Lincolnshire Longwools

Loving Lincolnshire Longwools!

Described by David Dimbleby as ‘a wool factory on legs’ it is easy to see why this rare breed of sheep, the Lincoln Longwool, with their dreadlocks and placid nature, have captured the heart of West Deeping’s Liz Noble. Her partner, Frank Martin, became involved with the Lincolns at the age of ten when he was evacuated from his birthplace in Kent to his grandfather’s farm near Ryhall at the outbreak of the war, and they were then part of his life. On his retirement he decided to do his best to preserve the breed and became one of the custodians of a once very important part of our Lincolnshire farming heritage.

Lincoln Longwools can trace their ancestry back to the Romans, who, when they invaded these isles, brought their long wooled sheep with them. As they travelled up Ermine Street from London to the Humber, setting up farmsteads on their way, so their sheep mixed with the indigenous breeds. A large semi-wild sheep was created, hardy in the harsh climate with a heavy coarse fleece, perfect to withstand the weather conditions and the wet marshes of the East Coast. Their feet became resistant to foot rot and the salt marshes prevented liver fluke.

With the arrival of the Normans, farming took a more organised turn and feudal landlords and monasteries kept large flocks of sheep while peasants had a few sheep on a strip of land to feed and clothe their families. The sheep were not slaughtered until they were about three years old, to obtain as much wool

the Dishely Breed in an attempt to produce more meat. At this time the sheep were walked to markets in London! Here they were sold for their meat, their wool and the fat for candles, ‘old tallow wax’! During the 1840s–1940s the breed reached itszenith, exported to New Zealand, Australia, Russia and South America to improve and develop new breeds. But after the war, with the popularity of oil based textiles, wool fell out of favour. The export market declined as the new world now had the valuable Lincoln Longwool genes and was breeding for itself. By the 1970s the breed was on the edge of extinction.

as possible. Their fame spread and weavers from the Low Countries identified their wool as perfect for the elaborate tapestries for which they are still well known. As a result the wealth of the sheep farmers grew and medieval towns, often known as ‘staple towns’ after a length of wool, became wealthy, reflected in the proliferation of fine churches and buildings. Close to us Stamford is a fine example. The wool was graded for quality, the best dipped in green dye – this is the origin of the term ‘Lincoln Green.’

During the agricultural revolution in the eighteenth century, Robert Bakewell, pioneer breeder, crossed the Lincolnshire Longwool with the Leicestershire Longwool, producing Enter breeders such as Frank supported by Liz, who did their best to resurrect the breed, but even now with a quick glance at the Lincoln Longwool Sheep Breeders Association website there are still less than 900 breeding ewes left in the country. At their peak Frank’s flock had 350 breeding ewes. Since his death, fittingly when he was tending his flock with Liz, she has continued his work. Frank was meticulous in maintaining the genetic diversity of the flock

and kept accurate records, showing them in all the agricultural shows: the Royal, Great Yorkshire, Three Counties, Norfolk, our own much lamented East of England and Deeping Shows, with Heckington and Lincoln remaining the flagship shows. Trophies were in abundance – pride of place amongst them on the piano is a picture of award winning Eau Bank Barkis (as in the Dickens character showing his willingness for marriage!).

With interviews with David Dimbleby and Adam ’Countryfile’ Henson under his belt and travelling the country as a judge, Frank was an expert in his field. Familiarity breeds a happy flock, providing shelter food and water and good pasture, ensuring that the sheep are kept cleaned and wormed, their feet trimmed and keeping a watchful eye for fly strike. Frank has left a fine legacy and Liz is proud to keep on the tradition!

Liz herself is the daughter of a local businessman, Harold Bullimore, who lived with his family at ‘The Rundle’, now the Caterpillar Nursery, establishing the garage next door, now the Co-op. He played the organ at St Guthlac’s Church, Market Deeping, for more than 30 years. The Bullimores were originally a prominent farming family in the area. George Bullimore, his father from Deeping Gate, owned three traction engines and threshing machines which were seen working in many local farmers’ fields. Liz herself became a head teacher and musician, playing the organ at West Deeping and Barholm. She gives occasional talks on her flock.

With the wool from the Lincoln Longwools (28 pounds of it per sheep!) useful for insulation and carpets and with growing concern about the planet and climate change, another heyday for the Longwool may be on the horizon and the flock in West Deeping is well placed to be a part of that.

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