and the more so, as the
Hounds (having twenty miles home) had but one
CLEAR day's rest before meeting at Thornhill Coppice.
* We found and killed this identical Fox on Thursday the thirteenth of April 1830, after a superior run of one hour and forty-five minutes.
Carried forward ....
|
V CS |
|
( 52 )
Brought forward. . . . Saturday, September 5tli, 1829.
Met at Thornhill Coppice at seven A. IVI; — found a very fine litter of Foxes, and after one hour and twenty minutes good work, killed a sing-le Cub
Tuesday, September 8th.
Met at six A. M., at Penny's Wood, near Bradley ; — found a brace and half of l-'oxes, and after running incessantly for three hours. Earthed one on Rodmoor's Hill, beyond Longleat Park
Saturday, September Vlih.
Met at Nether Compton at seven A. M. Found a fine litter at Rotley : — the Hounds unluckily running their Fox to Earth, — the main Earth having been left open. Proceeded to Coombe Farm, and after a sharp burst killed a single Cub
Tuesday, September 1.5th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Brad- ley Wood at nine o'clock; finding in one of the
Marquis of Bath's Covers, and after four hours and half, very hard and good work, stopping the Hounds, which were nearly overpowered with the heat and fatigue, a litter of Foxes being on foot, which could not be separated in those extensive Covers
Saturday, September 19th.
Met at Nether Compton at nine; — after running about fifteen minutes, twenty couple X'^7/(?c? ff j^ne dog
Fox of the year, five couple going away with another
to Honeycombe. Went on to Compton Pauncefoot, and after running a second litter two hours and half, killed a second in good style
Tuesday, September 22nd.
Met at Cogley Wood at nine o'clock; — found a brace
Carried forward. . . .
( 5-3 )
Broug'ht forward. .. . of old Foxes immediately, the Hounds g'oing' away at the brush of the dog- Fox to Moor Wood, and across Redlynch Park for the building's adjoining' the Farm House there, where they tlneio up at a drain^ and were taken from thence to the stale scent of the second Fox : being unable to g-et over this difficulty, we drew tiiem throug-h Ccg-ley ag-ain, and drawing- Pink Wood, blank, took the Hounds home
Saturday, September 26th, 1829.
Met at Yarlington at ten o'clock; — finding' a g^ood Utter of Foxes ; and after one hour's sharp and g-ood running-, killing a fine dog Fox. Walked the Hounds on to Hadspen Wood, where we g'ot upon the very stale scent of an old Fox which had slipped away when we began, and after hunting him in to the road, stopped,
and went home
Tuesday, September 29th.
A larg-e Field met us this day at Inwood, where we found a litter ; and in twenty minutes very quick loork, the Hounds killed a very fine full-g-rown dog- Fox. We then found an old Fox in the Caundle Brake, which, after going- to Frith Wood, was headed hack by the Brake, and by Henstridge Bowden to Inwood, and thence to Temple Coombe Wood, but the heat being excessive, and the horses much jaded, we stopped the Pack, and took them home, after three hours hot work
Saturday, October 3rd.
Met at West End Wood, near Alfred's Tower ; — finding- a Utter of Foxes, and in two hours and half g-ood and very superior running-, killing a very forward and full-grown dog' Fox
Tuesday, October 6th.
Met at Thornhill Obelisk ; — .drawing- Thornhill Cop- pice, and Stalbridg-e Park, blank. Finding- a brace of
Carried forward ....
W
3 1
( 54 )
Broiig-lit forward . • . .
young' Foxes in Furze Plantation, adjoining- the Park, and after forty -five minutes very pretty running' by Caundle Brake and Toomer Farm, we killed him in Toomer Coppice, near Inwood 1
Saturday, October 10th, 1829.
Met at Bradley ; — finding* immediately in Penny's Wood, and in forty minutes, without a check, when killing^ ran our Fox to a small Earth, from whence he was shortly taken. Found a second in one of the Long'- leat Covers, and after ttvo hours and ten minutes most brilliant running-, without a check, over the whole of the Horsingsham and Long-leat Country, /(■27/ec? a four-year- old dog- Fox at ten minutes past four o'clock ; the Hounds, &c., having- twenty miles home
Tuesday, October 13th.
Met at Stock AVood, where we found four or five Foxes immediately ; — after twenty minutes sharp work in Cover, going- away across the Caundle River close to the heels of a five-year-old dog- Fox, for Weston and on to Stalbridge Park, where the Pack ran into him in open view, after a splendid burst of thirtt/-Jive minutes from the Cover's edge
Saturday, October 17th.
Met at Pen Forest, and found a brace of Foxes
immediately ; going away close to the dog Fox for
New Park Wood, and over the Earths for Gasper Com- mon, and through Sir Richard Hoare's extensive Covers and pleasure grounds for Yarnfield Common, where the Hounds got up to him, and ran into him in view, after a severe and brilliant burst of ffty-eight minutes without a check
Tuesday, October 20th.
Met at Cogley Wood, near Bruton ; — drawing that
Brought forward. . . .
12 I 3
( 55 )
Broug"ht forward . .
Cover in a driving* rain, blank. As we were proceeding to the Covers under Alfred's Tower, without having- had the touch of a Fox, we were broug-ht back to a part of the Cover where a Fox had been seen thirty minutes lefore : the Hounds hunted him with a very indifferent scent to the Great Park Wood at Redlynch, where we could mark his line no further. We then walked the Hounds on to Brewham Forest, which we drew, blank, and it being- three o'clock, and having- twenty miles home, we retreated without doing any thing more.. ..
Friday, October 23rd, 1829.
Met at Nether Compton, and found a brace of Foxes immediately ; — six couple killing one in Rottley Coppice on the Earth ; and the Pack g-oing- away at the top of their speed with the other along Sherborne Field for Holway, and nearly to Lord Digby's Park, where he was headed ; and thence to Coombe Farm and Compton, the Pack running- into SLa^l killing him in the open, at the end of a severe run of one hour and ten minutes
Tuesday, October 27th.
Met at Yarnfield Gate, in a heavy fog. Threw off at twelve ; — finding a brace of Foxes in Hicks's Park ; — g-oing- away with a middling scent to West End Wood and over Yarnfield Common to Kilmington Plantation, and through the whole of Sir R. Hoare's pleasure grounds to the ridg-e behind Stourton Inn, where they were halloo- ed to a fresh Fox (the hunted Fox was seen to lie down, dead heat^ a little further on in a potatoe field) which went to Alfred's Tower, where we stopped the Hounds at half-past four, with twenty miles home. We drew the Bradley Woods without finding- in the morning-, the Earths having- been stopped late ; and did not find
till three o'clock
Carried forward ....
12
2
-73
rt H
14
( 56 )
Broug-ht forward .... Friday, October 30th, 182-9.
3Iet at Tenant's Wood; — finding- a short running- Fox at Compton Wood, which we lost at the end of fif- ty minutes, dead beat, owing to the Field over-riding the Hounds and riding after the Fox
Friday, November 3rd.
Met at Bidcombe Down, near Bradley ; — found immediately, and after thirty minutes, the Hounds being- over-rode by the Field, they were brought to a serious check: iooWheva. onfull siving io \\iG Earths at Hor- sing-sham, hitting^ him well in to Penny's Wood, where the Hounds g-ot up to him, and in fifty-five minutes ra]S him to a drain in front of Longleat House, the leading Hounds close at his brush
Friday, November 6th.
Met at Cadbury House ; — found immediately in Sparkford Wood, g"oing- away at his brush across the vale to Cadbury Castle, and away to Sutton and Gorton, running into Mm in vieio on Milborne Down (a two- year-old dog- Fox,) after a beautiful run of one hour and ten minutes
Tuesday, November 10th.
Met at Pen Forest ; — found immediately; going- away at his brush for Gaspar Mill, by Pen Pits, and on to Broom Wood, in front of Stourton House ; Avhere we found that one liound had slipped on ahead, which brought us to a check : hit him on again for Dcverell Longwood, which he skirted ; going up the Roman I ntrenchments for Mere Down, and over them for Bradley Knoll, where we ■were beat out of scent— a heavy rain coming down
Friday, November 14th. Met at Cheriton Wood, and found immediately; — going away to Charlton Horethornc, and along the vale to
Carried forward ....
