On the South West Peninsula of England, Devon county has a history that stretches back to the Neolithic era. Its landscapes are adorned with ancient stone circles, barrows, hillforts, and other prehistoric monuments, sharing the region with the ever-present herds of sheep that have roamed these lands for millennia.

Sheep farming in Devon likely dates back to the late Neolithic period, beginning with a native short-tailed breed. Over time, these sheep interbred with the long-tailed breeds introduced by Roman armies and settlers. Between 400-1000 CE, as Anglo-Saxon and Danish settlers arrived, they brought along their own sheep from northern Europe. The different breed of sheep mingled, as sheep left to their own devices do, and eventually produced a polled (hornless) landrace breed, supplying both wool and meat to Devon.

In the mid-1800s, inspired by the agricultural improvements happening elsewhere in England, local farmers decided to enhance their own sheep breeds. They introduced Leicester Longwools to crossbreed with their native sheep, creating the aptly named Devonshire Nott – the word "nott" meaning polled sheep in the Devon dialect. Once this was achieved, some farmers decided to further improved the Devonshire Nott. It wasn't long before it was replaced by the Devon Longwool, a breed developed by crossing the Devonshire Nott with additional Leicester varieties.

Facing economic pressures in the late 1800s, Devon farmers desired sheep that could provide quality wool and substantial meat. To achieve this, farmers in Castle Hill bred their Devon Longwool rams with Exmoor Horn ewes. The result was a stout sheep with a good-quality, medium-staple wool perfect for rug-making. The fleece on this new breed was quite dense, allowing it to easily shed heavy fall and winter rains with ease while keeping the sheep's skin dry.

Never ones to shy away from a fitting name, the farmers named this new breed the Devon Closewool. By 1923, the Devon Closewool Sheep Breeder Society was established to promote and track the breed. By 1950, there were around 229,000 Devon Closewool sheep in England, though they remained mostly in Devon county. Unlike other English breeds that found popularity abroad, the Devon Closewool didn't become a widespread export. This might have been due to international farmers seeking larger meat producers or finer wool, or perhaps the breed's dense fleece wasn't as suited to other climates. It's also possible that the breeders' society didn't market the sheep as effectively. Only two recorded exports occurred – one to Canada and one to New Zealand.

The Devon Closewool remained a largely local sheep, which played a significant role in the breed's eventual decline. This was probably compounded by changing tastes that favored leaner mutton and lamb. By the 2020s, the number of registered Devon Closewool breeding ewes had dwindled to a few thousand, placing the Devon Closewool on the UK's Rare Breed Survival Trust's threatened list.

However, thanks to efforts by the Rare Breed Survival Trust and dedicated small farmers, new flocks of Devon Closewool sheep have been established across the UK. Producers and artisans are also playing their part. Devon Duvets, a company specializing in wool-filled duvets, collaborates directly with Devon Closewool farmers to acquire wool for their products. Spinners and felters use Devon Closewool wool for creating rugs, felted toys, and art.

In North America, Devon Closewool fleece is frequently referred to as Devon wool. It fallsinto the coarse wool category with fiber micron widths between 40-60. While finer Devon wool can occasionally be found from farmers breeding specifically for wool quality, it's typically not finer than 34-35 microns. However, with a staple length of 3-5.5 inches, it remains an excellent wool for rug making and is ideal for needle felters seeking stability and bulk in their projects.

Interested in experiencing Devon Closewool wool for yourself? Check out our current stock and start creating!