Manorfields Welsh Pony Stud

01/05/2026

26/02/2026

A Pedigree Cynthia litter of 10 birth notified meat pigs, weaned, wormed and will be tagged later, will be moving to Oxford at the weekend. Very well grown for a gilt’s litter.

20/02/2026

20/02/2026

Memories

2026 marks 41 years of THE OXFORD SANDY AND BLACK PIG SOCIETY!!

The Oxford Sandy & Black Pig, sometimes referred to as the “Plum Pudding or Oxford Forest Pig” is one of the oldest British pig breeds. It has existed for 200-300 years. The exact origin of the breed is lost in antiquity but the original Oxford Sandy & Black is believed to have developed some two centuries ago in Oxfordshire.

The Oxford Sandy & Black or OSB has reached crisis point at least twice in the past when numbers dropped so low that extinction was a real possibility. As long ago as the 1940’s, boar licensing had dropped to one or two a year for OSB’s.

Vera Bosley and Ernest Holloway were the last original breeders in Oxfordshire along with the Blackwell family. Ernest Holloway died in 1962 and, as his son did not want to breed OSBs, the Jack boar went to the Blackwell family just down the road at Dean (Charlbury) and lived until 1967. Many of Ernest Holloways gilts/sows went indirectly to a farmer at Chasewoods farm, next door to Ernest Holloway’s farm at Leafield and thence to Andrew Sheppy. The Chasewood farmer obtained his first gilt 53 years ago from the Blackwells eventually building up to 15 sows. In 1990 this uninterrupted bloodline was dispersed and the final 8 gilts then went to Joe Henson of Guiting Power.

In 1973, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust was formed giving hope for the breed, but the Trust decided not to recognise the OSB meaning that the dedicated breeders remained alone in conserving the breed and the decline continued to the brink of extinction.
Very few boars were being licensed but a few enthusiasts continued to keep the breed and numbers revived to such an extent that a Breed Society.
THE OXFORD SANDY and BLACK PIG SOCIETY was formed in 1985 after the Society’s founder Secretary, Steven Kimmins, contacted all known breeders. With the help and support of Chairman Andrew J. Sheppy and President Geoffrey Cloke, the first herd book was put together. Both Andrew Sheppy and Geoffrey Cloke were dedicated to the breed, the Society and it’s continuation. The breed owes its’ survival to them.

28/12/2025

This picture just popped up in my photo album. Very happy memories of the girls with Manorfields Peony the wrong side of fence as usual!! Darlings Manorfields Posy and Perfect Day in the foreground, Peony’s mum and grandmother.

07/09/2025

14/08/2024

Manorfields Pirate and Manorfields Peony out for a play this afternoon.

18/05/2024

Manorfields Sweetpea yesterday!

15/05/2024

Manorfields Sweetpea, dam Manorfields Sable, sire Pendock Torchlight. Born day before my fathers birthday 14th May.

29/01/2024

And they’re off! 🏃 Lambing time has begun for the Manorfields Kerry Hill flock 🐑

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