The Ryeland is a true heritage breed, and a favourite of the House of Tudor. Queen Elizabeth I herself would only wear stockings from Ryeland wool. Often to be seen in smaller flocks on meadows or rich pasture, they're now to be found all over the world, although numbers in Britain are a fraction of what they used to be. That's changing as heritage breeders and chefs have rediscovered the quality of the meat, with plenty of natural fat cover, and succulent quality.