Four Legs Good

On the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire the two-legged occupants haven't always fared that well over the centuries. Those who were poor found themselves ousted from their village as the owners of the Hall extended the parkland around their vast mansion. And the people in the big house themselves, after a few generations of each family, generally produced someone who spent or gambled their way into destitution and had to sell up. Now it's looked after by the National Trust and you have to pay just to look around.

Meanwhile, down on the farm, things continue much as before. You can find four-legged inhabitants here that you''ll no longer find in other places. Lets meet some of the rare breed animals of Home Farm.

Oxford Sandy And Black Pigs

Oxford Sandy And Blacks are also known as the Plum Pudding Pig (I wonder why!) and are thought to be one of the older breeds of pig in Britain. If you've never seen one then I'm not at all surprised as they've been brought back from the edge of extinction by just a few dedicated breeders. They are particularly cute when they are piglets:

Portland Sheep

The great attraction at Wimpole Hall at this time of year are the young lambs and the outside chance of seeing an actual birth. Portland sheep are one of several sheep breeds to be seen on the farm, They are an old breed that have remained separate from other breeds by the virtue of coming from an island, (an almost-island anyway), the Isle of Portland. 

At one time they were essential to Portland's economy though they gradually grew fewer in number until their very existence was threatened and they disappeared completely from their home territory. There is now a herd on Portland once again, being looked after by the inmates of Portland Prison.

White Park Cattle

Yet another ancient breed, and this one may have been around more than two thousand years. They are descended, it's thought, from the wild white cattle which once roamed these islands. White Park Cattle should feel very at home here as they were originally kept in parks around medieval manors, but over the centuries it became less fashionable to keep cattle in parks and the breed began to die out. The White Park is the emblem of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. 

Tamworth Pig

We've met Tamworths on this blog before, but such handsome beasts can surely be seen again. They hail, surprisingly enough, from Tamworth in Staffordshire and are thought to be descended from pigs brought from Ireland. They are closer genetically to wild boar than other domesticated breeds.

Whitefaced Woodland Sheep

The Whitefaced Woodland is a breed from the South Pennines and is one of the biggest breeds of mountain sheep. They are an extremely attractive-looking breed. They are also known as Penistone Sheep from the Yorkshire town where they were sold at the market.

Bagot Goats

It is recorded that as long ago as 1389 Sir John Bagot of Blithefield Hall in Staffordshire kept a herd of black and white goats which in time became known by his name. They are an extremely self-reliant breed and lived a semi-feral existence though confined to the park, all the management that was needed was an occasional cull to control their numbers. The billy goats can develop very impressive horns.

Norfolk Horn Sheep

On an earlier post about different breeds of farm animals someone commented that they didn't know there were so many types of sheep. In fact there are over 60 breeds in the UK so we've still got a few more to go! The Norfolk Horn for example. These sheep once thrived and prospered in the dry, sandy Brecklands of Norfolk, but dwindled down to just one flock in 1919, but their numbers were built up by just one devoted breeder. 

Middle White Pigs

Aw, come on, you can't resist such a pretty face, can you? This beautiful Miss Piggy is a Middle White. They were first bred in Yorkshire in the nineteenth century by cross-breeding (you're not going to believe this) a Large White with a Small White - they don't go in for fancy names up in Yorkshire! They are an extremely placid and friendly breed. Go on, you know you want another picture....

What a sexy smile!


Take care.