124 



THE RYELAND SHEEP. 



(Bt de. bull.) 



The very interesting book just published by Richard Johnson, Esq., the 

 Town Clerk (suddenly deceased as these pages pass through the press), "On the 

 ancient customs of the city of Hereford," bears testimony to the value of the wool 

 from Archenfield and its high breed of sheep in the beginning of the sixteenth 

 century. The passage refers to certain " Statutes Merchant " still existing in 

 the Records of the city, and is as follows :— "In the reign of Henry VIII. a wool 

 merchant named Thomas Gibbons entered into a contract before the Mayor to 

 deliver to Watkin Carreway and William Gynaght thirty stone of good and 

 able packed wool of the best veynes within Irchinjicld in the county of Hereford, to 

 be tried by John Warnecombe, or such other person as the said Watkin or William 

 should appoint for the trial of the wool, by the feast of St. Peter called 

 Advincula." Two sureties entered into a bond to the amount of eighty pounds 

 that Gibbons should fulfil the aforesaid agreement. Another dealer, John Lloyd, 

 also agreed to deliver to Carreway and Gynaght "eleven stone of good and able 

 packed wool of the best veynes ivithin Trchinfield, and gave security that he would 

 well and truly perform this contract."— (pp. 87 and 88). The exact date of 

 these "Statutes Merchant" is the 3rd of Henry VIII. (1511). 



The origin of the Ryeland breed of sheep is not known. The true Merino 

 sheep may possibly have been specially introduced by some spirited agriculturist, 

 or, as seems more probable, since they so soon took the name of the district, 

 the introduction of the blood into Herefordsliire was simply accidental. Be this 

 as it may, in the light, warm soU of Archinfield they flourished admirably, and 

 well rewarded the care bestowed upon them. " A singular custom in the 

 management of sheej)," says Lodge in his history of Herefordshire (1793), "has 

 long prevailed in the Ryelands, which is that of housing them in cots during 

 the night, as well in summer as winter." And this method of treating the 

 Ryeland sheep was followed within the memory of agiiculturists still living. 

 It seems to point out their origin from a warmer climate, or to the delicacy of the 

 breed, but of course many other reasons may also be given for it. 



The Ryeland sheep were very small in size, whitefaced, and hornless, 

 but without the peculiar "reeve" on the nose which is said to have been tlistinctive 

 of the true Merino race. The ewes when fat weighed only from eight to eleven 

 pounds, and the wethers from ten to fifteen pounds the quarter. In sjTnmetry 

 of shape, and in the flavour of their meat, they were superior to most flocks in 

 England ; whilst in the quality of their wool they were wholly unrivalled. The 

 delicacy of its texture, and the silkiness of its pile, soon made it renowned, and 

 gave at length an European fame to Herefordshire wool. 



" Beautious Albion, since great Edgar chas'd 

 The prowling wolf, with many a lock appears 

 Of sillty lustre ; chief, Silufia, thine, 

 Thine Vaoa, favour'd stream." — Dyer'i " Fleeec. 



