before the swaledale, scottish blackface, and rough fell emerged as distinct breeds, their 17th-century forerunner was the linton. it was named after the west linton market in peeblesshire, which specialised in selling the hardy lintons for scottish highland and other upland farming. at the beginning of the 18th century, the market is recorded as having sold upwards of 9,000 sheep in a single day, numbers which surely helped establish the breed firmly in upland areas.