Shropshire is a picturesque area of England, just to the east of Wales. Inhabited since the Neolithic era, Shropshire has a millennia of history and legends, including stone circles, Celts, Vikings, King Arthur, and Robin Hood-style outlaws. It is also reputed to be the inspiration for the Shire in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. All this, plus the black-faced, white-wooled Shropshire sheep, with a significant history of its own.

Named for the historical county of Shropshire, Shropshire sheep are thought to be descended from the Long Mynd and Morse Common sheep. These indigenous sheep were raised in the pastures of the plains and hills of both Shropshire and Staffordshire. For those not living in the UK, both areas are known as ceremonial counties, meaning they have an appointed Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff for ceremonial purposes related to the English monarchy.

The Long Mynd sheep were horned with black faces, while the Morse Common sheep were horned with speckled faces; it was the black face of the Long Mynd that the Shropshire inherited. These indigenous sheep were hardy, with the Morse Common particularly renowned for producing fine wool up through the 1700s. However, fine wool of the 1700s would likely be considered medium wool by today’s standards. Once Merino wool gained popularity in the late 1700s, it reset the standard for what was considered fine wool.

Breeding what would eventually become the modern Shropshire sheep began in the 1800s. Although crossbreeding the Long Mynd and Morse Common throughout the centuries had produced what was commonly thought of as Shropshire sheep, the more scientific breeding practices of the late 1700s and 1800s led farmers to breed for more wool and increased size for meat. During the 1800s, and possibly even later in the early 1900s, the Shropshire breed was improved by crossing it with Southdown, Longwooled Leicester, and Cotswold sheep. During this period, the Shropshire breed lost its horns, and its iconic black face became the breed standard.

By the mid-1800s, a sheep show put on by the Royal Agricultural Society of England included a class for “Shropshires, or other grey or black-faced shortwools.” This was the first time that Shropshires were included in these shows, and they were popular enough that by 1860 they were given their own class. In 1883, the Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association created the first Shropshire flock book. The Shropshires soon became popular around the world. The first Shropshire flock arrived in Australia in 1855, and the first Shropshires in the US arrived in 1860. Soon, even more flocks were exported throughout North America, New Zealand, and South America. During the 1800s and early 1900s, Shropshires were considered by many farmers to be the best all-around wool and meat-producing breed. They were particularly popular in the northern states of the US.

The first sign of trouble for Shropshire sheep began after WWI. With Europe’s economic decline, large cuts of meat such as those from Shropshire sheep were less in demand, causing a marked decrease in UK and British Commonwealth flocks. However, the breed remained quite popular in the US through the 1940s. Between WWI and WWII, the US became the primary exporter of Shropshire sheep.

During the 1940s, wool was in great demand due to the military needs of WWII, and breeders began selecting for smaller Shropshires with more wool. This caused the breed to have increased wool on their heads, which covered the eyes, leading to a condition called wool blindness if this wool was not constantly trimmed. Although the extra wool was initially a boon, the maintenance required to keep Shropshires from becoming wool-blind soon led to a decrease in their popularity worldwide. The Shropshire became a rare breed.

Remaining Shropshire sheep farmers began selecting for taller, open-faced sheep during the 1950s and 1960s, but the damage to the breed’s popularity was already done. It never again attained the heights of popularity it had during the 1800s and early 1900s. Today, it is listed as a rare breed on conservation lists in the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. However, Shropshire sheep are finding new popularity among fruit tree orchards and Christmas tree farms. In the 1990s, it was found that Shropshire sheep are the only breed that will not eat fir or pine trees or bark. Orchardists and Christmas tree farmers are increasingly using Shropshire sheep to keep weeds down and fertilize trees, reducing or eliminating the need for chemical herbicides and fertilizers. Although Shropshire sheep remain a rare breed, their future is looking up.

Shropshire wool has a staple length of around 2½-4 inches and a width of 31-33 microns, putting it in the medium to medium-coarse category of wool. Nonetheless, its hand is still quite soft for medium wool. It has a lovely tight, spiral crimp and is a very bouncy and springy wool. This makes it perfect for many projects, from sweaters and hats to blankets and lightweight rugs. It readily felts up and keeps a good bit of its bounce in completed felted projects.

Ready to try out some Shropshire wool? Check out our stock online and in the shop and get to crafting!