APPENDIX S 741 



writes as follows: " Spooner's History of Sheep (1844), 

 says : * The Penistone is a breed of sheep found on the 

 borders of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire, on a 

 heathy tract of land about twenty-six miles in length by 

 twenty in breadth, and they are called the " Penistone " from 

 the market town of that name, where they are sold. They 

 are described by Mr [Prof] Low as having wool of a medium 

 length, of a silky appearance, but harsh and wiry, and 

 weighing from 4 Ibs. to 5 Ibs. the fleece. They have white 

 faces and legs. The rams exceed the size of the ewes and 

 wethers in a universal degree, a peculiarity which is ascribed 

 to their being taken to the lower country to be reared. The 

 rams alone 1 have horns, which are very large, lying close to 

 the head and projecting forward. A distinguishing character 

 of this breed is an extreme coarseness of form, and especially 

 of the extremities. The feet are large, the limbs long, the 

 shoulders heavy, the sides flat, but the most singular charac- 

 teristic is the length and muscularity of the tail, in which 

 respect the Penistone sheep differ from all others in the 

 country. This enlargement of the tail is merely muscular 

 and long, and not analogous to the growth of fat which takes 

 place in the tails of certain sheep of Eastern countries. The 

 mutton of these sheep is highly valued for its juiciness and 

 flavour.' 



" Formerly many parties kept flocks of this breed, as the 

 extract below, from the book containing the orders of the 

 Shepherds' Society, held at Saltersbrook, by the principal 

 sheep keepers in the Liberties of Woodlands, Penistone, 

 Bradfield, Longdendale, Saddleworth, Holmfirth, Glossop, 

 and Kinder, and the marks distinguishing their sheep, printed 

 in 1807, will show: Orders. At a meeting held at the 

 house of Thomas Taylor, at Saltersbrook, on the 2Oth July 

 1807, the following conditions were agreed on by those who 

 entered into this Society : I. That two meetings be held at 

 the aforesaid place annually, the first on the 2Oth of July, 

 and the second on the 5th November, except those days 

 happen on a Sunday, then on the day following. II. Any 

 person bringing strayed sheep to the above meeting, the 

 owner or owners of such sheep shall pay or cause to be paid 

 reasonable expenses for taking up, keeping, and bringing 

 1 Not so ; both have horns. 



