Counting Sheep: A Celebration of the Pastoral Heritage of Britain

by Philip Walling

Paperback, 2015

Status

Available

Call number

636.30941

Collection

Publication

Profile Books (2015), Edition: Main, 288 pages

Description

Sheep are the thread that runs through the history of the English countryside. Our fortunes were once founded on sheep, and this book tells a story of wool and money and history, of merchants and farmers and shepherds, of English yeomen and how they got their freedom, and above all, of the soil. Sheep have helped define our culture and topography, impacting on everything from accent and idiom, architecture, roads and waterways, to social progression and wealth.With his eye for the idiosyncratic, Philip meets the native breeds that thrive in this country; he tells stories about each breed, meets their shepherds and owners, learns about their past - and confronts the present realities of sheep farming. Along the way, Philip meets the people of the countryside and their many professions: the mole-catchers, the stick-makers, the tobacco-twisters and clog-wrights. He explores this artisan heritage as he re-discovers the countryside, and finds a lifestyle parallel to modern existence, struggling to remain unchanged - and at its heart, always sheep.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member prichardson
A lovely ,easy read that I really liked. A very knowledgeable author who clearly loves the subject. I found it fascinating, coming as I do from a farming background, and very informative.
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
Not quite a four star due to the last bit of the last chapter. No Mr Walling I believe we are quite sure that peatlands are disappearing and they are so important we have to try to reverse that change. We may not have the answer to that but have to keep trying. And overgrazing may have played a
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part. Otherwise not only a delightful read but full of information. Sheep have always been so important in the history of the UK but also the course of civilization, that we should all know a lot more about it.
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LibraryThing member PDCRead
Normally when I think of sheep, the first thing that springs to mind is the hilarious series by Aardman, Shaun the Sheep. That aside, sheep have had a long history in this country from the ancient wild Jacob breeds, the domesticated breeds that the Romans brought over 2000 years ago, right up to
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the modern breeds and crosses that populate our hills and pastures still now. Way back in the past, sheep drove our economy and people made vast fortunes supplying, what was considered, the finest wool in the world. The ovine economy helped define our culture and landscape too, the Wooksack can be found in the Lords (now they have removed the horsehair), and the husbandry of sheep played a significant role in our social structures and infrastructure.

The work has always been hard, as Walling finds out as he meets the shepherds and enthusiasts who own and care for the modern day breeds today in our countryside. They still support our rural economy today, though they have much less impact financially than they did. In his journey back to our heritage he re-discovers the landscape today and learns of the modern challenges behind sheep farming today. It is not a bad book overall, with thought provoking writing. I really think though that I really don’t need to know any more about sheep now though.
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LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
Not quite a four star due to the last bit of the last chapter. No Mr Walling I believe we are quite sure that peatlands are disappearing and they are so important we have to try to reverse that change. We may not have the answer to that but have to keep trying. And overgrazing may have played a
Show More
part. Otherwise not only a delightful read but full of information. Sheep have always been so important in the history of the UK but also the course of civilization, that we should all know a lot more about it.
Show Less

Awards

James Cropper Wainwright Prize (Longlist — 2015)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2014

Physical description

288 p.; 7.8 inches

ISBN

1846685052 / 9781846685057

Barcode

91120000468594

DDC/MDS

636.30941
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