SHEEP BREEDS
In this section we have included some pictures and brief information about each of the sheep breeds whose fibres we sell. We hope you find it interesting. If you would like to know more about other British sheep breeds take a look at the National Sheep Association site.
Black Welsh Mountain
This coloured sheep is an ancient breed and was described in Welsh writings from the middle ages. They are relatively small black sheep with dense fleeces and no wool on their face or legs below their knees. The males have horns. Flocks are concentrated in Wales with smaller flocks throughout the UK.
Image provided by kind permission of the Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Breeders' Association.
Bluefaced Leicester
(Fibres available here)
The Bluefaced Leicester originated near Hexham in Northumberland in the early part of the 1900s. It is a large sheep which takes its name from the characteristic blue skin on the head which shows through the white hair. Bluefaced Leicester rams are commonly bred with ewes from other breeds to produce commercial crossbred ewes known as mules. Flocks are located throughout the UK.
Image provided by kind permission of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheepbreeders Association.
Cheviot
(Fibres available here)
There are two distinct breeds of Cheviot sheep: the South Country Cheviot originating from the Scottish borders, and the North Country Cheviot which was developed when 500 sheep were moved to North West Scotland over 200 years ago. Both are large rugged hill sheep.
Corriedale
(Fibres available here)
The Corriedale was simultaneously evolved in both Australia and New Zealand about 1874 by cross breeding Merino and Lincoln sheep with the aim of creating a breed that would thrive in lower rainfall areas. Nowadays the breed is farmed in Australia, New Zealand, USA and South America.
Image supplied by kind permission of the Australian Corriedale Association. It shows a two year old ram from the Sweetfield stud in Victoria, Supreme Champion Corriedale Exhibit at the 2007 Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
Herdwick
(Fibres available here)
The name Herdwick comes from a Norse word meaning sheep pasture. The origin of the breed itself is unknown, but the most common theory is that the ancestors of Herdwick sheep were introduced by early Norse settlers. Herdwick are very hardy sheep which can survive on the high fells. Flocks today are still concentrated in the Lake District.
Image provided by Dorothy Wilkinson, Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association.
The sheep have traditional red backs, which are now used for making the sheep more attractive when they are shown, but historically it is believed this was used to help the farmers locate their tups (rams) on the fells. Iron ore dust was originally used but it can now be purchased as Herdwick red in tubs.
Jacob
(Fibres available here)
The Jacob sheep takes its name from the story told in the Old Testament Book of Genesis of how Jacob became a selective breeder of pied sheep, but are probably of Norse origin. They are mainly white with black patches and both sexes have large horns - either two or four. There are Jacob flocks throughout the UK.
Merino
(Fibres available here)
The Merino is the most economically influential breed of sheep in the world, prized for its wool. Originally bred in Spain they are now located all over the world with particular concentrations in Australia, S.Africa and USA.
Norwegian
(Fibres available here)
There are a variety of sheep breeds in Norway. This image depicts what is believed to be a spælsau sheep.
Shetland
(Fibres available here)
Shetland sheep are an ancient breed, said to have been brought to the Shetland Islands by Vikings in the 8th Century. Shetland are small sheep which may have fleece in a variety of different colours.
Image of Heather and Flora provided by kind permission of the Shetland Sheep Society.
Swaledale
(Fibres available here)
Swaledales are our "local" breed and are common throughout northern England. They probably originated from the genetic group of horned sheep. They are a bold, hardy sheep well suited to the hardships of exposed and high lying ground.
The ewes have proved to be most excellent lamb rearers, with ideal mothering abilities in all conditions. The Swaledale can now be found in both the hills and lowlands of Britain, producing both pure bred and the well known North of England Mule (a Blue Faced Leicester cross).
Image provided by kind permission of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association.
Teeswater
Teeswater sheep, indigenous as their name implies to Teesdale in County Durham, have been bred by farmers in that area for almost two hundred years.They are now classified as Endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
Image by kind permission of Andrew Fisher.
Wensleydale
(Fibres available here)
The breed originated in North Yorkshire early in the 19th Century from a cross between a long since extinct local longwool breed from the region of the River Tees and an outstanding Dishley Leicester ram named "Bluecap". The fleece of this coloured sheep is widely agreed to be the finest and most valuable lustre longwool in the world. They are now classified as At Risk by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
Image provided by kind permission of Sheila Leech, Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders' Association.