Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from June 10, 2012

The Durham Ox

Originally known as the Ketton Ox when first exhibited in 1799, the Durham Ox was famed for his massive size of nearly 3,800 lbs.  Bred by Charles Colling of Ketton Hall, Brafferton near Darlington in NE England the Durham the Ox was born in 1796 and  sold in 1801 to John Day who renamed it the Durham Ox.   The Ox  was transported round England in a specially built carriage pulled by 4 horses and displayed at agricultural shows and the like, with Day charging admission to see the beast. Charles Colling and his brother Robert of nearby Barmpton developed the shorthorn breed of cattle using the selective breeding techiniques pioneered by Robert Bakewell. The Ox was an early example of that breed, but after dislocating its hip in 1807 it was slaughtered. It was painted by John Boultbee in 1802 with John Day at its head.   This painting was engraved and over 2000 of the engravings were sold. This became the source print for the main Durham Ox view (depicted on transferware),