Women sheering sheep for wool fleece. Source: wikimedia commons |
English farmers had developed breeds of sheep that produced fleeces of varying weight and quality, some of which were among the best in Europe. Source: History's big numbers, interviews by Charlotte Hodgman, BBC History Magazine 2/2014Increasing demands from continental trade center - Ypres, Ghent, Bruges (all nowadays in Belgium) - requires also good organisation. Key role plays here monasteries which not only kept theirs own herds but also contracted flocks from peasants leaving in surrounding villages. To make it happen new occupancy like woolman or woolmongers where created. Especially in this area specialized are Cisterian monasteries - it was integral to the order economy - sheep not only provided wool, which could be used to make clothing and blankets for the community, or else sold, but were important for the manufacture of butter and cheese.