Shepherds Guides, Longsleddale

Shepherd's Guides - Longsleddale

About 1817 a sheep farmer in Martindale, Joseph Walker, had the idea of collecting and publishing wool marks of sheep as a guide to shepherds to distinguish the farm and owner of sheep. This tells a farmer where a stray belongs and it enables an owner to claim his own at a shepherds' meet or gathering. The smit mark is a bold stroke or pop, spot, or other coloured mark on the sheep's body, and can be seen clearly from a distance; the ear crop and horn brand are only readable close at hand.

The following shepherds guides have entries for Longsleddale (pre 1912):-

Walker 1817 -- "The Shepherd's Guides or a delineation of the wool and ear marks on the different stocks of sheep in Martindale, Barton, .......Mardale, Longsleddale, Kentmere ......, and Rydal ..... by Jos Walker. Penrith: printed by W Stephen, 1817."

Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839 -- "The Shepherd's Guide or a delineation of the wool and ear marks, on the different stocks of sheep in Askham and Helton, Applethwaite and Troutbeck, .... Kentmere, Long-Sleddale, ..... and Wetsleddale .... by William Kirkpatrick, Richard Mounsey, and John Mattinson. Penrith: printed by James Brown. 1839"

Hodgson 1849 -- "The Shepherd's Guides or a delineation of the wool and ear marks on the different stocks of sheep in Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland. By William Hodgson, Normoss, Corney, Cumberland. Ulverston: printed by S. Soulby, Advertiser Offive, King Street, 1849."

Gate 1879 -- "Gate's new Shepherd's Guide for Cumberland, Westmorland, & Lancashire. Printed by Brash Bros.: Cockermouth - West Cumberland Times office. Lancaster - 3 Cheapside. 1879"

Robinson, Dent and Vickers 1885 -- "The Shepherd's Guide ... Including certain parts of Unenclosed Lands, lying and being within the Counties of Yorkshire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham, and Northumberland ... extending from Bowes and Wensleydale, to Sedbergh, in Yorkshire; from Ravenstonedale and Brough, to Gillumholme, in Westmorland; from Cross Fell and Kirkoswald, to Castle Carrick, in Cumberland;....." by JOHN ROBINSON, Secretary for the East Fells Association, A. C. DENT, Secretary for the South Fells Association, WM. VICKERS, Secretary for the North Fells Association. "Barnard Castle: printed by William Ward, bookseller and stationer, Market Place. 1885"

