Airman Kennels
By Frank Rogers

According to Mrs. Bunting it was circa 1930 when Mrs Normandy Rodwell of the Airman prefix approached The Kennel Club to recognize the breed which it did in 1932. She was founder and Honorable Sect. of the club. This kennel is famous for having dogs of perfect ear carriage, whether dropped or priced, though the latter had pride of place. Winning Airmans dogs of note included Betty, Sam, Storm, Tempest, Red Dog. She acquired HOrstead Nipper in partnership with Mr. R. J. Read and he was a full younger brother to Storm - all these being prick eared.

Allercombe Kennels

Contributed by Frank Rogers: About this time a most successful prick-eared breeder came to the forefront named Miss D.E. Tucker, who had the Allercombe prefix. She founded her kennel on Mrs. Hardy’s Quartzhill Teasel, who has had many distinguished descendants both in England and America. Though Miss Tucker bred good Norwich terriers, she lived rather far from shows, and it was difficult to attend, so she sold her stock to other dog show people to enable her dogs to gain their Championships. She was the breeder of Allercombe Task, Allercombe Have-A-Go, Allercombe Escort, who all became Champions. Another two that she bred were brother and sister Allercombe Hiker and Allercomber Hetty, who after becoming Champions in England were exported to America soon to become U.S. Champions as well.

Allright Kennels

Allright Kennels, founded with Ickworth Sandstorm in the mid 1980's, Frauke Hinsch continues to be an active breeder in Germany.

Elisabeth and Philip Fell, Badgewood Kennels
By Barbara Miller
Mrs. P.S.P. Fell with Badgewood Windmill Girl and Judge Mrs. M. May

Philip, known as “Tiny”, and Elisabeth, called “Betty”, were always involved in one breed or another.  She grew up with Whippets and Wires in the house that her parents leased from the Phipps family on what is known as Old Westbury Gardens here in Long Island, New York.  As a teenager her mother gave her a Sealyham Terrier. Tiny, on the other hand, didn’t own a dog until Betty purchased a Beagle for him when they became engaged.   A move to Pasadena, California, an eight year stint, occurred when they got married due to Tiny’s career with the Union Oil Company as a top executive.  Betty showed her Whippet on the west coast and finished him when they returned to Long Island in 1956.  Both Betty and Tiny were born to prominent families, he a great grandson of Anthony Joseph Drexel, the founder of Drexel University; she related to many well known Long Island families.

The Fells lived in Kent, England for ten years when he became an executive of Gulf Oil in 1960.  Years ago Betty told me having the National Forestry as their backyard was an ideal place to run her Whippets.  She had her heart set on the Norwich and Norfolk breeds having spotted two, owned by Henry Bixby, at the Westbury Kennel Club which were exhibited by the great Percy Roberts in 1935.  In 1960, in England, they purchased their first Norwich from the Ragus kennel of Marjorie Bunting, Ragus Elegant Lady.  On a trip back to the states they purchased a Norfolk bitch Ch. Newry’s Mrs. Mc Thing of Badgewood handled by Len Brumby.  The Fells bred her to a Bethways stud and returned to England whereby the bitch delivered in quarantine.  And so their involvement in both breeds began early on and our breed is better for it.

Tiny was the club delegate from 1974 until his death in 1979.  It was his fortitude that enabled the breed to become two, with final approval from the American Kennel Club. And so it was in January 1979 we became two breeds, the Norfolk and Norwich.  Betty became a judge in the early 1930’s due to her mother’s encouragement and judged both in England and the States at such shows as Westminster and West of England Ladies Kennel Society (England).

In the fall of 1979 the Fells hosted the club’s Match show at their showplace, Badgewood, in Oyster Bay, Long Island.  They asked me to serve as Match show chairman.  During lunch they provided live music and wine and I enlisted members to supply a goodly amount of food; all served on a perfectly manicured lawn.  It was a perfect Fell day.

Ch. Badgewood The Huntress was Betty’s favorite Norfolk.  She won the National Specialty two years in a row, 1977 and ’78.  Jack Simm was their private handler for many years here in the States.  He piloted Ch. Badgewood Monty Collins to a National Specialty win and a two time winner of the breed at Montgomery in 1975 and ’76.  The Badgewood Norfolk and Norwich were a force and we all owe the Fells a round of applause for their fortitude in bringing the breed to the public and for their involvement in all club activities.
Published with permission from the Norfolk Terrier Annual 2010

More >> A reprint from an old interview with Mrs. Phillip S.P. Fell:

Belleville
I got my first Norfolk as a pet in 1987.  I had never seen a Norfolk before and had found them in a book in the library, liked the look and the sound of them, so set out to find one.
 
My ‘affix’ was registered in 1992 and was the name of the house that I was living in at the time. 

In 1990, without knowing what I was doing at the time, I bought a bitch (Malbis Jenny Wren) from a small pet breeder.  It later turned out that she was by Lowmita Nutcracker, a son of Ch Ragus Whipcord (sire of 16 English Champions), whilst her mother was a granddaughter of Ch Ragus Songbook, also a son of Ch Ragus Whipcord.  Although no great star herself, Jenny had great breeding.  She turned out to be the mother of my first homebred Ch, Belleville Cloudscape and grandmother of Ch Belleville Cloudvoyager, who is in the pedigree of every Belleville bred Champion except his mother, litter sister and full brother! 

The reason that I was so successful in my first few litters was that the first “real” breeders that I made contact with were Lesley Crawley and Marjorie Bunting (Ragus) and Michael Crawley (Elve).  Lesley and Marjorie educated me in line breeding, Marjorie would sit for hours and tell me about dogs in the pedigrees plus she still had Ch Ragus Songbook as a very old dog.

