The year is 1900. That was the date on the Flock Book I recently had the privilege to browse through whilst on a short holiday in Sussex.
Members numbered 138. Registered ewes put to the ram in the autumn of 1899 was 37,090. This equates to approximately 270 ewes per member.
It was on the showground of the Royal Counties Society at Portsmouth when our Society, as we know it today, was first formed by Southdown Flock masters in the year 1891. Soon afterwards the Southdown Sheep Club, which had been in existence for approximately three years, was persuaded to amalgamate its followers with the then recently formed Southdown Society.
The first President of the Southdown Sheep Society, which, incidentally, is the oldest of all Down Breeds, was Earl Bathurst in 1898.
New members, upon election to the Society, paid an entrance fee of ten shillings and sixpence (52½ pence) and a subscription for the first year of ten shillings and six pence. The subsequent annual subscription was one pound, one shilling (105 pence). Registration of ewe lambs cost one shilling (5 p) and ram lambs two shillings (10 p).
Champion rams at the Royal Show and the Sussex County Show were awarded ten guineas. What would that be worth today? In addition, two Champion Silver Medals, one for the best male Southdown and the other for the best pair of female Southdowns were offered at the following shows:- East Kent, Gloucester, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Royal Counties, Sussex, and Tunbridge Wells. This, I feel sure, encouraged members to exhibit. The Royal Counties Agricultural Society at Windsor in 1899 included a "Ram of any age" class, the only one I could find in records of that era.
At the 1899 Smithfield Show, the Prince of Wales' sheep won the £15 and Cup for the Best Pen of Southdowns, were Reserve for the £50 Champion Plate for the best pen of short wool sheep, and for the £100 Challenge Cup for the Best Pen of Sheep in the show.
Fifty years ago my father bought Southdown lambs and Kent half breds to run on stubbles and, later in the year, grassland where the dairy herd had grazed before being housed for the winter. These had been shorn before being sold. That was when wool had value. These lambs were probably culls from registered flocks or commercial Southdowns. The cost of these was £3 for Southdowns and £4 for Kent half breds. They had all been graded by Christmas, having had no supplementary feeding, and "turned over" within four months of purchase. "Turned over" being local terminology for doubling in value. The reason these lambs did so well without supplementary feeding was because they were on "clean ground", not having sheep on it for at least twelve months previously.
I added that information for those who are probably new members but not necessarily qualified stock persons. These lambs were so docile compared with local breeds. In those days I never ever thought I would be breeding a pedigree flock myself. This came about partly through nostalgia from experience of the breed commercially, as previously explained, the other influence came from my wife Doris's enthusiasm for the breed.
Where there are pedigree sheep shows, there is also much talk of pedigrees and the prizes awarded. After the actual showing, the satisfaction when exhibiting is to be awarded a major prize. We experienced this when winning the male championship at the Royal Show in 1998. This was even more satisfying for us, as we had bred the animal, fed it, and trimmed it for the big day.
Professional shepherds years ago did this and were extremely proud of their flocks and accomplishments. Not for them modern buildings for lambing but lambing folds made from hurdles in the midst of nowhere, sometimes Shep's (shepherd's) accommodation was nothing more than a glorified hut on wheels adjacent to the sheep fold. Their lives were dedicated to their sheep. It certainly wasn't the wages that caused them to suffer such hardships, as these were meagre in the extreme. The good old days, eh?
I have penned these facts for those readers who have joined the Society in recent years, hoping it will extend their knowledge and their enthusiasm for the breed. It is not an attempt to preach to "The Old Guard". Possibly I shall be accepted to that respectful company shortly myself, if, indeed, not already described as such by some members now.
To end, may I offer a "Shepherd's Toast":
If I had store
By sheep and fold
I'd give you gold.
But since I'm poor
By crook and bell,
I wish you well.
JOHN D. GOODE
Looking back over the last year, I realise now that you only get out of showing the effort you put in. There are no halfway measures. Personally, I've been very lucky this year. The advice and hospitality shown by some of the Southdown members towards me this year has been a real pleasure. Plus the fact that these same members have added some element of fun. Sometimes we can be too serious in the showing stakes. It is far better to enjoy the taking part rather than being a nervous wreck because you have no rosettes at the end of the day.
