Papers of the Dishley Sheep Society, Leicestershire, 1790-1798

Scope and Content

Incomplete series of the Society's minutes (1790-96), recording its resolutions, form the basis of this small collection of papers. There is also a financial account, of 1798, belonging to Nathaniel Stubbins and a printed catalogue of livestock to be sold by Thomas Paget, November 1793.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Dishley Sheep Society was founded in 1783 by Robert Bakewell (1725-1795), a gentleman farmer of Leicestershire, whose innovatory methods of livestock breeding and natural feeding contributed greatly to the improvement of breeds of sheep and livestock in Britain.

The Society was established to preserve purity of breed and acquired its profits from the sale of stock and the 'letting' of rams. It followed a strict code of conduct, with its rules and resolutions being drawn up in meetings held in inns in Leicester and Loughborough.

Access Information

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers

REPROGRAPHIC: Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

Other Finding Aids

NOTE: Copyright on all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham.

  • In the Reading Room, University of Nottingham Library: Typescript Catalogue, 1 p
  • At the National Register of Archives, London: Typescript Catalogue, 1 p

Conditions Governing Use

COPYRIGHT: Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk ). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.

LANGUAGE: English.

Custodial History

The papers were presented to the then University College, Nottingham in 1937.

Corporate Names