( 57 )
Broiig"ht forward. • . .
Stowel, and Temple Coombe Wood, and thence to Inwood, where the Pack got up to him, and Earthed him in Yeanston Coppice, after a brilliant burst of forty minutes. A brace of Foxes being hallooed away from Inwood, we laid on immediately to one of them, g-oing- away to Caundle Brake, Plumley Wood, and Hanover, and thence to North Wootton, and on to Sherborne Park, where we stopped the Hounds, after three hours a7id three quarter's hard running, with a brace of Foxes before them
Tuesday, November 17th, 1829.
One hundred and twenty-five horse met this day at Stock House, and proceeded with the Pack to Rooks- moor, where they found a brace and half of Foxes; — g-oing- away with the dog-, and with an execrable scent
(the frost being- hardly out of the g-round) to Deadmoor, and to Plumber and under Fifehead Coppice to the edg-e of Sturminster Common, and by Hazelbury to Dead- moor and Ramsbury to the Plantation at the Green Man, where a dog coursed the Fox; we hit him again, however, after a long- check, by Rodmoor towards Wood- bridge, into the road opposite the Lodg-e Gates at Stock House, where it was deemed prudent to stop, and not to disturb Stock Wood, a large Field being- expected there on the eig-hth of December
Friday, November 20th.
Found a brace of Foxes at Compton Pauncefoot; — running the hunted Fox to Earth at Sigwells in thirty minutes; the Badgers having unluckily opened the Earths there. Walked the Pack on to Elscombe Wood, where they found immediately, going away to Shepton Montague and Hadspen ; and after a capital run of two hours and twenty minutes, the Fox close before them for the last mile, and in view of the
Carried forward
■ Ti ~~~
15
W
15
l 58 )
Broug-ht forward ....
leading riders; running him to earth, dead beat, at Wolston Coppice; — the stoppers having unluckily opened the Earth, thinking- that the Hounds had gone home, it being nearhf dark .'
Tuesday, Xovember 24th, 18-29.
Mkt at Xether Compton Lodg'e ; — found a brace and half of Foxes in Potter's Lease, crossing the river to Newton, and on to Berwick, and throug-h Clift Wood to Yetminster. and away on middling- terms with a bad j scent to Melbury, and thence to a small coppice near } Evershot, where the Hounds hunted up to their Fox I
in beautiful style, to the admiration of the whole Field; '
running- him in view into a small Coppice, where they chansfed to a brace of fresh foxes, goin2;' away at the top of their speed to Wolcombe AValls and clear to AVraxall, where they were with difficulty stopped, after a very hard and unlucky day of three hours and a quarter's incessant work, having covered more than twenty miles of ground
Fridav. November 27th.
Met at Leigh Common: — killed a Fox in IMr. Phelips's Plantation without much runninof; the Fox being headed on each side. It being a very dense fog, j after a short draw towards Brewham Wood, &c., we ' took them home
Tuesdav, December 1st.
Met at Zeals Green: — got upon the disturbed scent of a gallant Fox in Deverell Long^vood, the Fox having been disturbed by the foot people before we camel Hunted j him about a mile or two over the Mere Downs, but could not get up to him. Drew Kilmington Common, Hicks 's Park, and West End Wood, blank
Carried forward ....
|
15 |
4 |
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0) |
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16
6 (
( 59 )
Broug-ht fonvard . . Friday, December 4th, 1829.
Met at Inwood; — found immediately, but owing" to the horsemen riding after the Fox, &c.. we made a bad start, g-iving" the Fox too much law. on a bad- scenting- day : we hunted him. however, on to Stowel and Charlton, skirting- Cherton Wood, and on to Cheriton and Latiford, crossing the road for the vale near Wincantou, losing- him under Horsing-ton, — pro- bably in some of the drains there, after a g-jod hunting- run of one hour and forty minutes
Tuesday, December 8th.
About one hundred and fifty horse met us at Stock Honse, where -we found Jive or six Foxes in the Covers immediately, and g-ot away, in about an hour, with a Fox close bfore us, to the river towards Rooksmoor, which '\Te skirted for Hazelbury Common, and across the river by Hazelbury Mill for the Pulham Commons, and away at the toj) of their speed for Glanville's Woottoa Common, running the Fox, all but in view, into Mr. W'arry s Plantation, where we killed him after a bril- liant run of fifty minutes from the Covers edg-e
Friday, December 11th.
It being- a hard frost, we conld not throw off 'till
half past one; getting upon the line of a disturbed Fox
at Sandford, tee hnnted up to him at Trent Hollow. going awav very quick with him to Coombe Farm, nejirly to the Sherborne road, and thence to Xether Compton, ichere tee changed when on killing terms, going away across the vale to Rimpton. where we stopped the Hounds when nearly dark, twenty-five minutes before
five
Friday, December loth.
A large Field met us at Bitcombe Wood, but it beino" a dense fog , we separated under Alfred's Tower.
Carried forward. . . .
|
16 |
6 |
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^' |
^ |
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s , |
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t: |
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17 |
6 |
( '30 )
Brought forward. . . . in order to g-o home, having* drawn Hicks's Park and West End Wood, -with the heel of a lively drag from the Earths. As we were going along above Brewham, we crossed the line of a Fox that had slipped away from us, and after a good run of one hour and twenty minutes, we ran him to Earth at Cockroad, dead beat, and close before the Hounds
Friday, December 18th, 1829.
A long frost now set in !
Friday, January 29th, 1830.
Met at King Stag Bridge, and hard as the ground was for the horses, we went to Rooksmoor Coppice ; — finding a brace of Foxes immediately, and going away with the dog Fox, and with a tolerably good scent to Deadmoor, ajid thence to Fifehead, where the sharp south-easterly breeze turned him for Hazelbury, the Hounds pressing him across the vale to Humber Wood, and towards Canning's Court for Shortwood, where the Hounds got up to him, and in fifty-five minutes, when killing, ran him to a shallow Earth in the bank's side, in Mr. Farquharson's Country. As a litter had once been bred here, the Hounds were sent home : and as the foot people threatened to dig and kill him, (and as he could he touched with a hazle rod) he was drawn in three minutes, ear-marked, and let safely go, dead beat, into *Shortwood.
Tuesday, February 2nd.
Frost and Snow again set in
Thursday, February 9th.
Met at Bradley Great Wood ; found immediately,
and in two hours and a quarter, without a check, killed a very old dog Fox near Longleat, in superior style. . .
*This Fox was found by tlie Blackmoor Vale Hounds on the fourteenth of January, 1831, in one of Mr. Yeatman's Covers, and killed, after a long run of two hours and fifty minutes.
Carried forward. . . .
17
w
19
( 61 ) .
Broug-ht forward .... Thursday, February 11th, 1830.
Met at Coombe Farm ; — found in Holway Brake,
and killed under the hill in a remarkable manner, the
leading" Hound throwing* himself^yVeere or sixteen feet
down the hill (in view) before the fox, and catch-
ing^ him as he turned ! Found a brace in Corton Wood,
and after a sharp burst with the dog- Fox, ran to Earth
at Sigwells, near Compton Pauncefoot
Saturday, February 13th,
Found our Fox (g^etting* on a disturbed scent, and hunting' up to him beautifully) at Yarling"ton; g"oing away at his brush to Wolston, and from the Earth
at Wolston Coppice, in view, to Compton Wood, killing him in forty-five minutes in the court-yard at Compton Castle. Found a second in Elscombe Wood; running- at the top of our speed to Yarling-tou and Wolston, nearly to Cadbury, and across the vale to Galhampton, where they had a momentary check, and on to Hadspen, and through the Covers there to Shepton Montague, and to the top of Bratton Hill ; — the Hounds here got upon the heel of a second Fox that slipped away from Mr. Hobhouse's Cover at Shepton Montag-ue, and were taken home after a very g-ood run of one hour and twenty-five minutes
Tuesday, February 16th.