On a final note, the Southdowns are now becoming a major force at every show. The public, passing comments at the shows I have entered, have really been outstanding. In particular I remember at one show the judge called the champion Southdown the perfect sheep. What a wonderful way to end the showing season. The Southdown is there at the top.
STORMIN NORMIN
"Right. I think I've got everything....white coat (freshly laundered and neatly ironed), halter (well washed and wound up neatly), shirt and tie (of the Southdown Society, naturally), carder (well wrapped up - how often do we run our hands over those, only to realise the thing was the wrong way up and we have to reach for a cloth to mop up?), photographs, rosettes, trophies....."
No, it's not show time - it's the beginning of December and our elder daughter is gathering together all the necessary paraphernalia in order to undergo her GCSE English examination. The topic on which she has chosen to speak at length is "showing sheep", and her only difficulty is keeping within the allotted time. Props and prizes are taken along to assist her, my only wish is that I could be there to listen, just as a fly on the wall, but, of course, this is not allowed! We have to content ourselves with the "tea-table de-brief session", when we can just picture a particularly elderly teacher unable to keep a straight face at having been told that a typical Southdown should have a "leg at each corner".
Looking back, it seems many years ago that this same daughter hung stoically onto lead ropes and it was the sheep on the other end that did the leading!
As elder daughter grew in stature and strength, it became the turn of her younger sister to make an entrance, as the numerous photographs around the walls show - a little blonde girl hanging onto a cuddly "teddybear" of a lamb made many reach for their cameras.
It has been a family activity from the very start; these are children who have been present at the birth, named their lambs, helped eartag, and shuddered when unpleasant tasks were undertaken (who knows of a child who actually enjoys removing maggots?) and got themselves thoroughly soaked when it was bath time for the show sheep.
It remains a family activity - and a fun one into the bargain. We are usually to be found with additional children in tow, meeting up with like-minded friends, swapping stories, and discussing sheep. Of course, the picnic is an important part of the day's outing, and what better way to add flavour to the hurriedly prepared rolls than to sit amongst the sheep, with hands rinsed in their water bucket prior to eating (or not rinsed at all, for that matter). We have sat out in glorious sunshine, seeking shade under trees, and we have huddled together in truck and trailer, in a vain effort to keep at least some items of clothing dry. Fortunately, that particular aroma that exudes from steamy sheep clothing appears to go unnoticed amongst like-minded folk (or perhaps we're all just too polite to mention it!)
We have giggled on the occasions when a hitherto impeccably behaved animal chose its moment, in front of the judge in a crowded show ring, to roll over and play dead, with legs in the air, much to the amusement of the general public.
And how does one keep a straight face when asked those questions by inquisitive members of the public: why has that sheep got such a big udder? (Answer: because it's a ram!)
Yes, it's an occasion for an outing and a picnic, but the buzz one gets from preparing a sheep to look at least half-tidy and, having shown it to the best of one's own ability, to return home with rosettes of the appropriate colour makes the day worthwhile.
It was late August when we said farewell to friends on the sheep circuit for another year. To the amusement of spectators we wished each other Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a successful lambing - until we meet again next April. How time flies!....
GAIL SPRAKE
The Southdown Sheep Society, one of the oldest breed societies, has always been a strong supporter of NSA and there is, of course, a very good reason for this.
As an organisation which is run by sheep farmers for the benefit of the sheep industry, NSA has many quite outstanding achievements to its credit. These include:
NSA also has a close and committed involvement with Government through its contacts, not only at Whitehall and Westminster, but also today with the devolved Governments at Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. Devolution has resulted in a quadrupling of work necessary to get views across, but, as usual, NSA and its officers have risen to the challenge. It is also well known in Brussels and maintains as an important part of its role a regular dialogue with the people directly concerned with sheep and sheep farming.
Whilst welfare, conservation and environment have never been far from the minds of sheep farmers, NSA maintains regular contact with organisations such as the Humane Slaughter Association, the RSPCA, and the Farm Animal Welfare Council. It also meets regularly with organisations involved in conservation, ecology and environment.
All of these issues take up an enormous amount of time and effort but, whilst much of the day-to-day work is carried out by a professional staff, working sheep farmers are involved in formulating the entire direction of the NSA effort.
