The Cotswolds are famous for sheep – and that’s been the case since Roman times. Many of the region’s towns had their fortunes made by the animals, or more specifically, their wool. Churches in places such as Northleach are still known as “wool churches”, recognising the impact of the wool on the town and church resources; the sheep’s fleeces were known as “golden fleeces” because of the money they produced as exports.

Now, though, they are recognised to be a rare breed, and there is even a Cotswold Sheep Society to promote their use. The society has a good section on the history of the sheep in the Cotswold region – worth a read if just to remember how important this one animal has been in the development and wealth of the area.