It was through their advice that I mated Jenny to Ch Elve Cloudyhead (ultimately the sire of 8 English Champions and who had Whipcord as a Great- Grandfather 3 times and a GG Grandfather 3 times) and who was consistently siring nice puppies to lots of different bitches.  This produced Cloudscape. In addition Michael Crawley let me have Ch Elve Willow Goldworthy with him in partnership and she was my first CC winner and my first champion.  She was a Cloudyhead granddaughter through her sire Ch Salette Gold Bullion and, when mated to Cloudvoyager, produced my first Champion show Group winner, Ch Pirouette at Belleville

Since those early days Belleville has been Top Winning Norfolk Kennel in the UK every year but one since 1994.  We have made up 32 Norfolk and 10 Norwich Champions. We won Group 2 at Crufts in ‘04 with Ch Belleville Sweet Nothings (2 x BOB at Crufts including ’03 where she was also BPIB).  She was also BPIS at the National Terrier Club Championship Show in ’04.  She won a Group 1 and several other Group placings. Ch Pirouette at Belleville won 2 Groups and a RBIS.  Ch Belleville Magic Flute won a Group and several placings.  Ch None Stop to Belleville won 2 Groups.  Several other have won Group placings.  We have also just won our first CC with our Portuguese water dog.

I was secretary of the Midland Counties Norfolk Terrier Association for 10 years.  I am an accredited breeder and a member of the Kennel Club.  I also wrote breed notes in Dog world for both Norfolk and Norwich for several years.
Published with permission from the Norfolk Terrier Annual 2010

Barbara Fournier & the Bethways Norfolk
Submitted by: Barbara Miller

She was a constant at Westminster Dog Show even when her health didn’t cooperate.  You could find her easily in a crowd; black cowboy hat, turquoise jewelry and the usual cowgirl jacket.  It wasn’t always that way as Bobbie, as she was called, was born and raised in Bethany, Connecticut.  It was in her home state that she fell in love with the Norwich Drop Ear and became an early successful breeder.  Bobbie trained her Norfolk, groomed them and was proud as punch exhibiting each of them.  Not too long ago I stumbled upon a photo of one of her famous dogs, Ch. Bethways Ringo.  What a chunk!  I wish he were around today because I’d certainly use him on one of my bitches. For the most part the early Norwich and Norfolk were a bit fine boned but not Bobbie’s.  She had her breeding program down pat.  Ringo did his owner/breeder proud by going group 4 at the Somerset Hills Kennel Club, while the club’s president, Mrs. Anne Winston looked on.  Bethways Norfolk covered both coasts as they were well represented in California by Ch. Bethways Miss Chops at both the Ventura and Santa Barbara shows in 1970. 

On an Easter Sunday with her friend Monika Doerk the two women packed her grandmother’s motor home with their belongings and dogs and headed for Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1974.  The kennel property was being sold and they had about six weeks to shut down and move out, sort of like the early pioneers.  The move opened her heart to the sun, warm climate, less pressure and lots of horseback riding.  She was a transplanted easterner turned cowgirl. Jane Anderson of Mystic, Connecticut offered to take on Bobbie’s retired Norfolk, including Miss Chops.  Ch. Bethways the Red Baron was at Jane’s and I so much wanted to breed to him.  Off I went to Mystic and the Baron but unfortunately the breeding didn’t take.  Ringo went with Bobbie to Santa Fe along with puppies and about eighteen adults.  All the furniture, horses and farm equipment headed out west in a commercial van. 

Bobbie became a member of the Norwich Terrier Club in the early 1950’s and remained a staunch supporter until her death. Her early friendships in the breed included Anne Winston, Mary Baird and Joan Read. She was an outstanding judge and played the game fairly; judging the dog, not the handler.  She was with me in the mid 1990’s when I judged an Open show in England.  She was a good friend to the Norfolk and their owners.  This cowgirl didn’t have a mean bone in her body and a good word for all.  Her friendships traveled near and far.  Anyone who visited her in Santa Fe was sure to be taken on a trip to the Grand Canyon.  She was generous to a fault.  Her niece, Holly, sent me her black cowboy hat.  It’s a treasure as she was.  
Published with permission from the Norfolk Terrier Annual 2010

Bobbie pictured here with Duke and Duchess Contributed by Missy Wood
The first Norwich Terrier Club Sweepstakes classes were offered in 1965 at the Greenwich KC Specialty in June, judged by Miss Gene Simmonds. Although at that time the regular classes were not divided by ear type, Sweepstakes classes were. There was no Best In Sweepstakes, one showed in 6 to 12 month or 12 to 18 month classes, divided by ear type, both sexes competing in the same class. Of the 7 present in the 6-12 month Drop Ear class Bobbie won with Bethway's The Dutchess. With 4 present, Bobbie went on to win the 12-18 month Drop Ear class with Bethway's John.

Reprinted from the Norwich and Norfolk News Jubilee Issue: Barbara Fournier-Bethways
I started with Kedron Cobblers Biscuit given to me by my friend Elizabeth Spykman in 1950. Though I didn't know the breed, it didn't take long to become fully devoted. For the most part I learned by doing - actual experience showing and a long learning process. Puppy training was easy. It is natural for a Norwich or Norfolk to trot along beside you. In the early days I would take pups to obedience classses to socialize. Four to six dogs would go along to participate only in the stand for examination. Sometimes I would take six to eight to show (entry fees were only $5.00 then) all by myself. At ringside I had everyone I knew and didn't know helping me switch numbers. I don't know how I managed.
Catherine Thayer, Club secretary in 1950 took a look at Brigham Young, my first champion, at the Eastern Dog Show. She couldn't do much for him that day, but she gave me some valuable advice. I can remember Sylvia Warren sitting on the benches massaging ears to help them drop and Mrs. Bedford with her knitting on her typewriter. And of course there were the handlers - Len Brumby, Tom Gately. A handler by the name of Jack Warren gave me my first tips on grooming. Looking back I believe we had to work hard at breeding out bad mouths, mainly undershot with missing teeth. Monorchids seemed to stem from imports. There were a few normal breeding problems, but puppy loss was minimal and I have had fewer than a dozen Caesareans in all my yers of breeding Norfolk.
I am most concerned with breeders or exhibitors not recognizing existing problems that their dog might have. There have been some great dogs in the past, as there are today, however there are those of poorer quality that should not be promoted in the show ring. Now with ease of transportation and other advances it is possible to carry on a careful line breeding program without maintaining a large kennel. Selecting the right home for the right dog is most important and can often insure the future of the breeds. Perhaps the best suggestion I can make to the newcomer is to acquire the best Norfolk or Norwich whose qualities adhere to the Standard. It is not long necessary for anyone who really has the desire to bred good dogs to start with one that is mediocre.

