Leney Shorthorns (1887)

Post date: Jun 19, 2012 3:28:2 PM

The following is a very long and somewhat turgid article but it illustrates a few key points:

• the ongoing Leney involvement with shorthorn cattle.

• the prices obtained for cattle.

• its fashionable nature.

• how Wateringbury was nationally recognised.

A couple of the more lyrical descriptions of cows have been highlighted in bold.

Extract from Nottinghamshire Guardian 20th May 1887

IMPORTANT SHORTHORN SALES IN KENT.

On June 3rd Mr. Thornton will sell at Barming, near Maidstone, the entire shorthorn herd belonging to the Dowager Lady Howard de Walden, and a choice selection from the herd of Mr. Herbert Leney. The herd at the Mote, belonging to Lady Howard de Walden, has been in existence for about ten years, having been selected from the famous stocks of the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Bective, Lord Penrhyn, Mr. D. McIntosh, Mr. Charles Collard, Mr. E. A. Fawcett, etc. The bull in use and included in the sale is Duke of Oxford 65th, bred at Holker, who has grown into a remarkably fine large handsome animal, and his stock are of good quality.

Upon Mr. Leney 's herd the Live Stock Journal has the following article :

The shorthorn breed has had no firmer supporters than the Messrs. Leney in Kent. They have for many years owned some of the best specimens to be found in the country, and the sales at Wateringbury were among the most successful that have ever been held, the average in 1869 having been £64; in 1871, £74; in 1874, £221; and in 1875, £212. The late Mr. Leney was a very spirited and judicious buyer, and when, in the columns of Punch, the "Druid" was allowed to chronicle the exciting events at the Windsor sale, he bore testimony to the prowess of "Leney from the hopyards." These were the days of the "Golden Shorthorns" which will not return until the country is again blessed with another visit of that prosperity which advanced by "leaps and bounds," but which for the present has forsaken these shores. In the meantime, more than one member of the celebrated Kentish family retains the hereditary liking for the fine stock. Mr. Herbert Leney was introduced to the fascinating pursuit of Shorthorn breeding by his father, the late Mr. Frederick Leney, who in 1876 purchased for him at Lord Chesham's sale at Latimer two cows of the Blanche tribe. Their descendants have been carefully bred, and, taking advantage of sales during the last few years, the herd has been increased until it is now one of the most choice small stocks in the kingdom. The herd is kept at Hall Place Farm, Barming, near Maidstone, which is about three miles distant from Mr. Herbert Leney's residence at Blacklands, East Malling.

Although comprising specimens of the Duchess, Oxford, Wild Eves, Waterloo, Barrington, Gwynne, Heydon Rose, Cherry Duchess, and Kirklevington families, we think it is only right in these notes to give precedence to the strain with which Mr. Leney commenced eleven years ago. The Blanches have not been fashion's favourites, and so have not attained so much distinction as other tribes that were cultivated by Mr. Bates, but there is no reason why they should not again take a foremost place among well-bred shorthorns. They certainly hold their own as first- rate cattle ¡ª good individually, and true and regular breeders ¡ª when put in comparison with the more aristocratic specimens to be found at Barming, and few tribes have a more interesting record. Mr. Hutchinson has related the story of Old Sockburn, Young Sockburn, and Sockburn Sail in his racy essay, mentioning, among other things, that Old Sockburn was the dam of a cow which in her fat state weighed alive 136 stone of 141b., and also of a cow for which Messrs. Robert and Charles Colling bid 50gs. at the time of purchasing Mr. Maynard 's cow and heifer for 30gs. There can, therefore, be no question as to the merit of the foundation dams, and the Blanches at Barming (most appropriately named " Sockburnias ") not only trace from Mr. Bates's Blanche, by Belvedere, but also from his Blanche 2nd, by Norfolk, who was admitted to be one of the finest cows at Kirklevington. Mr. Leney has now quite a nice little family of Blanches. Sockburnia 3rd, a seven year old, by Duke of Oneida 6th, is daughter of Cherry Blanche 3rd, bought from Lord Chesham. She is one of the most beautiful cows in the herd, and has also a claim to admiration on the ground that "handsome is that handsome does,'' her daughter having been Belle Blaneh, a splendid cow that had reserve number at the Royal at Preston; her son, Earl Sockburn, sold for200gs., and her heifer calf, by Duke of Oxford 47th, being also very promising. The cow is herself on short legs, very long and level in frame, of excellent quality, with fine head and great style. We consider her one of the best looking animals in the heard. Sockburnia 4th, rising seven years old, and red and white, by Duke of Oneida 6th, and from Sockburnia 1st, by the same sire, is lot 1 in the sale of a selection from the herd which will take place at Barming on June 3rd. She ia also a very handsome, wide, deep cow, and has been a regular breeder. Although frequently tempted to let her go abroad, Mr. Leney has kept her in the country, and she has produced some fine stock, ot which a good specimen will be found in the two year old heifer Sockburnia 9th (lot 23), a roan of excellent quality, very thick through the heart, with well-arched ribs and deep thighs. Sockburnia 6th, by Duke of Rosedale 6th (lot 8), is a good long heifer with nice fiesh. She is own sister to Sockburnia 3rd, to which we have already referred. Her daughter, Sockburnia 10th, by Duke of Oxford 67th (lot 24), is a light roan with splendid touch and very thick flesh. Soekburnia 8th, by Rowfant Duke of Gloucester 2nd, is a very good cow, and her daughter, the yearling Sockburnia 11th, by Duke of Oxford 67th (lot 27) is a beauty, having rare symmetry, thick flesh, good thighs, well-covered flank, and straight upper and under lines. The whole family are, however, a very taking lot, and it is gratifying to find an old variety asserting the excellent materials, of which it is composed, and its continued capability for true breeding when properly mated and cared for.

