Origins of the Shropshire

• Heathland sheep of Shropshire & Staffs

• Grey/black/speckled-faced

• Weigh 10 lbs quarter when fattened

• Good quality, fine wool

• Some with horns

• Natural disease resistance

• BUT – slow to mature, with light 2lb fleece

The Longmynd Type

‘There is a breed of sheep on the Longmynd that seem an indigenous sort; nimble and hardy…’

Joseph Plymley,General View, 1803.

Improving the Breed

• Leicester and Southdown already improved

• Different approaches to Shropshire

• Geo. Adney of Harley – carefully selected breeding stock from local sources

• Sam. Meire of Berrington – introduced Leics rams to improve fattening/docility, Southdowns for dark face, better wool

The Improved Shropshire

• Upland > Down sheep• Black faces• Suppressed horns• 6-8lb fleeces• 20-22 lbs quarter• Broad shoulders• Long, level back

Recognition at the Royal Show

• 1845 Royal Show at Shrewsbury – no class• Shropshires recognised at Gloucester, 1853• 1860 visit to Canterbury – own classes• Judge in 1868 – ‘ more widely spread than

any other class of sheep’• Taunton judge (1875) - ‘not a single breed

of sheep has made a greater improvement than the Shropshire’

The Royal at Shrewsbury, 1884

• Confirmation of the breed’s wider popularity

• 60 Shropshire exhibitors from 15 counties bring 875 sheep – prizes of £345

• Over 100 in shearling ram class

Growth in UK Popularity

Wider acceptance fostered by local stalwarts• James and Ed. Crane, who carried on Geo. Adney’s work• WG Preece, the auctioneer, who sold Shrophires in

Shrewsbury and Birmingham• Thomas Horton, of Harnage Grange, Royal prizewinner

Organising the Breed

• Growing popularity led to formation of Breed Association in 1882

• First President – J. Bowen-Jones of Montford Bridge

• Secretaries were Lythall and Mansell, auctioneers• Basic details of rams had been kept from 1850s• 1883 – first flock book published, giving details of

rams from 132 breeders, starting in 1835

The Shropshire Abroad

• Formation of SSBA enables Shropshire to compete on world stage

• Requirement for true dual-purpose breed to be used as crossing ram, esp.on Merino

• Early market was in New Zealand/Australia – 253 rams exported between 1880-1900

• Larger market in North America, 1900-1920, when 6700 rams left UK

• Breeder Assocs. follow in US, Tasmania, Aust

A Decline in Fortunes

• 1st WW disrupted all export trade

• Foot and Mouth, 1922• Difficult to re-adjust

to home market

- Smaller joints

- Other breed rivals

- Head wool debate

Survival… and Revival

• 1941 – Breed publicity committee started

• ‘Naturally clean soft black faces and legs’

• 1963 no Royal classes• 1974 – new Secretary• 1976 – Royal classes

re-start• 1982 - Centenary

The Future