Boxted

Circa 1935 Mrs. Blewitt founded her Boxted Kennels with Eng. Ch. Tobit who was one of the 5 founding sires in the breed.

Castle Point

Profile by Mary Baird quoted from The Norwich and Norfolk News, 1986: When I first got interested they weren't called anything but rough coated hunt terriers. I was in England in 1929 when I read of a lady in Windsor who was selling rough coated terriers for three quid a piece. I went there and picked up this creature - he was a black and tan - and I called him Snuff after my father's steeplechaser. Sylvia Warren's Tuff would throw black and tan, though red himself. So did his son Simon. My little Snuff was a tough little customer, but when I returned home I left him with my friend Molly Barnard and he lived quite happily until he died of old age. I imported Tawny Pipit, named after an apple, and she was a lovely little thing, beautiful, marvelous color and she had three puppies. I got other bitches from England and one I bred to Tuff and got Simon. He was very good stock. I obtained Pound from Barbara Fournier and I bred Iguana, also both excellent stock and good producers. They loved the ladies. Finally I have a stud of first quality - Ch. Hatchwood's Creme de Menthe of Cracknor - the gayest rascal we have around. I have been very lucky.
Showing has never played a large part in the kennel life. I bred dogs for temperament first, hoping they would level out in form which finally came. I had few problems with whelping and much of that success was due to my kennelman, Bob Young, who died two years ago. The Norwich Terrier Club, as it was then called, was quite different. We used to hold meetings ringside at Matches, but after all, there were only a few members then. Life was much less complicated, as was the business of the Club itself.
I worry about the size of Norwich and Norfolk, always thiking about that 9-inch drain for going to ground. I am also concerned about moving, striving to have tht nice reach in front that comes with good shoulders. I would like to see the breeds preserved with its original temperament, for working in the field and doing what should come so naturally.

Contributed by Frank Rogers:
Mrs. Stevens Baird of Bernardsville, NJ (Castle Point): her foundation bitch was bred by Josephine Spencer and was named Partree Sparkle. She was by Cobbler of Boxted and her dam Partree Chance was a granddaughter of Ch Tobit and Neachley Toffee. Mrs. Baird’s kennels, like a number of others in the States, were originally loose boxes for the hunters and carriage horses and were converted into delightful kennels. Her terriers were bred with great care and she was rewarded by a good type of deep rich red colored dogs. She strived to breed the faults out that were prevalent in England like light eyes, or bad mouths, or poor hind action (cow hocks being the most common) and some fore-legs being somewhat crooked.

Chidley: Joan Read’s Biography for Norfolk Yearbook

            When I lived in Virginia and bred Labradors, I knew Mrs. Read as a preeminent Labrador judge.  I came to know her as a friend and mentor through her son Curtis who of course had Labradors and lived near me in Virginia.  Joan and I first co-owned a lab she bred who was winner’s dog at the national.  We became even closer when I became involved with Norwich and Norfolks when I moved from Virginia to Long Island.  She owned my first Norfolk sire Elve Pure Magic bred by Michael Crawley.  TG had a short but influential career as a stud dog in the 70’s. More on TG>>
            Mrs. Read was born to a life of privilege in New York, her family being one of the most important in New York if not the country.  Both President Franklin Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt were her relatives, Franklin being her cousin.  In her early years she was a great sportswoman actively involved in showing both horses and dogs, both in the field and in conformation.  She apprenticed judging under the great Percy Roberts and her keen mind and eye for a dog made her a great student.  Her career as a horse woman and Labrador handler in the show ring and field was cut short by Polio contracted while she was in her 30’s.  She turned her attention to a breed whose size suited her, Norwich, in the early 50’s.  She bred prick ears for many years with great success and introduced a line of drop ears in the 70’s.  First with Shenanigans of Chidley her foundation bitch followed by the purchase of TG from Michael Crawley, his first litter of Norfolks.  TG was a very influential sire in his time forming the foundation for many of the early and current breeders, Abbedale, Surrey, Venerie, Yarrow, Greenfield, and Glenelg and the Allright Kennel in Germany.
            Mrs. Read was never one to campaign a dog she only wanted to exhibit at the meaningful shows.  Having her dogs gone to the shows every weekend did not appeal to her even if you told her she had a good chance to win the group she would say I would rather win the breed at Montgomery or one of the important shows where Norfolk breeders gathered.  She was a great dog person who studied pedigrees and progeny and could be relied upon to give a fair, if no-holds-barred appraisal of a dog or litter or prospective breeding.  She had great success as a breeder herself in Labs, Norwich, and Norfolk.  Her CH Royal Rock Don of Chidley is unsurpassed in influence as a Norwich sire producing close to 100 champion offspring as well as 2 Westminster Best in Show winners.  I think Norfolks won her heart because they are so game and determined, both qualities she shared with her beloved dogs.  This love was demonstrated by her writing the definitive book on the breed “The Norfolk Terrier”.  This tome took years to complete and occupied many of her waking hours.  She was thorough in her research and sure of her facts and managed to produce one of the most comprehensive breed books available.  The Norfolk Terrier was a true labor of love.  Besides believing Norfolks should have a book of their own she believed Norfolks should have a club of their own.  When the breed divided she felt so strongly that there should be two clubs that when the NTC became the NNTC she founded ANTA, still an active Norfolk Club dedicated to the complete Norfolk, Show dog , Earth dog, and companion.  ANTA still holds annual events at which many Norfolk people gather to learn more about their breed and enjoy the day of showing, working, and doing all the things Norfolks love to do. 
            Joan’s legacy is not just her fabulous book or ANTA but more importantly the many people she introduced to the breed and those of us in Norfolks she nurtured and helped develop.  So many people who are important breeders today owe a great deal of their dedication and knowledge to Joan.  I for one will always be in her debt as she was both my mentor and friend.  The many hours I spent in the evenings talking to her about dogs and the dog people who first introduced and bred Norwich and Norfolk was invaluable to my understanding and appreciation of the breeds.  I only wish I had the foresight to record only a part of all she had first hand knowledge of.  Those of us that knew her were privileged. 

