Monument to a Foxhound...................................................................... Bluecap



The monument to Blue Cap at the Kennels of the Cheshire Hunt.... Grade II listed.

Cheshire Hunt Kennels

My favourite Conker Tree in the 1960's

I went back to Sandiway today to get a picture of the memorial to the foxhound Blue Cap. As kids we used to collect conkers (Horse Chestnuts) from the big tree in the stable yard and often got chased away by the kennel staff.

 I was prepared to ask for permission to enter the kennels (now defunct as fox hunting with hounds is now banned in the UK) but there was no one around so I had a wander around just as we used to 45 years ago. The clock on the stable has a sign saying it had been reconditioned in 1961 funded by members of the Cheshire Hunt.

 Just past this building is the memorial to Blue Cap and what a grand memorial it is.

 There is a plaque on the stone telling the story of the dog but I found it very hard to read as it is over 250 years old and written in hand script.

To the Memory of old Bluecap a Fox Hound the late Property of the Hon. John Smith Barry

This obelisk Reader is a Monument rais'd

To a shade, tho' a Hound, that deserves to be prais'd

For if Life's but a Stage where on each act a Part

And true greatness a Form, that's deriv'd from the Heart

If Fame, Honour and Glory depend on the Deed

Then O Bluecap, rare Bluecap, will boast of thy Breed

If not a Tear, yet a Glass, will we pour on the Brute

So high fam'd as he was in the glorious Pursuit

But no more of this Theme, since the Life's but a Race

And Bluecap but gone to the Death of the Chace

More info here.

.http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1700532706919063658&postID=354550539672259613 ....

and here

http://rambleswithacamera.blogspot.com/2011/01/treecreepers-circling-up-trees.html