Leicester Longwool, also known as English Leiscester, is listed as a critically rare breed by the Livestock Conservancy. This breed was developed by the breeder Robert Bakewell in the 1700's. His breeding program started with the Lincoln Longwool, which has a coarse fleece, is large boned and slow growing. The result was the Leiscester Longwool, a fast growing sheep, with a long staple, lustrous fleece. They are docile and easily handled. Most individuals are white, with an occasional black or silver grey. It has subsequently played a part in founding or improving many other Longwool breeds. This interested George Washington, who purchased a Leiscester Longwool ram to breed with his own flock.
This fleece is easy to spin on a wheel and it can be spun into a very fine, strong yarn on a drop spindle. I have found a drop spindle works better than a support spindle. You need the tension that the weight of the spindle provides. A long draw into a worsted yarn shows off the luster of this wonderful fiber. Leiscester Longwool makes a durable yarn suitable for outerwear and it gives good stitch definition to knitted items.
Roving from the Williamsburg flock is available in my Etsy shop: The Stone Whorl