Joan was as determined as the little dogs she championed and it was this determination that helped her overcome all of life‘s obstacles.  I feel privileged that she counted me as a friend and shared her love of our breed with me.     
Published with permission from the Norfolk Terrier Annual 2010

Joan is also credited with helping Linda Plummer found the Wenwagon Norfolks. Linda and her husband Ed owned King's Prevention Belinda.

Reprint from The Norwich and Norfolk News Jubilee Issue by Joan Read - Chidley
I started with Norfolk I guess when Barbara Fournier moved west in 1973, and I took a Norfolk bitch from her - it proved to be a false start because I never got puppies from that one. My foundation breeding stock came from Haggerty's estate. I got three puppies. Len Brumby was helpful in every way getting me underway. The pups were Bethways by Newry. I'd been watching Norfolk and Norwich, when they were one, a long tine you know. I knew a lot already, but Barbara Fournier helped a lot. I ordered a bitch puppy from Mrs. Bunting and got a six week old male puppy instead. A friend brought him back on her lap on the plane.
I've never had problems with whelping or breeding Norfolk. For breeding I just let them out in the runs, no problems at all, and my bitches whelp easily. There don't seem to be any general problems with the breed except of course watching mouths and ears. Lots of peole have ear placement prolbems with Norfolk and always have had. And these dogs have loose teeth early, I don't know why. Also one thing, the Norfolk correct overbites as they grow up which is not true often in Norwich.
The whole dog show world has changed over the past ten years. Most of us did not use handlers. Our breed is a "ladies breed" and needs sensitive hands in my opinion. Also we shouldn't expect a lot of group placements with our little dogs. Now there are these cluster shows and when I see that something like 72 Norwich and Norfolk have become champions in one year when the total registered are something like 250 I think it's ludicrous - we have a lot of champions who don't deserve to be.
I've bred about twenty litters and about eight or nine champions. Home breds mean much the most to me and I haven't won big from them. I suppose Magic Marker is the most exciting in terms of recent wins, two BOB at Montgomry, etc., but I want to stress that the most fun and rewarding thing to me is to see my home breds out there. I pick the stud with great care! A lot on pedigree and mostly on prsonality. The HAVE to have nice personalities. And then...convenience. I am not crazy about shipping, though I do do it. I plan ahead a generation, that is why I got Mark's father (Dusty Daffran). He turned out luckily for me to be a dominant sire and I got pretty heads, which I needed in my breeding. When having a dog at stud I do not select bitches for him. Anyone can breed to him. He's at public stud. Unless of course, it is an impossibly bad bitch.
In selecting puppy buyers I want a loving home. The puppy has to be getting a better home than he or she would have with me or the puppy stays right here!
The biggest problems I see for the dogs is mouths. The tendency to have teeth move around and lose teeth early.
The dog of which I am most fond are "Mark's" grandmother (Shenanigans of Chidley) and his mother, Chidley's Pooka. They are both with me all the time and wonderful.
The best advice I can give to breeders is: Try to breed to strengths not weaknesses, and most of all keep our breed sound and happy, watching with utmost care to whom we sell our puppies.

Colonsay Kennels
Miss Marion Sheila Scott Macfie, founder, first and lifetime President of the Norfolk Terrier Club, 
and her famous Colonsay Dalmatians and Norfolk Terriers, in 1935. 

Colonsay Kennels was founded by Miss Marion Sheila Scott MacFie in 1933 and she joined The Norwich Terrier Club in 1935. She believed the breed should be a small red harsh coated dog with drop ears. Mrs. MacFie successfully bred and showed before the war and survival of the breed during the war was largely credited to her. These dogs, placed to work on neighboring farms, held the record for 150 rats during an afternoon's threshing. There was local demand for these thrifty keepers. Discouraged by the drop-ear ring defeats and changing show type of prick-ears, Miss Macfie led the movement to breed separation, accomplished in 1964, shortly before her death. Although her founding dog, Tiny Tim of Biffin carried the black and tan gene, any black and tan dogs she bred were allowed the Colonsay prefix but were not bred as she believed the recessive black and tan gene would soften the coats and make for a fuller coat.  Many of the well known kennels on both sides of the Atlantic were built from a Colonsay foundation, including Nanfan, Ragus, Waveney Valley and Hunston. Miss MacFie began a campaign in the 1950's for the Kennel Club to separate the Norwich breed into separate ear types, prick ear and drop ear varieties but her goal was not accomplished until 1964.

Miss MacFie quoted from an old publication: "I first started breeding Norwich Terriers over twenty years ago, and my first dog was Tiny Tim of Biffin, bred by Mrs. Mainwaring of Rugely. Wherever I showed Dalmations I used to enter one or two Norwich Terriers in variety classes. At first the judges quite obviously did not know what they were but with persistent showing under everyone, they at last began to recognize them.
I have always tried to breed to the standard - a small, natural hard coated little dog that needs no trimming. It is not always easy to keep them as small as they should be but the difficulty must be met. Another thing at which I have always aimed is good temper - this, I think, is mostly a matter of the conditions in which they live. All mine can be let loose together, and there is never any trouble - which is more than can be said of many other breeds."

Colonsay (1933) to Ragus to Gotoground (1963)
Colonsay to Nanfan
Colonsay to Waveney Valley (early 1940's)
Colonsay to Hunston
Colonsay to Ickworth to Allright (1980's), Titanium, Crackshill and Ragus
Colonsay to Titanium
Colonsay to Crackshill
Colonsay to Kedron
Colonsay to Port Fortune

Contributed by breeder Eileen Needham of Titanium Norfolk, an early history of the breed:
Miss Marion Sheila Scott Macfie, breeder of the “Colonsay” Dalmatians, joined the Norwich Terrier Club in 1935. She preferred the drop-ears and founded her Colonsay Norwich on Mrs. Mainwaring's Tiny Tim of Biffin, and the Hon. Mrs. Brooke's Kinmount Pip. Miss Macfie bred and showed extensively and successfully, and it is largely due to her efforts that the drop-ears were kept going in such strength throughout the years of World War II. Although there were a few outstanding drop-ears in the late 1950-60s, with a winning pair owned by Miss Macfie, Ch. Colonsay Orderley Dog with 19 C.C.s and Ch. Colonsay Banston Belinda with 12 C.C.s, (a record at that time for a bitch), and which remained unbroken until recent times, drop-ear entries went down until, in 1964, they were only about a quarter of those of the prick-ears. Miss Macfie had already begun a campaign to give each type a separate register within the one breed, but it took seven years before the two types actually achieved separate recognition in 1964. Although the Club had wanted separate registers within the one breed, the Kennel Club had insisted on two separate breeds being formed, with different names. The more dominant prick-ears kept the name "Norwich Terrier", and, after some debate, it was agreed that the drop-ears should become the "Norfolk Terrier".

