THE LEYS FOLD The Leys Fold The Leys Fold was started in 1931 by Francis Walker, my grandfather. He had purchased the estate of Leys in 1926 and set about building a model farm. The main steading and farm buildings were completed in 1931. The Fold was founded with six cows purchased with calves at foot and two 2-year-old heifers, these were all bought from Lord Invernairn’s fold at Flichity near Inverness. The cost of the cows varied between 15 and 17 guineas. Among these purchases was Donnag Riabhach 20th of Atholl (HB10351 calved in 1925), with a male calf at foot, Duke 2nd of Flichity. Donnag Riabhach’s GGG Sire was Sgiathanach a bull bred by John Stewart of Ensay. This bull was Champion at the Highland show held in Aberdeen in 1876 aged six. As the cow’s name would suggest, both the cow and the bull calf were heavily brindled. The young bull was 2nd prize 2-year-old and Reserve Male champion at the Highland Show in 1933 and 1st and Reserve Male again the following year. Unfortunately, Duke died from blood poisoning in 1935 aged just four. His head was stuffed and hangs in the hall of Leys Castle to this day.
Una 4th of Flichity, a white heifer, purchased at the same time, as a 2-year-old (costing £17-2-6d) had some success at the Highland and Royal shows in 1935 & 1936 as a young cow. However, as the photo will show, the style of cows was very different then compared to today. This cow went on to produce the Princess of Leys bloodline. Which produced Oban female Champions on at least two occasions. She was put down in 1948, aged 19 years. One of the best bulls to have been bred at Leys was Prionnsa 4th whose dam was Princess 12th the sire was Coirneal Ile from Lord Margadale’s fold on Islay.
Seonaid 2nd of Leys at the age of 1 year and 10 months weighed 9 cwt and 30 lbs (470 kgs) the following year in 1935 she weighed 12 cwt at 2 year and 10 months (610 kgs). She sold at Smithfield in 1935 for £45 or 7p a kilo. In those days there were special stock trains that took beasts down to Smithfield from all over Scotland. A journey from Inverness of 14 hours or more!
80 Highland Breeders’ Journal 2022
