i62 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



Staveley Society were the next, in 1851, to offer premiums for Herd- 

 wicks, followed by Orton in i860 and Shap in 1861. It was not till 

 1865 that the Kendal Society, ever the last to encourage speciahzation 

 in specific breeds, gave two classes for Herdwicks, when there were 

 ten entries. The West Cumberland Fell Dales Sheep Association 

 was formed in 1844 for the special purpose of developing and pro- 

 moting the interest in Herdwicks. The annual shows were formerly 

 held in turn at Loweswater, Netherwasdale, and Ennerdale Bridge, 

 but were removed to Woolpack Inn, in Eskdale, in 1864. At first 

 there was great rivalry between the Allerdale-above-Derwent and 

 Allerdale-below-Derwent breeders, but now all are united and the 

 classes open. In 1848 there were ninety-four competitors in ten 

 Herdwick classes, including two for the best white-fleeced sheep of 

 the genuine Herdwick breed, the premiums in which were given b}- 

 the Keswick manufacturers. In 1910 the show was held on September 

 30th, when there were 21 classes devoted to the breed. In the class 

 for the ten best tups for sale or hire there were 57 entries, the first 

 prize for which was £2 2S. Of these 570 rams, 20 or about 4I per 

 cent, were without horns, and many others had horns of diminutive size. 

 The Association also holds a spring show on the first Friday in May, 

 when the tups which have been let for hire at the previous autumn 

 show are returned. There are three classes : Aged Tups, Twinters 

 and Shearlings, and Hogs. 



The Troutbeck Herdwick and other Sheep Association was formed 

 in 1868 ; they held their annual shows in a field near the " Mortal 

 Man." At the first show there were 14 classes for Herdwicks and 

 four for white-faced tups for getting half-bred lambs from Herdwick 

 ewes. The show was a great success as long as it lasted, but it came 

 to an end in 1875 through foot and mouth disease breaking out badly 

 in the district. 



The Bampton Association for the Improvement of Mountain 

 Sheep held their first show on October 23rd, 1876, in connection with 

 the old Bampton Tup Fair, which was always held on old Michaelmas 

 Day. There were 6 classes for Herdwicks, 10 for black-faced sheep, 

 and 2 for white-faced tups. Ten females were shown to each entry 

 in the female classes. It continued to flourish tiU 1898. 



Although there is no stud-book for Herdwicks, careful records 



