Agricultural History Review, Volume 41 Part 1 (1993), pp. 20–30
From 'black-face' to 'white-face' - an aspect of the 'agricultural revolution' in Norfolk
Susanna Wade Martins
This paper looks at the spread of new breeds of sheep across Norfolk in the early nineteenth century, the gradual eclipse of the native Norfolk horn breed, and the increase in the popularity of half-breds, using as its source the Michaelmas sales announcements in the local newspapers, a source which allows for the study of a wide cross section of Norfolk farms. It demonstrates the relatively short space of time which saw the demise of the Norfolk as a pure breed, and the importance of the new breeds, partly as pure bred flocks, but more significantly for providing new blood to produce fast growing, more meaty sheep when crossed with the native breed.