Miss MacFie firmly believed that black and tans would produce Yorkie type coats, soft long and flowing. The Colonsay Kennel was large as Miss MacFie bred quite extensively and often brought in pick of litter or indeed whole litters sired by her stud dogs.

Early Breeders

One of the early breeders who had a great influence on the breed was Mr. R.J. Read of Hapton Hall, Norwich. He enjoyed the honor of being the first President of The Norwich Terrier Club when the breed was recognized in the UK. In 1909 Mr. Read bought a puppy by Rags out of Ninety. When it was old enough he experimented breeding first to a Bedlington Terrier producing puppies that were game enough but had a softer coat than was desired. Her second breeding was to a brown Staffordshire Bull Terrier that belonged to the Countess of Kimberley, then bred back to Mr. Jack Cooke's strain of Norwich. From this selective breeding program of ten years Mr. Read bred the famous Horsted Mick in 1929.

Elve and Michael Crawley
By Lesley Crawley

Michael Crawley’s kennel of Norfolk, Norwich and Australian Terriers came by its prefix by chance.  The English KC turned down over 20 name applications and finally accepted part of the name Elvenring, so Elve came into being.  It is pronounced LV and became one of the most well known prefix’s in the UK during Michael’s 23 years of breeding and exhibiting.

His first 4 champions Michael handled for himself but later he preferred to take a seat at  the ringside and watch his wife Lesley handle his dogs.

The kennel achieved 16 Norwich, 2 Australian and 11 Norfolk champions, only 5 of whom were not home bred.  Among the many wins the kennel had were 2 all breed BIS’s, 2 Best Puppy in Shows at the National Terrier (The UK’s top terrier show), 9 group wins in 2 breeds one being at Crufts.  From 1990 to the year 2000, Elve Norwich stud dogs were top sires on the breed club points table for 8 of the 10 years.

In 1996 Elve stud dogs held the first 4 stud places, a record yet to be equaled or beaten in Norwich. 

Michael’s most famous Norwich stud was CH Elve The Viking, whose 11th champion offspring was the group 1 at Crufts, CH Elve Stormwizard.

His top Norfolk stud dog in the UK was CH Elve Cloudyhead, who won Top Stud twice and was sire of the first male group winner and the first multiple group winner in Norfolks.  This was CH Salette Gold Bullion who won 25 CC’s, a record at the time.  In the USA he bred the well-known stud dog AMCH Elve Pure Magic, owned by the late Joan Read.  He also bred ENG and AM CH Elve Nick Redthorn at Belleville, who was 2nd Top Terrier in the USA in 1998.

In Australian Terriers he bred 2 champions, one of whom, CH Elve The Forger, became the first Aussie in the UK to with a Puppy Terrier Group and when adult, won 2 group 2’s at a time when Australians never won such awards in the UK.

The most famous Elve Norwich was CH Elve The Sorcerer, who was the first male BIS winner.  He was also the first multiple group and BIS winner and was certainly the pathfinder for such wins in the UK and is in the pedigrees of most top-winning dogs today.
Published with permission from the Norfolk Terrier Annual 2010

Farndon Kennels

From an old publication contributed by James Scharnberg

Another horseman, W.E. West, the Market Harborough feedman, acquired breeding stock from Jones and supplied the Pytchley Hunt with working fox bolters. By 1920 his prick ear Farndon strain which can also be traced back to Mrs. Fagan's Brownie, were famous as working terriers and as the pets of American horsemen. The lasting Farndon influence on American Norwich prick ear breeders was established when Pax Of The Briars and his three sons migrated in the late '40s. Mr. West bred the first English prick ear Champion Farndon Red Dog, M.F.H. and the first American prick ear Champion Rachael, Mrs. Randolph's foundation bitch. In 1950 the Dean Bedfords imported Farndon Randolph, the first English and American Champion.
Mr. West's record exports to America can hardly be equalled. It is unlikely, today, that such concentration of typical stock would be parted with if it existed. England's loss was our gain with the early Champions Rachael and Victor, followed by the Champion Farndon brothers, Randolph, Rodney and Romeo. Today the Farndon influence is concentrated at Oakley, the senior prick ear kennel in America. Pemberton and Chidley also cherish the Farndon line as Jericho, Quartzhill, and Foxybrook do in England. More>>

Although the Farndon dogs were namely prick ear, they do appear in the pedigrees of some of the early drop ear Norwich.

Foxybrook
Contributed by Frank Rogers

In 1935, Mrs. Panks, Miss Macfie and Mrs. Monckton joined the Norwich Terrier Club. Mrs. Panks bought her first prick ear bitch from Mrs. Normandy-Rodwell called Airman’s Foxiana. She was bred in 1932 by Mr. Read and when Mrs. Panks bought her she was in whelp to “David Copperfield” and duly had seven puppies. Airman’s Foxiana was a daughter of Horsted Mick, and she and her family were the foundation of Mrs. Panks’ kennel, whose prefix is Foxybrook.

Gotoground Kennels

Gotoground Kennels of Esmee O'Hanlon started her kennel with a Ragus Norfolk in 1963. Elel Spruce was a heavy influence on the Gotoground kennel foundation Norfolk.