Another tribe that has done very well at Barming is the Wild Eyes, of which the Lady Worcester branch from old Clear Star is alone represented. These, under the name of Lady Sussex, were purchased at Mr. Barchard's sale at Horsted two years ago, and they form a very pretty group. Lady Sussex, by Viscount Oxford 3rd (lot 7 of the sale), cost 140gs. She is a large, well-shaped, thick-fleshed five year old, with very good ribs ; Lady Sussex 3rd (lot 19), another purchase at Horsted, is a two year old red, by Knight of Oxford 9th, a wide, lengthy heifer, with fine hair and quality. Lady Worcester 23rd was bought at Horsted for 120gs., and is a long handsome cow. Her daughter, Lady Sussex 4th (lot 28), by Duke of Oxford 67th, has good quality and character ; while the red roan heifer calf, Lady Sussex 5th (lot29), from Lady Sussex, and got by Duke of Oxford 67th, is exceedingly promising, having excellent style, grand top, plenty of substance, and level frame. Grand Duchess 39th was the highest priced animal at the Rowfant sale, being then acquired by Mr. Leney for 610gs. She had been purchased by Sir Curtis Lampson for 1,060gs. at Sholebroke, and as well on account of her personal merits as her high breeding, is entitled to rank as one of the best specimens of her tribe. Got by Grand Duke 30th, she is from Grand Duchess 27th, by Duke of Hillhurst, She is a long, massive, stylish cow, with grand ribs and good top, still looking fresh and vigorous. She was mated with Mr. Brassey's Duke of Rosedale 12th, and the produce is Barming Grand Duke (lot 33), a straight young bull of much promise, with good underline and top, and very well furnished behind the shoulder. Another purchase at Rowfant was the Oxford cow Rowfant Oxford, by Third Duke of Hillhurst. She was unfortunately lost after laving bred one calf, Chancellor of Oxford, by Grand Duke 37th (lot 31), a bull with good quality and attractive front. Lady Underley Barrington, by Duke of Underley 7th, was bought at Mr. Hales's sale at North Frith, where the sort was so much admired, and has produced a good heifer, named Barming Barrington, by Duke of Oxford 67th. Marchioness of Kirklevington 3rd was bought from Lord Bective. Her yearling heifer, Marchioness of Kirk levington 4th, by Lord Salisbury (lot 25), is neat and stylish. At the East Donyland sale Waterloo 45th was bought for 140gs., being regarded as one of the best cows at the sale. She is a wealthy cow, with capital ribs and mossy coat. Her calf Victor, by Duke of Leicester 4th (lot 32), cost 40gs. at East Donyland sale, and he has quite fulfilled his early promise, being a level, straight young bull, with good ribs and even flesh. Heydon Rose 9th, a white, bred by Lord Braybrooke, is a long, level-framed cow. with good top and ribs. Cherry Brandy (lot 38) is a promiang bull calf of the Cherry Duchess family, from CherryRipe, and got by Earl of Hilden. There are several very good Gwynnes, among them Havering Gwynne 11th (lot 9), a red, by Prince of Havering 6th, a thick, well-fleshed young cow, of fine character ; and Kentish Gwynne (lot 14), a red, by Duke of Cornwall 3rd, a nicely- fronted heifer, of square form and round ribs, and having a bull calf by Rowfant Grand Duke. The Chorus family of the Oharmer tribe, long esteemed at Wateringbury, is also well represented in Countess of Banning 2nd by Rowfant Duke of Glo'ster 2nd (lot 18), with good ribs and back. There is also a good Darlington in Deep dale 5th, by Grand Duke 21st. Among the bulls used in the herd has been Duke of Oxford 67th, bred at Holker, and highly commended at the Royal Show at Shrewsbury. He has left some capital stock. The sire now in service is Rowfant Grand Duke, a three year old, bred by the late Sir Curtis Lampson. He is a roan, got by the famous Duke of Connaught, and from Grand Duchess 32nd, by Grand Duke 24th.It would be impossible to find a better bred bull, and he is, moreover a first-rate animal, having grand character, good back, thick loin, and deep quarters. He girths 7ft. 7in. Most of the cows and heifers are in calf to this grand young bull, a circumstance that should enhance their value.

From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that Mr Leney intends to include in the forthcoming sale a number of his best animals. The sale takes place in consequence of the farm accommodation, owing to the large acreage of hops, being very limited. The cattle will be parted with reluctantly, no little care skilL and expense having been expended in bringing the herd to it present condition.