reddleman

A reddleman is a historical tradesperson in rural Britain who applied reddle, a red pigment made from iron oxide, to sheep to indicate ownership, sale, or destination. The practice arose in parts of England where large flocks were moved between farms and markets, and markings helped shepherds, buyers, and sellers identify which animals belonged to whom.

The reddleman traditionally traveled with a pack, carrying reddle in bags or pouches and employing brushes, combs, or small tools to apply the pigment to the wool. Marks were often placed on the shoulder or hindquarters and could take simple patches or more elaborate symbols or letters, depending on local custom. Because the pigment faded with weather and time, periodic reapplication was common during market seasons or migrations.

Geographically, reddlemen were most associated with northern and western England, though similar practices existed in other rural areas of the British Isles. The role was part of the broader system of itinerant trades that supported agricultural economies before modern tagging and branding technologies became widespread.

The reddleman profession declined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as livestock management practices evolved, with ear tagging, branding, and later modern identification methods reducing the need for manual reddling. Today, the term survives mainly in historical accounts, regional folklore, and as a surname. It remains a noted example of how traditional rural economies organized animal identification before standardized, durable methods existed.