From an old publication contributed by Frank Rogers:
GOTOGROUND NORWICH TERRIERS
(Drop-ear)
The Kennels are situated in a most glorious position on the North Norfolk Coast. All the dogs have free range, absolutely essential for healthy growth and development of the young stock, who can thus develop their working instincts from Puppyhood. In 1958 we were top winning kennel in the Breed wsith 7C.C.s and Ch. Hunston Hedge Betty was again top winning Bitch and Ch. Gotoground Widgeon Bunny was top winning Drop-eared Dog, being the youngest Drop-eared Champion at the age of 17 months, he qualifies for his Junior Warrant. We have a total of 32 C.C.s since starting to breed Norwich Terriers in 1954. We have made 4 Champions in this time; two are home-bred and two were reared here from young puppies. All have won the C.C.s under different judges. Gotoground Foxhunter, sire of Ch. Widgeon Bunny, I exported to America in 158. In 1959 I sent his litter brother Gotoground Gunner (one C.C. and two Res. C.C.s). Gunner's progeny have distinguished themselves in the Show Ring. Gotoground Brownie's Girl won an Open D. or B. Class at the age of 7 months; Gotoground Countryman two firsts and Res. C.C. at Birminham City Ch. Show, aged 8 months, and two firsts at Birmingham National in November, 1959.

Mrs. Esme O’Hanlon made two very good purchases to help found her drop-ear kennel when she bought from Mrs. Marks and Mrs. Bunting Ragus Solomon Grundy and Ragus Merry Maid, both by Waveney Valley Alder. Her most successful winner was Ch Gotoground Widgeon Bunny a grandson of Solomon Grundy and out of Merry Maid, who was the top winning drop-ear dog in 1960. Not only did Mrs. O’Hanlon’s terrier’s do well in the show ring but they also had a happy time hunting rats on the river banks.

Hunston Kennels, founded by Kay Southwick is credited with pioneering the Black & Tan Norfolk, actively breeding until the mid 1970's. She is credited with developing Black and Tans with good harsh coats and built the Hunston line from a Colonsay bitch.

Ickworth Kennels

Ickworth Kennels was started by Alice Hazeldene, who handled for Mrs. Macfie and  interhited the Colonsay Kennels in 1965. Though she retired from breeding in 1981, her generosity with Norfolk fanciers at home and abroad was revered.

The following is a short story written by Sheila Monckton of Jericho Kennels, contributed by Frank Rogers

VIXEN AND TAN

          Early in the 1930’s, I was sitting and writing letters and two of my bitches were asleep at my feet, when suddenly they shot out of the room, and I heard their infuriated voices raised in the hall. I went out to find that the local Policeman had called to see my husband. I do not know if he thought the parlour maid was too slow in answering the door, anyway he walked into the house. That was as far as he got, for Vixen and Tan had got him cornered, and in between their barks took running nips at him if he moved. These same two did not always make a row when anything went wrong. Every night they would come upstairs   with me and sleep in their basket beside my bed. I always left the door open so that I could hear if my elder children cried in the night, as Nanny slept next to our youngest and their rooms were down the passage. One night I heard plop, plop, as Vixen and Tan hopped out of their basket and ran to the door, and then there was silence. On getting up to see what had disturbed them I saw a small figure in the moonlight. This was my eldest son Peter walking in his sleep. Thanks to these Norfolk Terriers waking me up and not waking my son, I got him back to bed without a mishap.

Sheila is said to have had Nannies and Parlor Maids and to have lived a very grand life! A quote from Sheila:
" I bought my first Norwich Terrier from Mr. P.V. W. Gell, a puppy called Red Squirrel, which I nicknamed Vixen, and then I bought Neachley Tan. It is from the latter bitch that I founded my Jericho kennel and all my terriers trace back to her".

Mrs. Monckton bought her first Norwich Terrier from Mr. & Mrs. P.V.W. Gell, a puppy called “Red Squirrel”, which she nicknamed “Vixen” and then she bought “Neachley Tan”, It is from Neachley Tan that she founded her famous Jericho Kennel, and all of her terriers trace back to her.  She was by Joe Biffin, a son of Ch. Biffin of Beaufin, out of Neachley Bracken, a daughter of Horstead Mick. Tan was an inveterate ratter, and the quickest. The World War had started and Mrs. Monckton did win some 1st prizes though, with a puppy called Red Sand, a son of Red Squirrel and by Ch. Biffin of Beaufin at Crufts in 1938.

Kedron Kennels

A stalwart New Englander, Miss Edith McCausland, imported her original drop ear stock from Miss Macfie to found her Kedron Kennels. Miss McCausland's Angel's Whisper of Colonsay appeared in the Norwich ring at New England shows; her owner always stayed for the Terrier Group, whether there had been breed competition or not and the public gradually became acquainted with the sporting terriers. Kedron also acquired a reputation in the Obedience ring. In time, Miss McCausland sold her remaining stock to another terrier fancier Josephine Gould of Milton

King's Prevention Kennels

Ch. Nanfan Corricle "Joy" founded the King's Prevention Drop Ear Norwich in 1975 for Constance S. Larrabee of Chestertown, Marlyland
Photo by Constance Larrabee courtesy of Frank Rogers, story by Frank Rogers. "If you knew the story behind the picture you'd laugh. I was scared to death while I was holding her and so was Constance. Joy was the meanest Norfolk ever. She bit everything and everybody that came near her. She just arrived into Philadelphia that day (I lived in Chestnut Hill and picked her up while Constance drove up from Maryland to spend the weekend and to claim her new Norfolk.) That is how the photo came to be.