Found a brace of Foxes in Pen Forest; — changing from one to the other for an hour and half; at leng-th we got on the line of the dog Fox, throug-h Cockroad and Pen Forest, and away to Charlton Musgrove, where the Pack g-ot np to him, ?-unning him in vieio more than a mile across the vale, forcing- him up the hill by Alfred's Tower, and throug-h King's Wood, to Brew- ham Wood, AND UP THE ROOF OF THE FARM
HOUSE THERE, killing in the garden, after a very
g-ood run of two hours and three quarters
Carried forward. . . .
19
I 22
( 62 )
Brought forward . . . . Friday, February 19th, 1830.
A very larg-e Field met us at Henstridg-e Ash Inn, wind north-west, and a very heavy snow-storm falling for several hours. Found immediately in Inwood; — going away with an execrable scent to Stalbridge Park, and by Stalbridge Weston to Plumley Wood, and across the vale to Purse Caundle, and by Dole's Coppice to Stalbridge Park, and again to Inwood, where the Hounds got upon rather better terms, running him a little quicker up-tvind to Temple Coombe Wood, where the Hounds certainly changed, coming back with a staler scent to Caundle Brake, the Fox being hallooed half an hour before us; hitting him into Frith Wood, and on towards Plumley, where we were beat out of scent, after a run of three hours and three quarters, over a very extensive tract of country
Tuesday, February 23rd.
A large Field met at Stock House; — finding two brace of Foxes in a very few minutes: the Hounds were unluckily not got away to any one of the three Foxes that fled, and killed in Cover in forty minutes. Found a second at Rooksmoor, which ran in Cover about fifty minutes, and as it appeared to be a Vixen, the Hounds were stopped and walked home
Thursday, February 25th.
A good Field and a select one met us at Stalbridge Park; — after drawing Thornhill Coppice, &c., blank, the Hounds were taken to Caundle Brake, and unken- neled a brace of Foxes immediately, (five couple and half going away with one to the Stalbridge Park Wall, where they met with atired Fox which Mr. Farquharson's Hounds had brought from Butterwick, running him in\ view back towards Plumley Wood, joining with Mr. Farquharson's Hounds and killing in Frith Wood) the
Carried forward ....
«
. ( 63 )
Brought forward ....
body of the Blackmoor Vale Hounds g'oing' away at the top of their speed towards Inwood, which our Fox skirt- ed, and on to the Temple Coombe Woods, and throug-h them to Yeanston, crossing the turnpike there for the great vale, which they traversed at a tremendous pace towards Temple Coombe, and on to Horsington and Cheriton, and nearly to Latiford, leaving" Blackford a little to the left, and into Elseombe Wood, and through it to Yarlington, by Lilly Wood, and up the hill to Bratton, where they ran him into a cyder house and killed, after as fine and severe a run of two hours and twenty-five minutes (over at least eighteen miles of ground,) as was ever seen in this country
Saturday, February 27th, 1830.
Found a brace of Foxes at Nether Compton ;
ran the dog thirty-five minutes very sharp, and token killing. Earthed him near the House. Found a second at Pointington ; — ran him very quick for about fifteen minutes, when the Hounds were disgracefully over- rode, and a long check ensued ; we hit him ag-ain, however, and hunted him for three miles more over the fallows in Sherborne Field, when we gave him up in disgust and went home
Tuesday, March 2nd.
A good Field met us at Stourton Inn ; drew Deverell
Longwood, blank ; finding in Penny's Wood, the Hounds carrying him through the Great Bradley Wood in very good style, and over Horsingsham Hill (for Bitcombe,) where he unluckily went to Earth, after a good fifty minutes, close before the Hounds
Friday, February 5th.
Met at Tenant's Wood ; — finding a very old Fox in Cherton Wood, and killing in Charlton Wood in
Carried forward ....
23
^3 ID
pa
24 I 10
L_64^
Broug-ht forward ....
twenty-five minutes. Found a second in Cherton Wood; going'away at his brush to Charlton Wood, and on to Tenant's Wood, and nearly to Compton Wood, where we headed the Hounds and stopped them, out of respect to our departed friend, Mr. Hunt, who was lying- dead at the Castle. Found a brace more at Inwood; — g^oing- away at the best pace to East Hill, and along; the terrace there to Henstridge Bowden, and thence to the Temple Coombe Woods, and throug-h them to the vale under Horsington, where the Fox was coursed by tivo pointers, and lost, after a very g-ood run of fifty- five minutes.
Tuesday, March 9th.
Met at Pennard House ; drawing- the Plantations
there, and the Covers at Pylle, blank ; Avalking- the Hounds on to Cogley Wood, which we reached at half past one, finding- a brace of Foxes immediately ; g"oing- away on tolerably g-ood terms to Moor Wood, and over the hill throug-h Redlynch Park, and throug-h it across the vale to Bratton, and on to Wadham's Down, where the Hounds got up to their Fox (three couple, with the huntsman running their Fox to a quarry near Wincanton, and) seventeen couple and the whipper-in running- the hunted Fox, in a brilliant burst, to a drain, m vieiv, close to Colonel Strangeways's House, near Godmanstone Wood, bolting and killing him after a very good run of two hours and ten minutes
Saturday, March 13th.
Met at Pointington Ridge at nine o'clock ; — find- ing immediately in Mr. Loder's Gorse, and in a sharp burst of thirty-five minutes, X-«7?^/j_9' a two-year-old dog* Fox. Found a second in Trent Hollow, going away at his brush, and in forty minutes killing a one-year-old dog Fox on the Earths at Nether Compton
Carried forward. ....
24
W
10
28
11
(65 )
Broug-ht forward. . . . Tuesday, March 16th, 1830.
Met at Bitcombe Wood, near Wanstrow ; — find- ing- a brace of Foxes in Postlebury Wood (of 200 acres) and going aAvay immediately with a very bad scent indeed ( the wind north-west, with hail-storms blowing- up ) to Lord Cork's, and through Orrery Wood, across the vale nearly to Longleat, where he was coursed by a cur and lost, after a slow run of one hour and twenty minutes. Drew Hicks's Park, and West End Wood in our way back, but did not find, the Foxes being- supposed to be stopped in, as we could hall them
Friday, March 19th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met at Henstridg-e Ash on this day, at ten o'clock, and after trying- the Fifehead Mag-dalene Covers without finding-, were thrown into the Cover of Inwood, in the parish of Henstridg-e, at a quarter before 12, and in five minutes afterwards precisely, were capped away close to the brush of the most gallant Fox ever seen in the West of England ; making their way at the top of their speed across Toomer Farm to Stalbridge Park, which they traversed at a racing pace, topping the park wall at the eastern extremity near the town, and sinking the wind for the fine and exten- sive vale beneath it, which they crossed at a pace inconceivable by those who did not witness it ; going over Henstridge Marsh, and nearly to Fifehead Mag- dalene, crossing the turnpike at the Five-Bridges, and dashing into the River Cale, in one compact and solid body, and away for the wide enclosures of Nyland, and thence, without a check or turn, to Kington Magna, (the summit of whose hill they reached in forty-five minutes, by the watch) ; pointing for West Stower, but skirting that village, and getting down very nearly to East Stower, and within two miles of Duncliif Wood,
Carried forward
28
J^
11
-73
28
11
(, cc )
Broug-ht forward .... from which the g-allant Pack most evidently and fairly turned liiiii, reaching- tlic Biio-ley Coppices, and under them, at a kiU'ing pace, for thcparisiies of Cuckling-ton and Silton, the south-eastern corners of which they crossed for the parish of Gilliug-ham; here the Hounds pressed him in splendid style, carry in^f the finest head imag-inabie, and running- into him in open view, in one hour and fifteen minutes, having covered a ^ood sixteen miles of ground without a check of one minutes' duration. This run was pronounced by many disting-uished mem- bers of different hunts, who were present, to be decidedly from the find to the finish, the most brilliant that they had ever seen
Tuesday, March 2;3rd, 1830.
Met at King-weston Inn, and found a brace of
Foxes immediately ; running the Vixen for about an
hour, when the Hounds changed and settled themselves to the dog- Fox, kiUing him haudsomeli/, after a very trying- run throug-h the whole of the extensive Covers of Coppley, Hiireott, &c., of three hours and 20 minutes.
