From prehistoric hand spinners to the mass-produced textiles of the Industrial Revolution and beyond, the story of wool in the UK has a proud heritage stretching back thousands of years. The history begins with Neolithic settlers introducing sheep around 4000 BC, then the Bronze Age discovery of hand spinning and weaving. Later, the Roman and Viking invasions brought in new and varied breeds of sheep. Wool production is deeply tied to the country’s history, and this connection continues to this day.
COUNTING SHEEP
More than 22 million sheep from 66 native breeds are scattered over the UK’s green hills and dales; altogether, they produce approximately 32 million kilograms of wool every single year.
That British wool is used for carpets, rugscreate their ranges from British-bred fleece.