By joining us as an individual member, you benefit indirectly from advantages gained by the extensive lobbying and consultative processes which NSA involves itself in, but also directly by receiving a copy of the NSA bi-monthly journal, The Sheep Farmer. There are also reduced fees to enter stock at NSA ram sales and to gain entry to one of the NSA's many conferences and open days for sheep farmers.
For further details, contact me, John Thorley, Chief Executive, National Sheep Association, The Sheep Centre, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6PH, tel. 01684 892661. URL - http://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/
Autumn. The sun setting slowly over the Thames. The leaves on the London Plane along the riverbanks take on a beautiful golden hue. As the day draws to a close, tourists jostle for position on the streets with the suited players from the powerhouse of world finance. In amongst all this hustle and bustle they are oblivious to a flock of Southdown sheep, grazing serenely in the shadows of the Houses of Parliament... or.....
A hot sunny day in Summer, just inside the most southerly point of the M25. Mum spreads out the blanket and begins unpacking the picnic. Dad snoozes away, the buzz of grasshoppers and crickets release him from the stresses and strains of working all week in the City. Little Oliver stands in a sea of flowers flying his kite, whilst the twins, Emma and Rosie, race off to visit the sheep: a group of Southdowns, Jacobs, and Southdown x Jacobs grazing nearby.
I think both are wonderful images; the first is a figment of my imagination, the second occurs regularly on any of the four sites which make up the Coulsdon Commons, owned and managed by the Corporation of London.
The Corporation of London is the Local Authority for the "City of London", the financial and commercial heart of Britain. In the late 1800s it became concerned that the free access of Londoners to open countryside was being threatened, through the residential expansion of London. Two Acts of Parliament were passed, which enabled the Corporation to acquire and protect land within 25 miles of the City of London. The Corporation of London now owns and manages in excess of 4048 hectares in and around London for the "recreation and enjoyment of the public". The Coulsdon Commons account for 192 hectares of this figure. They contain an array of natural habitats, including flower-rich chalk downland and meadows, that have become rarer during the final century of the last millennium, due to agricultural intensification. It is the aim of the Corporation to conserve and enhance, where possible, these habitats through the reintroduction of traditional management techniques.
All the Coulsdon Commons have been used for grazing commoners' livestock in the past, until the 1930s, with the exception of one site which was grazed under licence until 1970. The presence of grazing animals helped to prevent the encroachment of scrub onto the valuable chalk downland and meadow habitats. The cessation of grazing saw a rapid spread of scrub. When the topography and terrain would allow, traditional haymaking practices were employed to prevent scrub encroachment. The problem was that areas which were on steep slopes, or had very uneven surfaces, couldn't be hay made and were soon lost to colonisation by scrub. It is often these areas which are the most valuable in conservation terms.
It was decided that a selection of ovine and bovine mowers would be a suitable management tool to run alongside the chainsaws and haymaking equipment. Grazing was reintroduced to the Coulsdon Commons in 1989, using, dare I say it, Jacob sheep. A Southdown flock was started in 1990, with stock purchased from Monty Larkin. A herd of Sussex cattle followed in 1994.
Southdowns were chosen as a breed for us to use for a number of reasons, probably none of which you would list as "outstanding qualities" in the Year Book, but still of great importance to us as an organisation, trying to make the reintroduction of grazing as smooth as possible with local people.
Additional benefits have been:
A pleasure to work with. Something that cannot always be said about colleagues.
SIMON MEEK, CORPORATION OF LONDON, FLOCK NO. 397
"Coke of Norfolk and His Friends", being a life of Thomas Coke, first Earl of Leicester (1754 to 1842), who lived at Holkham Hall in Norfolk, was written in two volumes by A.M.W. Stirling in MCMVIII. They start with a quote from Coke: "I have never received a farthing of the public money - my hands are clean." The Hall at Holkham is large and was built on the Palladian design and is well worth a visit. In those days, the son of the household went on the Grand Tour of Europe and this is where the idea of the Palladian Mansion came to the first Thomas Coke, who started the building, and to Thomas William Coke, who completed the work. The original Thomas Coke's wife had a son: "did you hear that my cousin Mrs. Coke was brought to bed of a dead son occasioned by fright; a mouse got into her nightcap and demolished the heir to Holkham", and this is how, when a son was born to Thomas Coke's brother Edward, he was accepted as the heir to Holkham.