Friday, March 26th.
Upwards of a hundred horse met the Blackmoor Vale Hounds this day at Stock House ; the morning apparently most inauspicious, with a very bright sun, a blue and cloudless sky, ami the thermometer at nearly 80, due south, at ten o'clock; the iviiid, however, was toest / The Hounds were thrown into the lower Cover, where they g-ot upon the drag immediately, and walked up to their Fox in beautiful style, crossing- the road, for Stock Wood, and across the Park for the Plantations near the river, making for the Caundle Holts, from whence he was headed by a shepherd and his dog-, turn- ing- towards the Sherborne road, and over it to the Hohvell Grounds, and away for Holwell Common,
Carried forward ....
28
W
11
^3
30 11
( 67 ) .
lirought forward . . Avhere the Hounds beg-an to run for liiin in earnest, the leading- riders seeing- him close before them at Mr. Warry's Plantation, and over Newland Common at a racing pace, and up the hill to Wootton Wood, and nearly to Woodfalls at the back of Pievel's Inn, turning close with him under the Coppice, near the old Grange House, in Mr. Farquharson's Country, running- him to a Gate Trip under Castle Hill, from whence he was SAFELY LET GO, after a g-ood run of one hour and thirty-five minutes
Tuesday, March 30th, 1830.
A lar^e Field met us at Bidcombe Down, near
Bradley ; the Fox, however, which we had intended to
draw for, was disturbed by the foot people half an hour before we came ! We then drew^br four hours, without finding, although unfortunately, a couple of Hounds slipped away (from those large Covers) with a Fox, and ran him by themselves, nearly to Warmin- ster!
Friday, April 2nd.
Met in a very heavy and cold south-easterly rain at Sparkford Inn; — drawing- Annis Hill Gorse and Sparkford Wood, without finding, a Fox having- been seen the day before. Found a vixen Fox on our return at 25 minutes after two P. M., at Compton, in Hicknell Plantation, running our Fox with an execrable scent nearly to Tenant's Wood, when we gave it up, and took the Hounds home, the rain falling- in torrents
Tuesday, April 6th; — Did not hunt
Friday, April 9th; Did not hunt
Tuesday, April 13th.
Found a brace in Batcombe Wood ; — going- away with a moderate scent (the wind at west, and rather stormy) through Weston Town Wood, by the villag-e
Carried forward. . . .
30
W
11
rt
H
31 I 11
( 68 )
Brought forward .... of Wanstrow, to Ashara Wood, and over the Rocks and Earths of this extensive Cover, towards Mells Park, the Hounds pressing- him at this point so severely that he turned for Norwood, crossing* the turnpike close to Mr. Pag-et's house, for the fine vale near Monk Wood, ivhere the Hounds let themselves out at full length in very fine style indeed, hitting him into a corner of Monk AVood, and away for South Hill Park, where they killed him, after a very g'ood run of one hour and forty-five minutes.
Friday, April 16th, 1830.
Met at Pen Forest, and drew on through Stavor- dale Wood, Brewham Forest, and Grove Wood, without finding-, the Hounds, however, found a Fox at Hicks's Park, g^oing away close at his brush to West End Wood, and on to Whitham Park, where he unluckily went to ground in fifteen minutes ! Drew on through the Gaspar Woods, but could not find a second
Tuesday, April 20th.
Met at Stourton Inn; walking- the Hounds on to Penny's Wood, near Bradley, where we found a brace of Foxes immediately, and after three hours and twenty minutes hard work, when killing the dog" Fox, he went to Earth on Horsingsham Hill, from whence we dug- him, late in the day
Friday, April 23rd.
Met at Wallbridge Gate; finding- a dog Fox of
the year in Thornhill Coppice, and in a very severe ))urst of forty minutes, killed him in the garden at Thornhill House, within the walls. Finding a second, near Rooksmoor, we went away with him through Deadmoor Wood, to Cockroad Coppice, and across the enclosures at Belchalwall at a pressing pace, and up Bell Hill to Turnwood, where half the Pack (nine
Carried forward ....
31
11
0) -^^
W
33
12
I 69 )
Broiig-ht forward. . . .
couple) went away with another Fox to Hoiig-hton AVood, the remainder g'oing across Turn wood Down, and on to Bondsley, and Durweston Common, by Fillgrove, to the river Stour, which the Pack crossed for Stour Paine, where the ''ox was headed short back for Elcombe Wood, and where we stopped the Hounds, with two or three Foxes on foot, after a superior run of two hours and fifty minutes, over thirteen or fourteen miles of ground
Total. . , ,
33
W
1
12
12
END OF THE FOURTH SEASON.
^^Hiinted during the season 55 days.
Blank days 2
Found on 53 days.
Killed and Earthed, 46 Foxes.
( '^o )
THE HUNTING JOURNAL
OF THE
BLACKMOOR VALE HOUNDS;
FOR 1830—1831.
Saturday, August 28th, 1830.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met for the first time this season at Tenant's Wood, near Maperton, at eig-hl o'clock, and found a g'ood Utter of Foxes ; running- one hour and fifty-five minutes, when we g-ot away with a young- dog- Fox, and killed in an orchard adjoining Holton
Tuesday, Aug-ust 31st.
Met at the Coppley Woods at six, A. M., near King-weston and Somerton ; — finding- a litter of Foxes, and when on the point of killing one, were oblig-ed to stop, on account of the corn standing' towards King-wes- ton,— went back and recovered another of the Foxes, running- in the whole/oMr hours, when we stopped, the heat becoming- excessive,
Tuesday, September 7th.
Met at eig-ht o'clock, at Stourton Inn ; drawing-
Hicks's Park, blank ; walking- the Hounds on to the Great Bradley Woods, where we found at eleven o'clock a sing-le old Fox, which Ave ran for two hours with a very middling- scent, when we stopped the Hounds, as they were crossing- the Bath road for Long-leat, the Earths in that direction being open, and the Hounds
having- twenty miles home
Carried forward. . . .
M
( ^t )
Broug-ht forward. . . . Saturday, September llth, 1830.
Met at Over Corapton Lodg'e Gate ; — finding- a litter close to the Mansion House, and in one hour and ten minutes, killing a fine young* dog- Fox ; the tail
Hounds having- killed another
Tuesday, September 14th.
Met at Compton Castle at eight A. M. ; finding
a litter of Foxes, and after two hours and ten minutes steady and g-ood running-, we got away with a young dog Fox, after a short burst killing him on the Earth at Sigwell, near Charlton Down. It being a bright and hot day the Hounds were taken home
Saturday, September 18th.
The Hounds met on this day at Mudford Bridge at eight o'clock ; — finding a litter of Foxes at Ashington Wood, killing one in Cover ; when we were hallooed away to the old Fox, which we ran for two hours in a HEAVY RA.IN and with a catching scent towards Brimpton, and nearly to Over Compton, where the Hounds got vpon the heel of another Fox (that had gone away, whilst we were killing our first Fox in that direction) and were stopped
Tuesday, September 21st.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day at Stourton Inn, at e'ght o'clock, and were thrown into
Deverell Longwood at twenty-five minutes after nine;
finding immediately an old dog Fox, which the Hounds caught a vieic of as he was crossing the common field; climbing the down close to his brush, and racing him across the open Mere Doivns at the top of their speed in the finest style imaginable, turning him from his point towards the water meadows, that lie near Bidcombe Down, which he tried to reach, but the Pack close at his heels, and occasionally in view of him, turned him
Carried forward ....
W
a
(_J2_)
Brought forward ....
again from this point, forcing- him towards Bradley Knoll, and in the direction of the great Bradley Woods, which Covers he tried to reach ; the gallant Pack, however, were so close upon him, that he ■v^'as com- pelled to seek the village of Maiden Bradley, the Hounds and Fox crossing the road within a hundred yards together, and away across the enclosures for Hor- singshamHill, where the Hounds ran into him in view, and killed^ after a run of fifty-five minutes without a check, (unsurpassed by any run ever seen in that country in the opinion of some distinguished old sports- men who were present,) over nearly ten miles of ground.