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Reprint from The Norwich and Norfolk News Jubilee Issue, Constance Larrabee-King's Prevention: I came to America in 1949 and I married a Norwich Terrier! My husband had a Norwich and a Schipperke. I thought the Norwich a scruffy thing so I would only walk the Schipperke down Connecticut Avenue. When we moved to the Eastern Shore I met Gordon and Gwendolyn Massey and I bred my first litter through one of their dogs. They were wonderful people and very kind. I didn't go into the ring until 1961 and then it was a Match Show in Connecticut where Barbara Fournier used to live. She showed me how to groom, really showed me the ropes. I got my first really good brood bitches from Mrs. Howe Lowe of Upland Spring. She had a wonderful strain in those days. You have to breed good dogs to have a good reputation.
When people call me for a puppy I ask them why do you want a dog, how did you hear about me, do you have a fenced-in area. You use a lot of common sense, after all you owe it to the animal. It is a tremendous responsiblity to place a small dog that you have raised. There is no doubt about it, no matter how any litters you breed you are just as fond of the last one as you were the first. We must be so careful whom we sell to. There have been three dogs that I will never forget: Hardy Bear, he won the Match in 1963; Serena, a wonderful dog - she came from an entire litter of black and tans and my husband said "what have you bred?"; and Butterscotch, who would never have won in the ring, but he was my firt puppy. I believe in dogs being natural, they should be able to take care of themselves and breed themselves. In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, our breeds would die if it weren't for people and I don't believe we should be breeding dogs that have difficulty whelping. We should breed sturdy dogs and not just pretty dogs. And they should lead a dog's life, a good life and not just be a substitute for someone's child. You learn a lot by experience, nothing takes the place of experience in raising dogs. I often wonder why we stay in it, but if there is anything that makes me think I am a survivor, it is having had the good times and the bad times raising puppies.
We should be aiming for sound dogs with good teeth in their head in the right place. Sondness and temperament, without these you've got nothing as far as Norwich and Norfolk are concerned. They should never by shy and when puppies are small you should expose them in the earliest stages to the outside world. Never pamper, allow them to go out as soon as they are old enough. One must remember what they were bred for - sporty hunting dogs who must lead a sporting life insofar as possible. Do not crate them except at a show. They need exercise. And never breed to supply the demand. I think we must never lose sight of the fact that you breed a sound dog with good temperament first. That's the best advice I can give anybody today.

Max-Well Norfolk
Reprinted with permission by Barbara Miller from an old NNTC publication

It began thirteen years ago in New York City at the well known eatery, Maxwell's Plum. Between bites, we discussed Sue's four month old fluffy Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier coincidentally named "Max". We searched that year for a Wheaten bitch and decided to keep the male at Sue's house and the female at mine. We have kept to that rule with our Norfolks ever since. Our first Wheaten litter was whelped on our kitchen floor and the Max-Well Kennel was founded. For us, "kitchen" would be a more appropriate name than "kennel." We've made one change, however, we now ask the bitch to use the whelping box instead of the floor. Max-Well and the Wheatens stayed together until the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club. At this time I was President and Sue Vice-President of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club. Once recognized, we realized that heavy grooming combined with a difference of opinion over trimming was just too much. Wheaten Terriers no longer looked the way we thought they should - natural. It was time for another breed.

One day I brought a Wheaten to Jack Simm to be groomed. A little red dog, Ch. Badgewood Monty Collins, welcome me. One look told me he was the perfect size, friendly and outgoing and needed little grooming.

Changes were made at Max-Well. We kept our original brace of Wheatens and in 1974 two Norfolk Terriers joined us. Monty's daughter, Max-Well's Rum Raison, moved in with me and my three children. A male puppy, Ch. Badgewood Moreston, moved in with Sue and her family. In 1976 "Wolf", as Moreston is better known, was bred to Raison and presented us with four bitches and one dog.

During "Raison's" pregnancy we became aware of and were concerned with fading puppeis. Having never lost a Wheaton pup, we refused to believe we could lose a Norfolk. We asked a doctor friend, whose field is obstetrics, for help. He recommended Lactated Ringers's Solution with 5% Dextrose administered as soon as the litter was whelped, and every four hours from 48 hours thereafter. We've been on the Ringer's "kick" ever since. Twenty-two Norfolk puppies whelped at Max-Well have been on the solution and we have not lost one. Our first litter was a lucky one. The little male, William Penn, went to Sue and completed his champsionship, going BOB twice; Liberty Bell, "Ginger" went to Mt. Paul; Betsy Ross to Castle Point; Bunker Hill to Shirley Seaman; and British stayed with me. Ginger came back to me at eleven months of age having had a superb upbringing by Anne Winston, and not wanting two bitches of the same breeding, we placed British with relatives and Ginger stayed with me.

In 1978 Ginger completed her championshuip taking four majors in the Bred by Exhibitor classes and produced her first litter by Am. Can. Ch. Ickworth Nimrod. Of that litter, Mrs. Ethel Phillips took Ch. Max-Well's Lady Chatterly, Cliff Hallmark finished "Bugs", as she is affectionately know, at thirteen months. Ed Resovsky and Frank Rogers took "Hank" (Ch. Max-Well's O'Henry) who with three majors finished under Barbara Keenan at Elm City going Best of Breed over Ch. El Cid of Tinkenswood. "Hank" is the first American Norfolk to gain championship points since the division of the breed. Litter sister, Max-Well's Scarlet Letter, is just getting started in the show ring and has one BOB to her credit.

Our youngster, Max-Well's Penny Lane is a brat! Out of Raison, by Ch. Badgewood Rowdy Duke, her grandsires are Ch. Mt. Paul Rowdy and Ch. Badgewood Monty Collins. With breeding like that, there must be something buried in her lovely head that will one day tell her she must stay out of trouble. We have high hopes for her as a mother and in the show ring.

Our stock goes to those fully aware of their responsibility to the breed and we keep in contact with new owners, offering advice on grooming, conditioning and breeding. Although Max-Well has produced five champions in a short period of tine, we have remained a "kitchen kennel." Our purpose is to produce, through a care breeding program, hardy well-made Norfolk Terriers.

It is still the beginning!

Mt. Paul Norfolk
Anne Winston

In 1974 (when the Norwich and Norfolk Terrier Club Maplehurst cup was first awarded for most POINTS from Bred-by in a club year) the winner was Anne Winston with Mt. Paul Tulip. That in no way suggests the dog finished all from Bred-by, just that the dog earned the most points.

A quote from Anne Winston, Mt. Paul Norfolk:

"Good ears are inherited by breeding to those who have them. If they are placed properly, as in the standard, they will drop properly. I never had any problem luckily. They must be set on the side of the head a bit below the dome. If set too high, they tulip. There is no other way out."

