Hebden Sheepfolds

As with barns, sheepfolds are an intrinsic part of the Yorkshire Dales Landscape. There are 30 in Hebden. They are all small, and most were probably just used to hold the sheep for routine stock maintenance. The exceptions are ones at High Green, Coppergill and the top of Gateup Gill that were built to pen sheep before washing them in the stream (SF14, SF18 and SF01), and one at Town Head that was built to pen them before dipping (SF19).

Traditionally, sheepfolds were walled enclosures, but the seven most recent ones have been made of wooden fencing to create cheaper and more versatile structures. The one on Rather Standard Side (SF27) is an older fenced pen,

Most of the sheepfold are associated with fields created by the enclosures, with only six associated with fields dating from before the enclosures - one at Coppergill (SF17), one on the slopes above High Green footbridge (SF17), and two on Ranelands land near the Scuff (SF23 and SF24). The other two are on open moorland - at the bottom of Blea Gill, and a sheepwash at the top of Gateup Gill.

The Pinfold in High Green (SF29) is probably the oldest sheepfold. It was built on what was then manorial waste land to house stray stock until they were reclaimed by their owner. It may well date back to manorial times. It can be seen on the tithe map to have once been larger than it is now, a small building having since been built in one corner.

There are also four bields - stretches of wall built to serve as shelter for stock.

The following is a record of the sheepfolds and bields to be found in the Hebden township. It is based on those marked on the OS 6" and 25" maps from 1853 to 1910, together with later builds. The date of the earliest map reference identified is given. The current status of the sheepfolds is recorded in the register below: some have been demolished or fallen into ruin, but most are still standing. Below is a Google Earth image shewing their location. You may download the original kmz file which marks their locations.

Clicking on the "Map" link brings up a Google aerial view shewing the location of the sheepfold. Clicking on a photograph link displays a recent photograph of the sheepfold or the original site of the sheepfold. When displaying an image you may use the controls to expand the image even further, or close the image.

(34 sheepfolds and bields)