Saturday, September 25th, 1830.
Met at Butleigh "Wood, near Kingweston, at eight o'clock; after drawing two hours, w^e found a brace of Foxes, or a brace and half, which the Hounds ran mer- rily for nearly tlwee hours, when they were hallooed away to a Fox that had been seen to cross the Park at Kingweston tavo hours before !
Wednesday, September 29th.
Met at Compton Castle; — drawing the Covers there without finding, as well as Tenant's Wood ; finding, however, an old Fox in Charlton Wood, which we hunted with a very bad scent over the fallows and roads (and under a bright staring sun) to Compton Wood, and by trotting the Hounds on, we hit him again under the Earths at Sigwells, where we lost him, being completclij beaten out of scent. The Hounds were then taken to Pound Hill, near the Castle, where they found a young Fox, which they ran one hour and a quarter, and when close before them and dead beat, they lost him amongst the buildings behind Compton Castle,
into one of which he had evidently crept
Carried forward ....
( T3 )
Brought forward .... Saturday, October 2iid, 1830.
We met this day at ten o'clock, at Holton Street ; — finding- a brace of Cubs in the Covers at Yarlington, and in forty minutes very quick work, the Hounds drove a young- dog* Fox into a barn there, from whence he was bolted and ran into
Tuesday, October 5th.
Met at Stourton Inn, at ten o'clock; — finding* an old Fox in Norwood, near Zeals, and running him with a very indijferent scent (under a brig-ht sun, and the wind north-east) to Deverell Lougwood, and away for the Mere Downs, where he was headed, the Hounds forcing him into the street and gardens of the town of Mere ^ close at his brush ; in the confusion occasioned by this sudden turn, &c., a long check ensued, the Hounds, however, hunted him on, and got up to him at Zeal's House, and worked him across the enclosures as far as Silton, where they lost him among"st the roads and fallows, after ag-oud hunting run of two hours and half, nothing but a total want of scent saving him from destruction
Friday, October 8th.
A good Field, graced by several carriages full of ladies, &c., met us at Thornhill House, where we found, through the liberal and generous patronage of William Boucher, Esquire, a fine litter of Foxes immediately, and in twenty minutes got away with a young dog Fox and ran into him in view. The Hounds were capped away immediately to an halloo across the Lydlinch River, the old dog Fox having reached the common towards Stock Wood ; he was, however, unluckily headed from that point, the Hounds working him back to Thornhill Coppice, and through it along the enclosures to Har- grove, pointing for Bagber Coppice, where he was
Carried forward ....
W
IS
.a
( 74 )
Brought forward. . . .
headed again, crossing- Stalbridg-e Common for the Coppice once more ; but, g-allantly endeavouring- to g-et away, he crossed the river again, Avhere he was ag-ain headed, and ran into in open view, after one hour and five minutes severe and incessant running-
Tuesday, October 12th, 1830.
Met at Pen Forest ; — drawing- the whole of that Cover, Cockroad, New Park, Stavordale, Brewham Forest, and King's Wood, without a drag or touch of a Fox ! Finding at twenty-five minutes before one o'clock near West End Wood, running this solitary Fox for three hours and half with an execrable scent and stopping a little after four P. M., when nearly dark, (with twenty miles home) by and with the consent of all present
Frida}', October 15th.
Met at Stalbridge Park, which we drew, blank ; — finding, however, a brace of Foxes in Caundle Brake, running from thence to Frith Wood and back for two hours, the hill being lined by carriages and groups of horsemen, and the Foxes headed in all directions : getting away at last, and after a sharp burst by Hen- stridge Bowden, and over the corner of Milborne East Hill, and Stowel, killing him in the open, near Charlton Horethorne, in two hours and fifty minutes hot and hard
work
Monday, October 18th.
Met at Over Compton Lodge, wind south-east,
with a bright and hot sun over head; found a brace of
Foxes immediately, and after a sharp and short rally, and when getting him away towards Potter's Lease, &c., the Hounds were hallooed away by the foot people to- wards the Earths at Rotleigh, without any reason, and the Fox was lost, which we were close to, when hallooed
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away I Walking" the Hounds to Trent Hollow, we found an old dog- Fox immediately, oroini]^ away at a killing pace close to Jiis brush, and after a sharp hurst, W running' him to Earth near Nether Compton, b}' great perseverance (of two hours and ten minutes,) bolting him, and after a second burst running- into him in the middle of afalloio, before he could reach the Earths at Coombe Farm
Friday, October 22nd.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds on this day met at Stock House, and were shortly after walked down to Rooksmoor, where we found a Fox of the yea,r imme- diately ; — g'oing- away at the brush of our Fox across the enclosures near Deadmoor, and over the corner of Hazelbury Common for Wonston Hill, pointing- for Shortwood, from whence the Pack fairly turned him, running- into him in open view, and Ailling in a lively burst of liocnty-jice minutes. The Hounds were then walked back to Stock Wood, where two brace of Foxes Were soon upon their legs, the ¥ack killinff arery large young- dog in Cover
Tuesday, October 26th.
Met at Postlebury Wood, near Lord Cork's, which Cover of "200 acres, and Bitcombe of 80 acres, we drew without a touch ; — findinsT a sinpfle Fox at Batcorabe Wood, at a quarter before three, running- him away to Woolley Wood, pointing- for Cog-ley, from whence he was headed, the Hounds pressing- him across the Weston Vale nearly for Creech Hill, from whence the Pack Cnearly in the saf}ie^cld, J tnvued him ag-ain for Bat- combe Wood, where, from the neglig-ence of the Keeper he went to Earth, the Hounds catching at him as he went in, after one hour and a quarter very sharp running-,
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After dig-g-ing from four 'till twenty minutes BEFORE SIX, the Hounds were taken their twenty miles home, the Fox being- with difficulty got out, by the aid of a friendly moon !
Friday, October 29th, 1830.
Met at Inwood ; — finding* a very old and g'allant dog" Fox immediately, after three ineffectual attempts (being" headed by a large and anxious Field) g-etting- away on very g-ood terms to Toomer Farm, and under Frith Wood, which they skirted, the Hounds pressed him at the top of their speed through Purse Caundle to Hanover Wood, and away for Flumley Wood, and New Lease Coppice, and across the enclosures for the village of Stourton Caundle, crossing^ the Caundle River for the Plantations and Park adjoining Stock House, and leaving" the main Covers to the left, making" their way over Blackrow Common for the River Lyddon, at which point the Pack beg"an to consider him as their own, running" him at a killing pace by Rooksmoor, to Hazelbury Com- mon, where the Pack divided ; one column of Hounds running into the hunted Fox in mew, one field short of Deadmoor Wood, and the other column of Hounds running" their Fox to a drain under Wonston Hill, near Mappowder, after a splendid run of tico hours and fifty-jive minutes over a good tioenty miles of ground. The dead Fox being" given to the Pack on the drain, THE OTHER WAS SAVED, and bolted in security, after the Pack was sent home
Friday, November 2nd.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Maiden Bradley, and found their Fox, after drawing" for thirty minutes in Penny's Wood, adjoining the great Bradley Covers; — going away under Horsingsham Hill, for the Marquis of Bath, and through his finely extensive
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Covers for the Earths, on Rottonburrow Hill, but find- ing- them well g"uarded, he came back, with the Hounds close at his hrusli for Penny's Wood, where he unluckily forced himself into an Earth (as usual at this place!) Owing to the gross negligence of the Earth stopper, after a run of two hours
Friday, November 5th, 1830.
A larg-e and select Field met the Blackmoor Yale Hounds this day at Compton Castle, where we found almost immediately; —going" away to the Earths at Sig-- wells, and over them by the village of Charlton to Tenant's Wood, and through it for Charlton Wood, and down the vale for Horsing"ton, hunting him with a mode- rate scent, the whole extent of that fine Country under Horsington, Temple Coombe, and Yeanston, where the Pack turned their heads towards the village, topping* the walls of which, they crossed the turnpike for Temple Coombe North-side Wood, where they got up to him, breaking" Cover close to his brush, making another turn for the village of Horsing-ton, and away for Stowel, getting" up to and killing him in Cherton Wood, after a capital run of three hours and thirty-five minutes
Tuesday, November 9th.
