174 



WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE. 1800-1900 



in June, July, and August ; the wool on offer brought from iid. to 

 1/6 per lb. It only continued for a few years. 



On June 29th, 1861, the first Penrith Wool Fair was held, when 

 24,321 fleeces were on offer, comprising : — 



Leicesters 

 Cheviots 

 Southdowns 

 Mules . . 

 Herd wicks 

 Black-faced 



2274 



254 



200 



4918 



4723 



4205 



On July 29th, 1863, the Northern Counties Wool Sales were 

 started in Kendal by Whitwell, Busher & Co., in their large ware- 

 house near the station. At this sale the Levens Hall clip of Southdown 

 wool brought 2/0 J per lb., and I3jd. per lb. was paid for a fine lot 

 of Herd wick wool. The sales have been held periodically by the 

 same firm and their successors, Whitwell, Hargreaves & Co., ever since. 



Speaking at an agricultural dinner in 1862, Ed. Busher esti- 

 mated the quantity of Herdwick wool grown in Cumberland, West- 

 morland and North Lancashire at 2,000,000 lbs. ; Black- faced wool, 

 about the same weight, and Leicester, Cheviot and Southdown together 

 about 1,000,000 lbs. 



The same gentleman at the Kendal Farmers' Club in 1870 gave 

 the price of Black-faced Westmorland wool : — 



1851 

 1852 

 1853 

 1854 

 1855 

 1856 

 1857 

 1858 



1859 

 i860 

 1861 



6id 



6Jd 



7^d, 



9id 



6^ 



6id 



9id 



7id 



8d. 



7jd 



8 id 



per lb. at the beginning of the year. 



lb. 



For the value of Herdwick wool |d. to id. per lb. should be added 

 to the above prices, when a fairly correct a\'erage will be obtained. 

 Herdwick wool was principally used at Keswick, Cockermouth and 



