Next Up in Fiber Nation: Manx for the Memories

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Sometime in the 1950’s, on the Isle of Man, a few sheep were loaded onto a boat. Huddled in the bow, they seemed unlikely refugees. Yet these sheep were indeed fleeing for their lives. Just . . . not in the way you might expect.

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On today’s episode, we travel to the isle of Man and hear the story of one of its oldest inhabitants: the Manx Loaghtan sheep. Mostly unchanged since the Bronze Age, this sheep has been on the brink of extinction not once or twice, but THREE times.

We’ll hear not only how it was saved, but why some things are worth saving in the first place.

Want to learn more from Caroline Sommerfeld of Ancient Arts Yarns? Check out our Fiber Nation Live Knit Night with her! She’ll be covering the Manx Loaghtan, as well as many other fun sheep breeds and sheep-y facts.

Resources for this Episode

More about Deb Robson and her books

• https://independentstitch.com/
• Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook
• Field Guide to Fleece
• Article about people preserving rare breeds today

Manx sheep (and some stuff about Vikings)

• https://draugablikk.com/myth-mankind/manx-loaghtan-the-four-horned-sheep-of-the-vikings/
• www.manxloaghtansheep.com
• http://www.manxloaghtansheepbreedsociety.co.uk/
• http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/sheep.htm

Rare Breeds Survival Trust

https://www.rbst.org.uk/

Isle of Man

• History: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/10,000_years_of_settlement_on_the_Isle_of_Man
• Isle of Man webcams! (not terribly exciting, tbh): https://www.gov.im/webcams/

The birth of tourism on the Isle of Man

• https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/new-history-of-the-isle-of-man-vol-5/economic-history-18301996/641233DD60FEE845B13EBC5005ABAD9C
• https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Isle-of-Man/

Hoof and Mouth Disease

• https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35581830
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PtSTo0Sb-o
• https://www.merckvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/foot-and-mouth-disease/foot-and-mouth-disease-in-animals

Bonus Fun with Manx Loaghtan

• This sheep creeped out a petting zoo so much they called in an exorcist. Warning: extreme pumpkin violence: https://metro.co.uk/2014/10/29/petting-zoo-calls-in-exorcist-for-four-horned-devil-sheep-4926474/

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Be sure to check out the latest episode of Fiber Nation, Manx for the Memories! You can listen on the player above, or wherever you prefer to get your podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening,
Allison

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Patterns Featuring Manx Loaghtan