Met at Mudford Bridg-e ;_drawing" Ashing"ton Wood, Rimpton Gulley, Trent Wood, and Nether Compton, blank: finding" at Holway late in the day, and killing a young" Fox on the Earth without a run
Friday, November 12th.
Met at Cog-ley Wood, where we found immediately, and quickly forcing him to break Cover, with the whole Pack, all but in view of liim, racing" him across Redlynch Park, and away nearly to Round Hill, run- Carried forward
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ning"into and killing him at an Hamlet, near Charlton Musgrove, after a brilliant burst of fifty-five minutes without a cheek. After a short draw, we found a very old dog" Fox in the lower part of Cog-ley, near Pink Wood, breaking- Cover close to his brush by Moor Wood, across the vale nearly to Round Hill, pointing for Pen Forest, but turning him towards Stavordale Wood, which they approached at a tremendous pace, and through which Wood and BreAvham Forest they made their way to the Earths at King's Wood, which had been well and
effectually stopped ; at this point the Fox passed close
by Alfred's Tower and over the terrace for the Stoiirton Grounds, and through tliem loitliout a turn for the open Commons at Kilmington and Yarnfield, and away to West End Wood, where the Hounds got up to him, killing him in very fine style, after a superior run of one hour and tiventy minutes., without a check !
Tuesday, November 16th, 1830.
Rain and hurricane tremendous. Met at Cadbury Castle, but no one was present
Friday, November 19th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day at
Stock House ; finding almost immediately, and after
being headed once or twice, as usual at tliis place, the Fox was permitted to make his point, crossing the river for Stourton Caundle, and away for Stalbridge Weston, the Hounds working him, with a very bad scent, over the roads and fallows that presented themselves at this part of the chase, and across Frith Farm for the Stalbridge Park Wall, under Avhich they hit him over Toomer Wall, and away for Henstridge, leaving Inwood to the left, and on to Temple Coombe, crossing the corner of Temple Coonibe Wood for Stowel, where the Hounds got up to him, and after a sharp and brilliant run of twenty
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Broug-ht forward .... minutes killed Mm in a cyder house at a bamlet called Dark Harbour, adjoining" the parish of Cheriton, after a g-ood hunting- run of two hours and fifty-five minutes
Friday, November 23rd, 1830.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day at
Stourton Inn ; drawing- Norwood and Deverell Lon^-
wood, blank, but finding m a small patch of Cover on the Mere Downs ; — g'oing- away all hut in vietv of their Fox, and after a sharp and severe burst, killing him in Deverell Long-wood in forty-five minutes. Drew Kil- ming-ton Common and West End Wood, blank ; though we had a drag- over the W^est End Earth
Friday, November 26th.
Met on this day at Elscombe Wood; — the wind at south-east, with a cold blue haze above our head ; — found a brace of Foxes immediately, and after a short burst, ran the hunted Fox to a drain near the Cover ; in a few minutes he was bolted, and after two hours and three quarters, during- which he merely ran a ring- of a few miles, he was killed near Wolston on the hill
Tuesday, November 30th.
Met at Cad bury Castle; drawing- the Plantation
there and Sparkford Wood, blank; the Hounds were then taken on to Annis Hill, where they found a brace and half of Foxes; g'oing- away with one nearly to Ilchester, across the vale, and running- him to a drain in forty minutes near Hazelgrove House ; whilst at- tempting- to dig him the Hounds were hallooed away to another that had been viewed on his foil, dead beat, which they ran in and killed
Friday, December 3rd.
Met at Leig-h Common, near Wincanton; drawing
Carried forward ....
19
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23 3
. (_80J
Broiig-ht forward .... Pen Forest and Cockroad, without a touch : in the Gorse near Stavordale, however, the Hounds challeng-ed on the Avalk of a Fox that had evidently slipped away half an hour before us, hunting- him very beautifully throug-h Stavordale AVood, Brewham Forest, King's Wood, and Grove Wood, and away to Hicks's Park, tchcre they got vp to Mm, and ran him forty minutes close to his brush, when he made his point through Stavordale for Pen Forest, and over the enclosures of Penselwood, to Gaspar Common, and through the Stourton Grounds, (the Hounds close at his heels) and over the terrace for West End Wood, where he unluckily found an Earth open and went to ground, after a very severe run of three hours and twenty minutes ; tico only being up when the horn was blown, the remainder of the Field having- been lost in the fog-!
Tuesday, December 7th, 1830.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Coppley or the Kingweston Woods, the wind at south-east, with a heavy and driving rain Avorking up ; — finding and getting him out of these extensive Woods almost immediately, and after a sharp burst (the scent in the open being good) ran him to a drain in King-weston Park in thirty minutes, the Hounds close at his brush ! Leaving the AVhipper-in to dig him, we went back and found a second in the extreme part of the Cover near Butleigh Wood, which we ran for two hours and ten minutes, the scent getting icorscvkS, the rain increased, stopping the Hounds at three P. M. , with the consent of all present, being- unable at length barely to mark his line
Friday December 10th.
Met on this day at Coombe Farm; finding in the
Gorse there immediately, running him to the Earths at
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Rotleigh, near Nether Compton, and across the Turn- pike by the Half-way House, to the Plantation near Compton Lodg-e, and across the Park for the Earths near Compton House, but finding- them well stopped, he made away for Wyke Park, where he went to Earth, dead heat, at the end of one hour and twenty minutes : the neg-lig-ejice of the Bradford Earth-stopper alone saving him
Tuesday, December 14th, 1830.
The Blackraoor Vale Hounds met this day at Postle- bury Wood, but the frost being- very hard, they were walked home ag-ain, by the consent and advice of all present
Friday, December 17th.
Met at Cheriton Wood, in a very heavy fog-, with frost. The Hounds arriving- late in consequence, we found that the sportsmen who had been waiting- some time, had disturbed a brace of Foxes, by talking, and by smoA'ing cigars close to the Cover's edg-e!! The Hounds hit heavily on the disturbed scent of these Foxes, but could not find afterwards.
Tuesday, December 21st.
A large and select Field met us this day on Bidcombe Down. The frost being- very hard on the Dowij, they were walked down to Penny's Wood, Avhere they found immediately, and after a sharp and short turn in Bradley Wood, went away (with a bad scent out of Cover) to Horsingsham Hill, and throug-h Bradley Park for Bidcombe, and over the Down to the main Earth near Long Deverell, where we suppose he went to Earth, as the Earths were unluckily open, thoug-h the Hounds, from the total want of scent, did not, or could not, mark him
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Friday, Decemher 24th , 1830 — Hard frost
Tuesday, December 28th — Hard frost
Friday, December 31st.'
Met at Stalbridg-e Park;— walking the Hounds on to Frith Wood, where we found immediately, after two rings in Cover, going away close to his brush for Toomer, and over the enclosures into the village of Henstridge, where the Fox was headed, coming back at a pressing pace to Caundle Brake, and on to Purse Caundle and Hanover Wood, and along Milborne Moor to Goathill, and through Lord Digby's Park to Haydon , and under Ashcombe Wood, to the Caundle Holts, where the Hounds got up to him and killed after a very good run of two hours and thirty-five minutes
Tuesday, January 4th. 1831.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Compton Castle, where they were fortunate in finding immediately, tlie wind south-east, cold and piercing, and the frost by no means out of the ground; with a very moderate scent therefore, they went away with him over the Down by Sigwells to the Earths at this place, which he tried, and sunk the hill for the valley near Cadbury Castle, where he was headed, and returned to Compfon Wood, ivhere the Hounds got up to him, forcing him again to take the open, and to try the Earths a second time ; but finding them effectually stopped, he made his way to Sutton, and over the very steep hill there, for Corton, and on for the fine (Somerset) vale leading to Rimpton, where the scent mended, the Pack having left the cold sandy soil of the hills for the rich and fertile pastures of this extensive vale ; the frost, also, being nearly subdued by the improved temperature which began to prevail. From Rimpton the Hounds bent their heads towards Marston, and through that parish to
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Broug-ht forward. • . .
