DC Dalgliesh

[OC Richard]

Last year, 2024, Britain had the smallest quantity of sheep than at any time in history, according to records.

I'm sure you're correct. As it happens the records go back to the De Pretiis or Edict on Prices of 301 AD, a failed attempt to slow down the rampant inflation happening in the Roman Empire.

The fact that British woollens find their way into this document shows that by the fourth century the industry had made its mark on the whole Empire.

Popular throughout the Empire was the birrus Britannicus, a semi-circular woollen cloak, and the tapete or tossia Britannica a woollen rug.

The spinning and weaving of wool had a long history in Britain, well established before the Romans. Sheep's wool was the most important fibre in Roman Britain. It is suggested that wool was possibly brought in from Scotland.

There was an extensive industry producing woollen goods in East Anglia. Complete garments were produced. From the late fourth century the Roman administration controlled weaving works and textile manufacture, under the procurator gynaecii in Britannis Ventensis.

Roman Britain by Patricia Southern

So we had British woollen garments being worn in North Africa, Judea, Dacia (Romania), Germany, Spain, everywhere Roman trade occurred.