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year	flock master	farm in Longsleddale	farm elsewhere	flock	ear crop	smit mark	horn burn	event	click image to enlarge	source	page
1817	Mattinson, James	Sadgill (1)			cropped near ear	red mark on the back and down both lisks	IM on the horn and a figure	shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Walker, Thomas	Sadgill (2)			cropped far ear and under key bitted near	red mark over both shoulders, and another over behind the shoulders, a pop on the tail head	TW on the horns	shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Mattinson, Michael	Thomshow			cropped far ear and upper bitted stump	red mark down the far shoulder, M on the near side	MM and a figure on the horns	shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Walker, Miles	Swinklebank (1)			cropped far ear	red mark on the back and down the far lisk	MW on the horns	shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Walker, Edward	Swinklebank (2)			cropped near ear	red mark down the near shoulder, and a black pop on the shoulders	MW on the horns	shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Hudson, Thomas	Tilshole			sharp bottomed fork near ear	red cross on the far huck bone	TH on the horns	shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Hogarth, Thomas	Stockdale			under bitted far ear	red mark from the far side of the back down the near side of the tail	TH on the horns	shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Wilson, William	Bridge-end			cropped near ear	red mark under the near ridge, and a pop on the far ribs		shepherds guide		Walker 1817
1817	Wilson, Thomas	Tenterhow			cropped far ear, under bitted and upper bitted near	two red marks over the back before the hucks, four inches parted		shepherds guide		Walker 1817
year	flock master	farm in Longsleddale	farm elsewhere	flock	ear crop	smit mark	horn burn	event		source	page
1839	Mattinson, James	Sadgill (1)			cropped near ear	a mark on the back and over both loins	I M on the horns and a figure	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Mattinson, James	Sadgill (2)			upper bitted far ear	a red mark down the far shoulder, M on the far side	I M on the horn and a figure	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Ward, Richard		Forest Hall	Gray Crag sheep	cropped both ears, holed near stump	I on the face, a red pop on the near shoulder, a red pop on the loins	R W on the near horn	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Hudson, Thomas	Tilshole			sharp bottomed fork near ear	red cross on the far huck bone	T H on the horn	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Mattinson, John	Thomshow			cropped far ear, and upper-bitted stump	a stroke down the far shoulder, M on the near side	M M on the horns and a figure	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Hudson, Thomas	Wadshow			cropped and forked far ear	a red pop on the shoulders, and a stroke down the near buttock	T H on the horns	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Atkinson, James	Dockernook			slit near ear and forked far	a red pop on the near huck, G on the near side		shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Robinson, George	Tenterhow			cropped far ear and under bitted near	two red strokes over the loins		shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Robinson, Henry	Netherhouse			cropped and slit near ear	two red strokes down the far shoulder		shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Sinkinson, Robert	High House			cropped far ear	a red stroke down the near shoulder, a pop on the tail head	R S on both horns	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Horsfal, James	Beachhill			cropped near ear	a red mark down the near shoulder, a black pop on the far huck		shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Walker, Edward	Low Swinklebank			cropped near ear	a red stroke down the near shoulder, and a black pop on the shoulders	E W on the horns	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Mattinson, Henry	Middle Swinklebank			cropped far ear	a red mark on the far side of the back, and down the lisk	H M on the horn	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Cragg, James	Stockdale (1)			cropped and holed far ear	pitch fork grains on the far side, a pop on the near huck	J C on the horns	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Cragg, James	Stockdale (2)			cropped and holed far ear	a stroke over the fillets, and J C on the near side	J C on the horns	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Harrison, Robert	Sadgill (3)			cropped far ear, and under key bitted near	a red stroke over both shoulders, another over the ribs, a pop on the tail head	I A on the horns and a figure	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Harrison, Robert	Stockdale (3)			under key bitted far ear	a stroke down the tail, H on the near side	R H on the horns and a figure	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
1839	Fishwick, Thomas	High Swinklebank			cropped and holed near ear	a red mark on the near side of the back, and down the lisk	T F on the horn	shepherds guide		Kirkpatrick, Mounsey and Mattinson, 1839
year	flock master	farm in Longsleddale	farm elsewhere	flock	ear crop	smit mark	horn burn	event	click image to enlarge	source	page
1849	Martindale, Benjamin	(Low) Sadgill			cropped near ear	stroke over fillets and down both lisks, and stroke from that up the back to the shoulders		shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	591c
1849	Mattinson, John	Thomshow			cropped and upper fold bitted far ear	stroke down the far shoulder, M on the near side	MM on the horns, and a figure	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	593a
1849	Mattinson, John	Middale			upper fold bitted far ear	red stroke down the far shoulder, M on the far side	IM on the horn, and a figure	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	593b
