230 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



This was formed into the " Bampton Sheep Association for the Improve- 

 ment of Mountain Sheep " for the parishes of Bampton, Shap, Askew, 

 and Barton in 1S76, the annual shows being held on Old Michaelmas 

 Day, the original fair day. To Herdwicks six classes were sdlotted, 

 Black-faced 10 classes, White-faced tups for crossing two classes. Each 

 entry in the female classes to contain 10 ewes or gimmers. It ended 

 its useful career a few years ago. 



Crook Fair was first started in 1838. It was held on October 

 5th in each year, but owing to lack of support the date was changed, 

 in 1841, to the 5th of April, when there was a sow and seven young 

 pigs, two geese, and a gander on show, and it was held on that date 

 till 1843, on which occasion there were only four cows and four farmers 

 present, and the latter had a farewell dinner together at the Inn. An 

 effort was made in 1844 to revive the fair, and a meeting was held 

 on August 17th in that year, when it was decided to hold the fair again 

 on the 4th of October, together with a Show of Cattle, etc., for prizes 

 in 17 classes, to be followed by sports. In this form it continued till 

 1847, after which date the show met with varying success, 

 for keen competitors sprang up when the Staveley Agricultural Society 

 was formed in 185 1 and the Underbarrow and Crosthwaite Society 

 in 1859 ; in spite of these it struggled gamely on till 1863, when 

 its final gathering was held on the date of the original fair, October 

 5th. This show was a failure on account of a drove of Irish cattle 

 which were reported to be suffering from the " distemper " or " slavering 

 disease " being turned into the show-field the night previous. The 

 owners of stock drove their animals home again, and the rain, which 

 fell in torrents, completed the discomfiture of the little society. 



The High Borrow Bridge Cattle Show was started in conjunction 

 with the fair held there on the 12th of September, 1848. The show 

 was limited to Borrowdale, Fawcett Forest, Whitwell and Selside, 

 Longsleddale, Whinfell, Bretherdale and Birbeck Fells ; one of the 

 rules was that no fat cattle could compete for the prizes. The sheep 

 classes were for ram of the Homed Fell breed, half-bred lambs of a Fell 

 cross, and Herdwicks. In 1857 the name and venu were changed to 

 Selside, Grayrigg, and Mountain District Agricultural Society and the 

 shows held at Grayrigg, when the classes for sheep were Improved 

 breed. Horned Fell sheep, and Horned gimmer lambs of a Fell cross. 



