170 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



The common Blackfaeed ewes of the adjacent parts of Lancashire 

 and Yorkshire were extensively crossed with Warton Crag rams and it 

 was by keeping closer to this cross than to any other that the variety 

 of Blackfaeed sheep now known as the " Lonk " has been evolved. 



The breed was always held in very few hands, and has been 

 decreasing in numbers for the last 30 or 40 years. It is now extinct, 

 for there are only five pure ewes known alive, two in one hand and three 

 in another. The nearest approach to a pure-bred ram is one on a 

 farm near Arnside. A few years ago Cornthwaite, of Holme, put his 

 few remaining ewes to a Dorset-horned ram, and a result of this cross 

 was a very large and fine Dorset-Silverdale ram, and this on a pure 

 Silverdale ewe produced the ram above referred to. 



As might well be supposed, the Burton Agricultural Society had 

 two classes for the breed at their first show in 1833, one each for the 

 best shearling ram and one for the best three gimmers, for which 

 there were nine entries ; and in 1862, six years after this show had 

 amalgamated with the Milnthorpe Society, there were two classes 

 in which there were twelve competitors. 



In 1863, for the first time at the Kendal Agricultural Show, there 

 were two classes given to the breed, and the last occasion on which 

 there was a class for the breed at any show was at Kendal at the 

 Jubilee Show in 1899, when there were again two classes for them, 

 which only attracted one entry in each, this being from R. Parker, of 

 Moss End, Farlton. 



Wensleydales. — The large boned, hornless Teeswater, " as big 

 as a jackass and with long, watery wool, whose 16-inch fibres might 

 be counted," according to Mr. Wetherall, were reduced by a cross 

 with the Leicesters, and from this cross the present-day Wensleydales 

 have been evolved. The breed originated from " Blue Cap," which 

 was bred in 1839 by R. Outhwaite from a Teeswater ewe by a 

 very big Leicester ram, hired from Sonley, of Kirkby Moorside, for 

 40 guineas for the season. " Blue Cap " was not only noted for his 

 size and symmetry, but for the deep blue colour about his head, ears, 

 and skin, a feature which has been perpetuated in his descendants 

 — hence the name " blue faces " by which they are known. 



Prior to 1876 the name " Mug " was applied to the breed, but 

 in that year, at the Yorkshire Agricultural Societies Show, at the 