1849	Fiswick, Thomas	High Swingle Bank			cropped and punch holed near ear	red stroke from the shoulder to the fillets and down the lisk on the near side	TF on the near horn	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	593c
1849	Mattinson, Henry	Middle Swingle Bank			cropped far ear	red stroke from shoulder blade to the lisk, and down the lisk on the far side	HM on the far horn	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	595a
1849	Taylor, John	Low Swingle Bank			cropped near ear	red stroke down the near shoulder, and a black pop on top of the shoulders	IT on the horn	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	595b
1849	Hudson, Thomas	Wads Howe			cropped and forked far ear	red pop on the shoulders, and a stroke down the near buttock	TH on the horns	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	595c
1849	Hudson, George	Sad Gill (1)			forked near ear	red stroke from the fillets to the far side of the tail, and a stroke from the near hock bone over and across the other and down the buttock	TH on the far horn	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	597a
1849	Hudson, George	Sad Gill (2)			under key bitted near ear	red stroke over and down both shoulders, and one over the back and down both sides, and a pop at the tail head		shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	597b
1849	Horsfall, James	Beach-hill			cropped near ear	red stroke down the near shoulder, and a black pop on the far hock		shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	597c
1849	Sinkinson, Myles	High House (1)			cropped far ear	red stroke down the near shoulder, and a pop at the tail head	RS on both horns	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	599a
1849	Sinkinson, Myles	High House (2)		Potter Fell stock	no ear mark	red pop on the top of the shoulders		shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	599b
1849	Atkinson, James	Dockernook			ritted near ear	red pop on the near hock, G on the near side	JA on the horn	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	599c
1849	Ward, Isabella		Forrest Hall	High-house sheep	cropped both ears and punch hole near stump	tar pop on the near shoulder, and a large pop on the fillets, I on the face	R W on the near horn	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	601b
1849	Martindale, John	Stockdale			cropped and punch holed far ear	red stroke over the fillets and down both lisks, and a cross on the face, M on the near shoulder		shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	603a
1849	Mattinson, Robert		Selside Hall	Grey Crag sheep	ritted near ear	red pop on the near hock, M on the far side	RM on the far horn	shepherds guide		Hodgson 1849	603b
year	flock master	farm in Longsleddale	farm elsewhere	flock	ear crop	smit mark	horn burn	event	click image to enlarge	source	page
1879	Atkinson, Thomas	High Swinklebank			cropped and punch holed near	stroke on near side from shoulder to fillets and down lisk	TA on near horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	384a
1879	Armistead, George	High Sadgill				stroke over and down both shoulders, pop on tail head		shepherds guide		Gate 1879	384b
1879	Hudson, Thomas	Middle Sadgill			under key bitted near, cropped far	stroke over and down both shoulders, one over back and down both sides, pop at tail head	TH on horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	384c
1879	Green, William	Low Sadgill			cropped near	stroke over fillets and down both lisks, and a stroke from that up the back to shoulders		shepherds guide		Gate 1879	385a
1879	Hudson, Robert	Till's Hole			forked near	stroke from fillets to far side of tail, stroke from near hock bone over and across the other and down far buttock	RH on horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	385b
1879	Rogerson, Richard	Stockdale			cropped and punch holed far	stroke over fillets and down both lisks	RR on near horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	385c
1879	Taylor, I T	Middle Swingle Bank			cropped far	stroke from shoulder to fillets and down lisk on far side	IT on both horns	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	386a
1879	Taylor, I T	Thornshow			cropped far	stroke from shoulder to fillets and down lisk on far side	IT on both horns	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	386a
1879	Reade, George	Low Swingle Bank			cropped near	stroke down near shoulder, black pop on top of shoulders		shepherds guide		Gate 1879	386b
1879	Stainton, William	Mid-dale			upper fold bitted far	stroke down far shoulder, S on far side	WS on horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	386c
1879	Dixon, James	Well-foot			upper fold bitted near	stroke from fillet down near lisk	JD on near horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	387a
1879	Hudson, Thomas	Wadshow			cropped and forked far	pop on the shoulders, stroke down near buttock	TH on horns	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	387b
1879	Kitchen, Thomas	Yewbarrow			cropped both	pop on both hocks	TK on horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	387c
1879	Dixon, James	Kilnstone				red stroke over both shoulders	TK on horn (sic)	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	388a
1879	Long, A W	Docker Nook			ritted near, forked far	pop on near hock, L on near side	AL on horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	388b
1879	Whitwell, George	Low House			cropped far	stroke down near shoulders, pop on tail head	GW on horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	388c
1879	Atkinson, John	Nether House				stroke down near shoulder, A on near side		shepherds guide		Gate 1879	389a
1879	Miles, William	Beach Hill			cropped near	stroke down near shoulder, black pop on far hock	WM on horn	shepherds guide		Gate 1879	389a
year	flock master	farm in Longsleddale	farm elsewhere	flock	ear crop	smit mark	horn burn	event	click image to enlarge	source	page
1885	Fishwick, John	(Low) Sad Gill			cropped near ear	stroke over the fillates and down both lisks, and a stroke from that up the back to the shoulder		shepherds guide		Robinson, Dent and Vickers 1885	195