THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

THE SOUTHDOWN SHEEP

Copyright Valerie Martin 2005

Originally published in Along the Furlong in August 2005

John Pelling has introduced me to me some photographs of an almost forgotten part of the Findon Sheep Fair, the Southdown Sheep Society Show and Sale.  The first year of the Official Southdown Show at the Findon Sheep Fair was 1951.   This show was on the Friday before the Fair with the sale on the following day.   The sheep were penned in a marquee on Nepcote Green overnight (while the Society Members held their Annual Dinner at the Warnes Hotel in Worthing!)

Oak wattles were often in use to pen the flocks as the sheep were low in build they did not attempt to jump over.  

The three scenes immediately below depict the judging on Friday 10th September 1982.  This was the Findon Sheep Fair that was televised on "In the Country" in 1982.

Many distinctive breeds of gregarious grazing ruminant animals have their origins firmly planted in our familiar chalk downland pasture.  Among them are the famous Southdown sheep that have influenced so many others, including the now rarer Hampshire Down variety. 

As their name infers, the Southdown hails from the hillsides of our South Downs and it was first acknowledged as a breed as long as two hundred years ago and is the oldest of the Downs breeds.

In the nineteenth century, it was not uncommon for a splendid sight of a thousand Southdowns spread over the hillsides on the larger farms.

As you can see from the photographs, the Southdown is a hardy broad-backed, square-bodied sturdy animal covered in short, fine wool. (Its face and legs should be mousy brown and it should have pink skin with darker nostrils). 

I think the Southdown has rather an endearing appearance owing to its puffy woolly cheeks and teddy bear look.  In fact, its fleece grows right down to its hocks and knees.

Southdowns have been exported worldwide but have enjoyed popularity mostly in New Zealand and France. The pure-breds tend to be kept now by enthusiasts.  A mature Southdown ewe (they are good mothers) can weigh up to 68 kg and a ram can attain some 90 kg.

The last Southdown Show to be held on Nepcote Green in Findon was in 1992.

Continue if you would like to read about the Findon Sheep Fair Record Set in 1964.

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.