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A PERFECT STORM IN THE SOMERSET HILLS
By Sue Ely

My introduction to what is now known as the Norfolk Terrier came as the result of a perfect storm in Norwich Terriers, D.E., and a dinner party at Anne Winston’s in 1963. The storm had been building since 1951 with the descendants of Mary Baird’s Snuff and Sneeze at her Castle Point Kennels, in Bernardsville, NJ.  Upon the untimely death of Josephine Spencer in that year, Mary was able to buy Partree Cobbler and breed him to her best bitches, descendants of Snuff and Sneeze.  There on the Bernardsville Mountain their get and progeny flourished in kennels built amid the specimen trees and generous paddocks of Castle Point under the watchful eye of Mary’s indispensable kennel man, Robert Young.  

The storm gained strength in 1953 when Anne Winston bought a bitch, Castle Point Trivet, from Mary Baird. The Winston farm included a nice portion of the valley of the Raritan River’s north branch and extensive woods along the flank of a gentle hill, Mt. Paul, between Peapack and Mendham.  By 1954, the Mt. Paul kennel was a force to be reckoned with among the ranks of drop-eared Norwich Terriers.   Mt. Paul Anderson, the first champion Anne produced, was the result of Castle Point Trivet bred to George Pinch. Descended from imported English stock and owned by Louis Murdock, George was a game dog to ground, and many of his get excelled at earthwork.  Several were used to bolt foxes by Buster Chadwell, longtime huntsman of the Essex, NJ, Foxhounds.  

The third thrust of the storm formed in 1956 when Priscilla Mallory, who lived on a working farm between Gladstone and Mendham, halfway between Anne and Mary, bought a bitch, Mt Paul Bridget, from the next litter of the same breeding as Mt. Paul Anderson. While Anne and Mary explored and enjoyed all the talents their terriers had, Priscilla’s focus in the next years at Wendover was predominantly on conformation.  Although she valued the breed’s natural talents, she worked carefully on the genetics of each generation, seeking to produce the finest specimens.  She was a fixture at the local match shows, and, as a good friend to both Anne and Mary, often had an opinion about a litter or new import that was taken very seriously.

For the next 20 years these three ladies were the prevailing winds of the Somerset Hills and of the widening world of the Norfolk Terrier. Not only did they expand their breeding programs by using each other’s dogs, but they widened and deepened the Norfolk gene pool by continuing to import dogs from English kennels, notably Nanfan, Ickworth, Ragus, and Colonsay. They competed joyfully, critically, and not just in the show ring.  Anne Winston was the first person to win an American Working Terrier Association certificate; and Mary Baird hosted many AWTA meets at Castle Point, complete with a rushing stream and a raccoon in a cage!!! Priscilla Mallory produced some extremely influential and versatile dogs as a result of her sharp eye for selecting good stock both at home and in England.

These three women were my mentors. They provided me with an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and encouragement.  My first Norfolk was a Mt. Paul Anderson son.  Anne sold him to me at that dinner party in 1963.  I have gone from that beginning with fond memories and the knowledge I gained in a perfect storm.

Sue Ely, Pinchbeck Norfolk Terriers.  
Published with permission from the Norfolk Terrier Annual 2010

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Reprinted from The Norwich and Norfolk News Jubilee Issue by Anne Winston - Mt. Paul:

When I first went to shows Len Brumby and Jimmy Butler were my mentors, The two of them really put me thorugh it. We'd go into a Specials class and Jimmy Butler would be ahead of me and Len Brumby behind me and Len would say "Oh I hope the judge doesn't look at those awful hindquarters" and I would say "what's wrong with them?" and them Jimmy would say "Hold that tail up!" They would have me in a sweat over this thing, but they always brought me an extra sandwich and a water pail and one would hold my dog if I had two. They were wonderful to me. I was always a nut on temperament. Some of them were difficult especially some of the grown up dogs I imported from England. They just didn't seem to acclimate. You always had to have everything just right for Miss Perfect.
But the puppies..the showring didn't impress me that much. The whole fun for me was raising the puppies - housetraining socializing them, having them around people, taking them out to see their reaction to things, and then at about 8 to 9 weeks picking that puppy that would carry you forward and THEN finding the right homes for the others. My criteria for puppy owners - off main roads, people without too many children, who didn't have too many other dogs, people who would take them everywhere, people who wanted something just for their own.
I never lost a puppy, never had a fader, except for Tulip's last litter. She was very hard to breed and had been bred artificially to Ch. Badgewood's Monty Collins. For some unknown reason she whelped six days early and they were in incubators, but there was no hope. Sometimes coats were a problem. I once bred a bitch to Mt. Paul Anderson and got three beautiful "wooly bears". They had coats like a Yorkie. Miss MacFie always warned me not to toy with black and tans. Apparently the black and tan gene carries the Yorkie coat and it will be soft, long and flowing.
I'll never forget Henry Bixby - he judged the Match Show at Alden Blodgett's one year. I brought in this beautiful puppy, Mr. Paul Davy, and he said "He is a handsome dog in conformation, but I never touch a terriers with a soft eye." It wasn't yellow or light it was just soft and mellow. "Never touch a terrier with a soft eye because a soft eye goes with a soft temperament" and then I could see. Bixby said every terrier should have a hard eye, a crisp, hard eye. Mouths have been a big prroblem, in Norfolk at least. The thing that bothers me is that judges do not count teeth and missing teeth are so very, very heriditary
When I started judging I decided you ad to look for type and temperament. It is the breed type you have to have. I think conformation - if they are bred right they can move right - conformaion is the same in almost any anhimal. And you have to have bree chraacteristics. Th trouble is everybody has their own preferences and breed what they like. You can read the Standard and always figure out some way your dog conforms. I must say though tht the last time I went to a show I was delighted at how much uhniformity there was in the Norfolk all of a sudden. I once worked on a line breeding with Joy Taylor and out of that came Tulip. She was a very special little girl and I was always trying to reproduce her In every litter they came. There was Terracotta, Priscilla Mallory's, who won at the Specialty at seven months, just like Tulip. They came and you just knew, with the diagonal breeding, up and back line breeding. Type and Temperament...you see I am so hipped on the their being able to go to ground and do something. They have to be built to manuever th earth and have the temperament that goes with it. One must never forget what they were bred for.