Queen Camel, crossing" the river to Ilazelgrove, where they g"ot up to him, and g'oing' away across the fine enclosures at this place for North Barrow, pointing" lor Babcary, ran into this old and gallant Fox m open view, after a very superior run of three hours and a quarter, having" covered at least twenty miles of ground
Friday, January 7th, 1831.
Met this day at Horwood Well ; — walking- the Hounds on to Mr. Phelips's Plantation at Cucklingtou, where we found immediately, going" away at a moderate pace (the frost being- still severe and the ground hard on the hills, &e.,) to Stoke Trister, and across Leigh Common to Charlton Musg-rove, where we ran our Fox to a drain; bolting and running him to Bayford and over Stoke Conygar to Cucklington, where we saw our Fox at the end of one hour and ten minutes, dead beat, enter a hedge close before us ; at this moment the Hounds were hallooed on to a fresh Fox, going away at a tremendous pace (the frost having nearly disappeared) for Stoke Trister, and over Leigh Common, where the Fox was viewed close before the Hounds — to Charlton Musgrove and on to Stavordale Wood, and through it to King's Wood under Alfred's Tower, and over the Commons to Yarnfield and Kilming-ton, pointing for Bradley, (where the Fox was headed by a pai-ty of shooters,) turning his head for Grove Wood, and through it to Hicks's Park and on to West End AVood, where the Hounds unluckily changed, and were stopped, after a brilliant run of one hour and thirty-five minutes. .
Tuesday, January 11th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Pos-
tlebury Wood, where they found immediately ; going
away close to the brush of the dog Fox to Marston, the
Carried forward.
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Brought forward . .
seat of the Earl of Cork, and across the rale to Nunney, where they ran their Fox to a drain at the end of one hour and five minutes, bolting^ and killing him on the drain
Friday, January 14th, 1831.
A large Field met the Blackmoor Vale Hounds this day at Stock House, from whence we walked the Hounds to Rooksmoor, where a brace and half of Foxes were soon found, the Hounds going- away with one to Dead- moor, and over Hazelbury Common to Humber Wood and Shortwood, at the edge of which Cover we were brought to a check, the Fox having been evidently cour- sed by a sheep dog : from this place we got upon him again, near Canning Court Dairy House, hunting him on had terms io the King Stag Inn, where we heard that he had been seen crossing the river for Stock Wood; to this place the Hounds were trotted on, where they got up to him and killed, after two hours and fifty minutes very hard work. Upon taking up the head of this very old dog Fox, it was discovered that he tvas the same Fox which we found in Rooksmoor on the twenty-ninth of January, 1830, running him to a rabbit's hole in Shortwood on that day, in one hour and forty minutes, ear-marking and letting him go
Tuesday, January, 18th.
Found this day in Annis Hill Gorse; — going away close to his brush, and maintaining a very sharp burst indeed for forty minutes, when he was unfortunately cour- sed by a cur, which brought us to hunting terms, and we eventually lost him near Kingsdon, pointing for the Kingweston Woods, the Hounds appearing to mark him, though not firmly, at some drains near a farm house
Carried forward ....
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Brought forward .... Friday, January 21st, 1831.
We found this day a very g-allant Fox at Inwood; — breaking- Cover close to his brush for Yeanston, but being- headed there, he made his point for Henstridg-e Bow- den and on to Temple Coonibe "Wood, and through it with- out a turn, and at a pressing- pace for Stowel Hill, where he was coursed by a sheep do^, which as usual, broug-ht us to hunting" terras; the Hounds, however, by a forward cast, were got upon his line ag-ain at Tenant's Wood, and were hitting- him well into Compton Wood, when they were maliciously hallooed back to Tenant's Wood by
the young- Messrs. B. , of Charlton, who secreted
themselves as the Field approached
Tuesday, January 25th Frost
Friday, January 29th Frost
Tuesday, February 1st Frost with Snow
Saturday, February 5th Frost
Tuesday, February 8th
Met at Compton Castle; — drawing- those Covers, blank. Taking^ the Hounds on to Elscombe Wood, they found immediately, running- him with a very bad scent (as the frost was g-oing off) towards Hoi ton, and through the Yarlington Covers, for fifty minutes ; when we were beaten out of scent, and lost him in the road opposite Yarlington Lodg-e
Friday, February llth.
A larg-e Field met the Blackmoor Vale Hounds this day at Stock House. At eleven o'clock we drew the Covers south of the road and found a leash of Foxes, ^oing- away at a pressing pace to the river, and thence to Rooksmoor and Deadmoor, and on to Sturminster Common, (which the Hounds reached in thirty-one minutes!) where the Fox was coursed by two
Carried forward ....
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curs, hut after great perseverance ice eventually got up to him, and killed in the open between Thornhill House and Stalbridg^e Common, in two hours and a quarter
Friday, February 15th, 1831.
Met this day at Maiden Bradley ; — finding imme- diately in Penny's Wood, and in forty minutes as we were killing and tlie Hounds in vieto, the Fox un- luckily went to Earth near Long-leat. Found a second in Bradley Wood, going- away with him on killing terms to Horsingsham Hill, and nearly to Bradley Knoll, where he also went to Earth, all but in view, in thirty-five minutes !
Friday, February 18th.
Met at Stalbridge Park ; finding in Frith Wood,
and going away, all but in view, to Caundle Brake, and over Toomer Farm to the verge of Inwood, crossing the Yeanston road and down the vale under Henstridge, towards the River Cale, where the Hounds ran up to their Fox and killed in the open in forty minutes. Found a second in Caundle Brake;^ — running him to Frith Wood, and across the enclosures towards Stal- bridge Weston to Plumley Wood, and through it for the Caundle Holts, icliere toe changed to a brace of fresh Foxes after a severe run of two hours, and went home late in the evening ;
Tuesday, February 22nd.
Met at Stourton Inn ; — drawing Norwood, Deverell Longwood, and the dells on the Mere Downs, blank; our Fox having been disturbed by some women picking wood, before we arrived. Drew Bradley and Penny's Wood, blank, also
Carried forward ....
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Broug-ht forward .... Saturday, February 26th, 1831.
Met this day at Pointington Ridg-e, with a driving" rain, and wind blowing* very hard from the north-west ; — drawing' the Gorse between Coombe Farm and Trent we found a g-allant dog" Fox immediately, g'oing* away on pretty g"ood terms over the Earths at Coombe Farm to Sherborne Field, and across the water meadows at Oborne by Crackmoor to Sherborne Park, and over the Earths at Hanover to Plumley and by the Caundle Holts near- ly to the river, bordering" the Plantations adjoining" Stock House; where he was headed: turning" a little upward over the fallows by Mr. Digby's Brake for the enclosures near Hoi well, and crossing" the river near Holwell Church, where the Pack ran into him in the open near Holwell Common in two hours and
two minutes, over fifteen miles of ground
Friday, March 1st.
Met this day at Leigh Common ; — finding" a brace of Foxes in that disting-uished and hig-hly respected sportsman's Plantations, Mr. W. Phelips, at Cuck- lington, and in a brilliant burst of forty minutes, killing a fine dog- Fox in the open close to Wyke House. After drawiiig" 'till half-past two, we found a second in King's Wood, near Alfred's Tower, running" one to Earth and g"etling" away with the other throng"h the whole line of the Stourton Covers to Pen Forest, and crossing; the Wincanton Road to Stoke Trister, where this gallant Fox made his way to the Plantation at Cucklington and throug"h it without a turn by Shanks House to Buckhorn Weston, and down the fine vale to Rodgrove Coppice, and to the River Cale, which he crossed ; traversing" the whole extent of the vale to Temple Coombe, and Hor- singtou Marsh, Yeauston, and nearly to the villag"e of Henstridg"e ; turning his head direct for the Cover of Inwood, where we viewed him, dead beat, close before the Hounds, when they unluckily changed to afresh
Carried forward .
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( 88 )
Broug-ht forward ....
