Rivendell Farm
About us
Jerry Gibbs and Donna Walton-Gibbs are the owners of Rivendell Farm. In our other lives Jerry is a landscape gardener, and Donna is an occupational therapist.
We acquired the property in 2000. The previous owners had horses and 'rescue' sheep. In 2001 Donna's brother decided to move to Indiana, and we 'inherited' his small flock of mixed breed sheep.
After several years we decided we wanted to limit ourselves to one breed that was primarily known for their wool bearing. And thus it was that we learned about the Leicester Longwools, and the efforts of Colonial Williamsburg to revive the breed here in the U.S.
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​About the breed
[Excerpted from Leicester Longwool Sheep Breeders Association]
A large framed, dual-purpose sheep carrying a heavy long-stapled fleece, the Leicester Longwool is a sturdy, efficient and adaptable breed. Making good use of marginal forages they can thrive in a wide variety of climatic conditions. Rams average 250 lbs, and ewes 180 lbs. Ewes are good mothers giving plenty of rich milk, with a lambing percentage of 120-150% and higher in selected flocks.
Founding fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both had large flocks of sheep and took pains to bring in good Leicester rams from England to improve their stock. World travelers, Leicester Longwools have been exported to mainland Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. During the late 19th and early 20th century the Leicester gradually fell out of favor as it was replaced by newer breeds. By the 1930's it was nearly extinct in North America. Today it's classified as a 'heritage breed' by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and is enjoying a revival of interest due to the wonderful lustrous fleece and other desirable traits.
In 1990, after a long search for a correct breed of 18th century sheep, the Coach and Livestock Department of Colonial Williamsburg imported 10 purebred Leicester Longwools from Tasmania. With the help of third generation Leicester breeder, Ivan Heazlewood, a flock from a variety of bloodlines was assembled and transported to Virginia. Through careful breeding, a satellite flock program and later with private flocks the numbers have grown. Importations of semen from New Zealand, Australia and England have expanded the genetic diversity of the breed and introduced colored fleeced animals.
The Leicester Longwool's fleece is prized by handspinners and crafters for its curl, soft handle and lustrous beauty. The fleece generally weighs from 11-18 lbs. although heavier fleeces have been recorded. The wool has an evenness of length with a spiral tipped staple length of up to 14 inches in twelve months growth.It is high-yielding and stylish with well-defined crimp. Generally softer and somewhat finer than Lincoln or Cotswold, it's highly valued by handspinners and weavers for its handle and beautiful dye acceptance. Leicester Longwool fleece comes in white or "English" blue or black.
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