The breed takes its name from an area situated in the south west corner of Shropshire and is bordered by Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, the old Town of Clun and its high area of grassland. Clun Forest is probably higher than many of the local hills after which other breeds have been named.

At the beginning of the 19th centaury there were 12,000 acres of common land in this area. The greater part of this land rose to an altitude of 1500ft and has the remains of ”pounds”, “druid circles” and “Offa’s Dyke”.  At this time in history this breed inhabited both the forest and the common lands. It is likely that pastoral or semi-nomadic shepherds who lived in the forest 1000 years ago originally bred these sheep.

The Rev. Joseph Plymley, who wrote on the agriculture of Shropshire for the Board of Agriculture in 1803 quoted from a previous report dealing with these forest sheep. He stated that upon the hills nearer Wales (this points to the Clun Forest) that the flocks were without horns and had white faces. In 1837 Youatt confirms this, stating that the Clun Forest Sheep were definitely white-faced and hornless.  However, he also mentions that the breed was fast changing in its appearance. This was caused by the crossing of other local breeds such as the Longmynd, Radnor and Shropshire, which was resulting in the darker colouring of the head.

In 1892 W J Malden, whilst writing in the Royal Agricultural Journal, stated that, “A well bred Clun ram, as it now stands, is an imposing animal, one which demands admiration for all who possess an eye for a sheep”.

In 1925 the Clun Forest Sheep Breeders Society was formed “to secure the purity of the lineage and fixity of type” and also to promote the virtues of the breed throughout the sheep industry. A Flock Book has been published every year since.

Over the past 80 years the breed has retained all the positive attributes, which has made it popular worldwide. However, the ears are now carried slightly higher and the face is a darker shade of brown.

Since the formation of the Society, the Clun Forest breed has spread from the ancient kingdom of Mercia all over the UK and Ireland, they have also been exported throughout Europe, Africa and North America.

Truly a “Breed for all Seasons”