Fox^ and Avere with difficulty stopped, lohennearly dark, between Caundle Brake and Milborne East Hill, having- covered a g-ood twenty miles of ground in this
brilliant and extraordinary run
Saturday, March 5th, 1831.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day at Batcombe Wood, near Bruton, the wind south-west, with a driving" rain ; — finding immediately, they went away in a few minutes, on only middling* terms, across the enclosure by Batcombe Lodge, and on to Asham Wood (of 600 acres,) across the corner of which they made direct for the alpine heights of Mendip, hunting their Fox over the heaths and furzes of that wild and romantic region to a place called Lye, Avhere the Fox was ap- parently lost in a heavy fog and rain, having been headed by some furze-cutters on the moor. By taking the Hounds on about two miles, he was recovered, in a very masterly manner, in Lye Wood, the Pack racing him through the fine Covers and Park of Colonel Hor- ner, at Mells, and on to Vallis and little Elm, near Frome, where a most curious sight presented itself: — In the rocky gorge of the valley, at the base of a tree onerhanging the mountain torrent, the Hounds toere at bay, and on the top of the tree, twenty feet above the ground in a mass of ivy, the Fox was seen at perch ; from whence he made his leap into the stream beloic, a favourite Hound and the Fox sinking to the bottom together i Thus ended a run of four hours and forty-five minutes, over every variety of ground — a good twenty-five miles having been covered in this curious and extraordinary chase, ivhich extended through thirteen parishes /
Wednesday, March 9th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Stock
Carried forward ....
( 89 )
Brought forward . .
House, where a larg-e and select Field were assembled. They found immediately in Stock Wood, going- away (after being headed back in Cover as usual,) to Rowden Mill, and over the river to Bishop's Caundle, and within a few fields of Caundle Wood, where the Fox was again headed, the Hounds running him toStourton Caundle and killing him in one hour and twenty minutes. The Hounds were then taken to the south Cover under the Keeper's Lodge, where a brace and half of Foxes were soon upon their legs, and after running in Cover, changing and heading back for a considerable time, the Hounds got away with one to Rodmoor, and nearly to Holwell Borough, killing him near Woodbridge, in one hour and forty minutes.. .
Saturday, March 12th, 1831.
On this day we drew Sparkford Wood, Annis Hill, Yarlington, and Elscombe Wood, blank, in a very heavy rain
Tuesday, March 15th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Pos- tlebury Wood ; — finding a short running vixen Fox in this extensive Cover, with the wind at south-west, wnfZer a very heavy rain ; running her for nearly two hours, with an execrable scent, when the Hounds were stopped, at the request of the whole Field
Friday, March 18th.
Met at Inwood, where we found immediately ;
going away at a killing pace to Temple Coombe W^ood, and to Cherton Lower Wood, and on to Maperton, making for Elscombe Wood, from whence the Hounds fairly turned him, running him all but in view into a drain, leading under a house at Cheriton, in a brilliant burst of one hour and five minutes*
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Tuesdav, March 22;ul, 1831.
Broil g-ht forward ,
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met at Charlton Hore- thcrne on Tuesday the twenty-second of March, and Avere walked on to the celebrated Gorse Cover of Caundle Brake, where they found their Fox immediately, going- away close to his brush throiig-h Frith Wood to Plumley Wood, and on to Ashcombe Wood, Haydon, and Goat- hill, making their way throug-h Sherborne Park, to Honeycombe Wood, crossing" the corner of it by Lil- lington, through Thornford to Beerhacket, sinking' the hill at Knig-hton for Frankham Farm, within a few fields of Clifton Wood, pressing- him at a killing pace along" the fine enclosures of the Yetminster Vale to ilvnie, and through the Covers of the Earl of Ilchester at Melbury to Clarkham, in the Parish of Halstock, where they E"ot up to him ; traversing" the open Commons and enclosures at East Chelbnrough at a racing pace nearly to Corscombe, from whence the Pack fairly turned him to West Chelborough, where this g-allant Fox reached his Earth in safety afeic yards heforethe Honnds, after a run of three hours and forty-five minutes, over twenty- five miles of g"round and upwards, through fourteen parishes !
Friday, March 25th.
Mkt this day at the Green Man Inn, at Pulham ; — finding" immediately in Mr. Yeatman's Cover at Rooks- moor, and after a very severe burst of forty minutes by Deadmoor and Fifehead to Haydon, running into cur Fox in the open, killing in view in Holbrook Green. AVhilst the Hounds were eating" this Fox, we heard that another had been seen thirty minutes before^ making" his way to L^dlinch: after hunting" him on bad terms as far as the river, we trotted the Hounds on and hit him into the Stock Woods, (where we disturbed
Carried forward. . . .
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Ijroiig-ilt foi'wai (1 ....
and stopped from a fres!i Fox) fi'oing thioug-'a them without a turn over the Caundle River to Thornhill, and losing" our Fox at last anioiig">t the houses at Stal- bridg'e, having' never been able to get up to him
Monday, March 28th, 1831.
Met at Coombe Farm, ■with a brig-ht sun over head, the wind at north-east and the heat intense! After drawing- the Gorse near Compton, and finding- that the F©x had been disturbed bj the foot people, we wafued the Hounds on to Ashing-ton Wood, where v/e found a short running- vixen Fox, which we ran in a wide rin^T for one hour and a quarter with a 'tno>it execrable scent ^ finally coming- to a stand-still, even in the 3IRADOWS near Yeovil Bridge!
Thursday March 31st.
Met at Thorahill Obelisk; — finding- a vixen Fox in Thornhill Coppice. Drew the adjacent Covers till four o'clock Avithout finding', having- ran through and disturbed them on the Friday preceding
Monday, April 4th.
Found a, brace of Foxes in Hieks's Park, under West End Wood, near Brewham Common; — g"oing- away with the dog- at a tremendous pace, throug-h Brewh<xm Forest and Stavordaie Wood to Leigh Common, where the Fox was headed; pressing' him throug'h Pen Forest, to the Stourton g-rounds, and JciUing him in brilliant style in two hours and fifteen minutes, without a check, near Brewham Common
Friday, March 8th.
Met at Charlton Down; — finding- in Compton W^ood, g-oing- away immediately to Blackford, and over the Earths at Wolston Coppice to Yarling-ton, and on to Elscombe Wood, and down the vale to Redlyncb, where
Carried forward ....
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( 92 )
Brought forward. . . . the Fox was headed, coming- back throut^h VVadham's Down, to Elscombe Wood, where we changed to a
disturbed Fox, stopping- the Hounds token nearly dark.
Tuesday, April 12th, 1831.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met this day at Bat- combe Wood, which they drew, blank, but found in Monk Wood, near Mendip; coming- away with him at the top of their speed across the enclosures to Batcombe Wood, and across the corner of it for Woolly Wood, and by Henley Wood, skirting- the town of Bruton for Cogley Wood, near Redlynch Park, where the Hounds got up to and killed him in fifty minutes, without a check
Saturday April 16th.
The Blackmoor Vale Hounds met on this day, for the last thne, at Stoarton Inn; — finding their Fox on Bidcombe Down; after a ring or two upon the hill, he went away for the Marquis of Bath's Covers, but was unluckily coursed by two cur dogs, and lost, there being net a particle of scent on the Down. The Hounds were then "walked down to the Bradley Lower Wood, where they found immediately; running their Fox on very good terms for forty minutes, but when killing, he slipped into a small Earth, where he was left, at the
request of the Gentlemen who lo ere present
Total ....
36
W
12
37 13
Signed.,
JOHN CHANNING,
Huntsman to the Blackmoor Vale Hounds.
END OF THE FIFTH SEASON.
{"i^Hunted during the season 58 days.
Blank days 5
Found on 53 days.
Killed and Earthed, 50 Foxes.
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Killed and Earthed from the 20th of } tr. PnY^c February to the 5th of April, 1826 ..) ^^xes.
Killed & Earthed during the 1st Season 44 Foxes.
Killed & Earthed during- the 2nd Season 48 Foxes.
Killed & Earthed during the 3rd Season 50 Foxes. Killed & Earthed during the 4th Season 46 Foxes.
Killed & Earthed during the 5th Season 50 Foxes.
Total Foxes Killed and Earthed. . 248
^