We bring you the first in a series of fascinating Suffolk facts
Did you know?
THE Suffolk Sheep breed originated by mating Norfolk horned ewes with Southdown rams in the late 1700s. In 1810 it was recognised as a pure breed and it has a very distinctive look, with a black face and (down-turned) ears and a prominent Roman nose. Originally they were known as Southdown Norfolks, or just “black faces”, but in his first recording of the new breed in General View of Agriculture in the County of Suffolk (1797), Arthur Young stated “These ought to be called the Suffolk breed” and from then on they were. The first classes to exhibit the sheep were at the Suffolk Show in 1859 and the first flock book was published in 1887. The Suffolk Sheep Society was formed in 1886 at a meeting in Stowmarket and is now the largest sheep breed society in Great Britain
For more interesting facts about our county read The Little Book of Suffolk by Carol Twinch (published by Breedon Books, �9.99)
