1926-1938: Sheep on the streets of London
1926
A flock of sheep head down the Kingsway in London.
Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images
Welcome harbingers of Spring are now to be seen in Hyde Park.
"THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK," 1920
In
the 1920s and 1930s, sheep were routinely introduced into London parks
to keep the grass under control and reduce mowing costs.
Shepherds competed for the privilege of grazing their flocks on Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Clapham Common and other pastures around the city.
George Donald once brought his flock all the way down from Aberdeen, Scotland. Considering the difficulty involved in transporting hundreds of sheep over 500 miles, this caused a bit of consternation in Parliament. Sir Harry Brittain asked, "Were not any English sheep available?"
Though these woolly lawnmowers were eventually barred from grazing in the city in the late 1950s, they have recently experienced a resurgence. In 2010, sheep were introduced to Hampstead Heath as an eco-friendly alternative to machine mowing.
Shepherds competed for the privilege of grazing their flocks on Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Clapham Common and other pastures around the city.
George Donald once brought his flock all the way down from Aberdeen, Scotland. Considering the difficulty involved in transporting hundreds of sheep over 500 miles, this caused a bit of consternation in Parliament. Sir Harry Brittain asked, "Were not any English sheep available?"
Though these woolly lawnmowers were eventually barred from grazing in the city in the late 1950s, they have recently experienced a resurgence. In 2010, sheep were introduced to Hampstead Heath as an eco-friendly alternative to machine mowing.
1926
On the Strand.
Image: The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images
1928
Holding up traffic in the Aldwych.
Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images
1929
In Hyde Park.
Image: Planet News Archive/SSPL/Getty Images
1931
Heading down Piccadilly from Hyde Park to Green Park.
Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images
What
else can show the eye a canvas such as this? A browsing flock, man’s
diligent friend, the sheepdog. Little wonder that passersby look on with
contentment at such beauty.
"London Shepherd," 1948
1931
Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images
1933
A straggler dodges traffic in Hyde Park.
Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images
1936
By the Serpentine in Hyde Park.
Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images
1933
Image: Underwood Archives/Getty Images
1938
Image: George W. Hales/Fox Photos/Getty Images
1937
On Queen Victoria Street.
Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images
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