The Cotswold is a British breed of domestic sheep. It originates in, and is named for, the Cotswold hills of the southern midlands of England. It is a large long-woollen sheep, and is kept as a dual-purpose breed, providing both meat and wool. It is a rare breed: in 2021 it was listed as "at risk" on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. History Cotswold sheep have been noted as commonly having a slightly golden coloured wool since the days of Drayton and Camden in England (circa late 16th century to early 17th century), with dark colours being exceedingly rare. This trait gave them the nickname of the "Golden Fleece Breed". In the Middle Ages, Cotswold wool was highly prized and sought-after across Europe for its golden sheen and wealthy English merchants who profited from the wool trade funded the construction of many impressive wool churches which stand in the Cotswolds to this day. Some old-time black "Cotswolds" historically hark back in some form or another to crosses like those originally noted in the flock of William Large of the early 19th century in England. Those sheep were the product of extensive crossing with English Leicesters, a breed more often known for possessing coloured wool. In 2009 it was classified on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as "minority", the lowest of five levels of concern; in 2021 it was one of twenty-four breeds listed as "at risk". Roman In July 1964 a Roman-sculpted replica of a sheep's head was described as having been unearthed near Bibury Church in Gloucestershire, England. A photo of this sculpture is on page 6 of the booklet The Cotswold Sheep. The resemblance to modern Cotswold sheep is striking. Some authorities claim (Elwes, 1893) the Cotswold breed was already in the Cotswold Hills when the Romans got there circa 54 B.C. Others believe that the Cotswold descended from the breeding of local sheep with imported long wool breeds brought with the Romans. United States By 1831, this breed had been introduced to the United States by Christopher Dunn of near Albany, New York. Importation records of Cotswold only date back to that era. While Christopher Dunn imported only one Cotswold ram to cross with his English Leicester ewes. The resulting crosses were so impressive that they prompted William Henry Sotham (funded by the Hon. Erastus Corning, also of Albany) to make