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The care of sheep
The care of sheep and the upkeep of the sheepcote was overseen by the bercarius, who was the master of the sheephouse / sheep reeve. His duties are set out in detail in the late thirteenth-century account book of Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire, and were probably similar to those undertaken by his counterparts at Fountains and elsewhere.(62) The bercarius at Beaulieu clearly had extensive responsibilities, particularly at sheep-shearing time when he had to oversee the shearing, washing and grading of wool, and to ensure that everyone employed to work at this time was duly paid. The man who washed the wool, for example, was paid three shillings for good wool and two shillings for poorer quality wool; he also received two guest loaves and a smaller loaf, a gallon of beer and a servant to help him; should he require additional help he had to pay for this himself. (63)
At Fountains, the sheep-washings and shearings took place in nine different places and wool was graded into six categories.(64)
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