Coke went into Parliament, as was usual in those days, and eventually retired and lived the life of a country squire but with a difference. Although Holkham was the pivot of the social scene in Norfolk, he decided to farm his land himself and made friends with Robert Bakewell, who gave him advice on cattle and sheep. At first there were only 800 sheep on the 3000 acres, but Coke (pronounced Cook) believed in the Norfolk proverb "Muck is the Mother of Money". He increased the number of sheep and changed them from Merinos to Southdowns, which he brought to a wonderful state of perfection and he had a flock of 2500. He persuaded his neighbours to try Southdowns and they found that they were successful also. Where there were no sheep at all there were now many fine flocks.
The Duke of Bedford (1765-1802) sent a herd of 30 Devon oxen, and they walked from Woburn as a present to Coke so he could try them, which he did. He used these oxen for ploughing.
Coke little reeks of low or high
Coats fine or jackets barely worn
The Landlord of Holkham ne'er looks down
On the humble grower of Barley-corn
He improved by rotation with organic manures.
He started the annual Holkham Sheep Shearing, which became a great event in Norfolk and the whole country and lasted for forty-three years, finishing in 1821. There were eighty guests who stayed in Holkham Hall, and people came from America, Russia, Nova Scotia, France, Sweden, and Poland. The park became alive with people, including the tenantry and farmers, all the neighbourhood, who brought all their relatives with them, and visitors from a distance. Each day had its special business. Farm walks, inoculated pasture, inspecting the prize cattle, new implements, and witnessing the sheep shearing. Refreshments were provided and at 3 p.m. they all lunched at Holkham. Then they inspected the farms and the houses in the villages, the different types of grain, and they visited the schools which Coke set up. They inspected the carcasses of the beasts and sheep which had been slaughtered, and then the final dinner and speeches, which lasted seven hours. The next day the house guests discussed agricultural papers, which were read to the assembly.
In the books are some wonderful etchings of Coke inspecting his Southdown sheep. Ten thousand people assembled in the Park at Holkham for the unveiling of the monument erected by public subscription to his memory. At the bottom is a large bas relief of the sheep shearing.
Holkham Hall and the monument are still there - go and have a look.
Both volumes of the book are in the Southdown Sheep Society Archives.
The Craig family came to England from Scotland at the turn of the century and settled in Hertfordshire. John went to the Chelmsford Institute of Agriculture to learn the finer points of farming before working for Professor Sommerville at Newhaven.
He applied for and got the job of Bailiff to Captain John Christie of Glyndebourne, a large estate, in 1919 and eventually became the tenant of Gote Farm, then about 1000 acres, in1929. By that time he had become a master judge of livestock, dairy cows, especially Friesians, horses of all sorts, and Southdown sheep. He was also called on to judge beauty queens (no handling, of course) by the YFC. He was also one of the farmers who undertook the task of improving the size of the Southdown rams which were used to cross with the Romney ewe for lamb production.
During the 1939-45 War he was a member of the War Agricultural Committee for East Sussex and, through his efforts, he was awarded the OBE in 1953, an honour he was very proud to receive.
He attended Southdown Council meetings well into his eighties. A Field Day was held at Gote Farm in 1977.
DAVID CRAIG
It appears, as far as our investigation can trace the fact, that from the very earliest epoch of agricultural history in England, the breezy range of light chalk hills running through the south-west and south of Sussex and Hampshire, and known as the South-Downs, has been famous for a superior race of sheep; and we find the Romans early established mills and a cloth- factory at Winchester, where they may be said to terminate, which rose to such estimation, from the fineness of the wool and texture of the cloth, that the produce was kept as only worthy to clothe emperors.
From this it may be inferred that the sheep have always been indigenous to this hilly tract. Though boasting so remote a reputation, it is comparatively within last years that the improvement and present perfection of this breed has been effected, and early maturity ranks with any stock in the kingdom.
The South-Down has no horns, is covered with a fine wool from two to three inches long, has a small head, and face of a grey colour. It is however, considered deficient in depth and breadth of chest.
A marked peculiarity of this breed is that its hind quarters stand higher than the fore, the quarters weighing from fifteen to eighteen pounds.
Among epicures, the most delicious sorts of lamb are those of the South-Down breed, known by their black feet; and of these, those which have been exclusively suckled on the milk of the parent ewe are considered the finest. Next to these in estimation are those fed on the milk of several dams, and last of all, though the fattest, the grass-fed lamb. This however implies an age much greater than either of the others.
