History of Hebridean Sheep

Legend has it that the ancestors of the Hebridean, which grow 2, 4 and sometimes 6 horns, were brought to Britain by the Vikings during their wave of expansion in the 2nd Century AD. Archaeological evidence of multi-horned breeds survive in many places associated with the Scandinavian invaders, among these the Isle of Man, Shetland, Iceland and even North Africa and the Canary Islands. Source Ted Smart Fauna Britannica Duff Hart-Davis

With their black coats and soaring horns, Hebridean sheep were seen as pretty and distinct in the 18th Century and were introduced as an exclusive parkland animal. In the Western Isles in the 1800's, the black Hebridean along with the Soay provided the background of the economy. The wool was carded and spun into yarn and the yarn was woven into tweed. In these remote mountain areas, methods of sheep management remained primitive until the end of the 19th Century wool was plucked by hand or with the aid of a penknife and sheep run down by dogs rather than being rounded up. Today, they are seen as excellent grazers as they will nibble on virtually any species growing on the heathland, including encroaching birch. The Hebridean also provides extremely lean meat which only a few other breeds can match (such as Soay and Manx Loghtan). Source Judy Urquart.