V THE MEYNELL

Another classic shire pack, The Meynell occupies palatial accommodation in manicured grounds and is, quite properly, listed. It would be a tragedy if these superbly planned buildings were to be put to a use other than that for which they were originally designed.

They stand alone, north of Sudbury, but their setting is perhaps one of the most challenging and beautiful hunting landscapes in the country.

It is known for its many fine hedges and switch-back landscape which makes for very exciting hunting.

The sample Historic Hunting Landscape chosen here lies around Marston Montgomery and Somersal Herbert, bordered to the south by the busy dual carriageway of the A50 and contrastingly very different countryside beyond.

In truth, however, almost any part of The Meynell country could have been chosen as characteristic. The drawing by F A Stewart shows just such another. Drawn in 1934, it shows how little the landscape has changed in over 60 years.

A painting from over a hundred years before, however, would likewise show hardly any change.

If ever the setting of a listed building were to be deemed to extend far and wide, surely it is the setting of The Meynell Hunt Kennels.

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Date uploaded to site 26 April 2000