ISABELLA BEETON, "Book of Household Management", 1861
In 1993 we attended the Rare Breed Survival Trust Show and Sale at Stoneleigh, with instructions from Steve's sister to purchase a Southdown ewe she had chosen the day before. We were fairly apprehensive as, not only had we not attended an auction sale before, but we didn't know what a Southdown looked like. When we arrived, we looked around and were instantly drawn to these delightfully fluffy, diminutive sheep, which, of course, turned out to be Southdowns. Nellie, as she came to be known, was subsequently bid for and loaded into our borrowed trailer.
Steve and I at this time, although always hankering after the "Good Life", lived in a smart bungalow with only a large garden. However, buying this little sheep had sown a seed that was now growing out of control and taking over not only the garden but our lives. Nellie lived at my sister-in-law's smallholding with her other sheep and cows but was never far from our minds. We began to look around for a smallholding of our own. In 1994 we were lucky enough to find a bungalow which had 15 acres of somewhat neglected farmland with it. That was it; on 12th August, 1994, to us glorious in every way, we moved in.
As you can imagine, it wasn't long before our newly assembled flock of Southdown sheep began to tackle the acres of straggly, coarse grass. We erected some field shelters, re-fenced the paddocks, bought numerous books, went on a lambing course, and named our previously unnamed farm Southdown. We have, over the subsequent years, had a few different rare-breed sheep running alongside our Southdowns but have never found any that we are as comfortable with as our first love. Today, our Southdowns, together with our herd of Dexters and, of course, us, all reside in Devon, a picturesque traditional long house farm mentioned in the Domesday Book. No re-naming this one! Nellie, I am sad to say, is no more, but she will always have a special place in our memories, for she was the start of a huge change in our lives and we shall always be grateful to her for that.
STEPHEN AND HELEN PACKER
In the early part of 1976 we had the opportunity to purchase the Eartham Flock of Southdown Sheep. 1976 was a hot year with very little rain and when Mr. Sam Maxwell, who managed the Eartham Flock, first showed us the flock they were in a field that looked like a desert, but they were all in a beautiful condition. There were 78 sheep in all; 38 ewes and 40 shearlings.
Mr. Maxwell was pleased that the flock was sold complete and not split up and he was a great help when we first took over the flock. Also with the flock came the old shepherd, Shep Oliver, who worked with us and taught us much that we needed to know. Also Mr. Bill Clark helped us with the showing when we first started, as did Mr. George Penny and Mr. Reg Munford.
Eventually the flock was recorded with the MLC, where it has done very well and improved greatly, with increased birth weights and faster finishing and good conformation.
For many years now the flock has been back-scanned, which has resulted in a leaner carcase. The rams are now index rated to give a good indication of their potential. We have over two years introduced new blood from New Zealand, France, and Australia, which resulted in improved vigour.
The flock competes every year in shows all over the country, with many good results and championships being won. It has also had renowned success in the carcase competition which makes the Southdown rams highly beneficial on commercial flocks. Also, the Southdown sheep have some of the finest wool in the country. We have the advantage of having a lovely Southdown flock being raised on the picturesque Southdown hills.
As we go into the year 2000, I consider it an honour to be President elect at the beginning of a new century. The progress made by the Society in recent years has been most encouraging. We have seen an increase in the numbers of Southdowns at shows around the country and the quality of entries is excellent.
DAVID HUMPHREY
The Southdown's ability to thrive on very little is probably their greatest asset, putting meat around their bones and giving the luxury of being able to stock a field heavily.
In this day and age the Southdown must soon make a giant leap back into the sheep world where it belongs. It seems to me amazing that the breed with so much to offer has had such a decline since the mid part of the last century. I believe that numbers in the last few years are on the increase and, as the farming world again learns of the speed at which the Southdown lamb or cross lamb finishes, the need to supply good rams will increase in this century.
Showing at the annual agricultural shows, the Southdown has, especially in the last few years, turned peoples' heads. The back-end, length and depth and all-round quality has been there in abundance. The Southdown's thick close wool makes hard work at show time, but a well-turned-out Southdown is a marvellous sight. The same close wool is the reason for their hardiness in our unpredictable British weather.
PAUL HUMPHREY