Ketton College
The animal was born in March 1796 and was bred by Charles Colling of Ketton Hall, Brafferton in County Durham. Colling, together with his brother Robert, who farmed at nearby Barmpton, was a pioneer of the cattle-breeding movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
After a visit in 1784 to Robert Bakewell, a successful breeder of Longhorn cattle, Colling began using Bakewell’s techniques to develop and improve the Shorthorn breed. The animal eventually known as the Durham Ox was the grandson of Colling’s original bull Hubbach or Hubback.
It became known as the Ketton Ox when he was exhibited in Darlington in 1799 and was painted as such at the age of five years in 1801 by George Cuit of Richmond.
The ox toured with around England and Scotland, being exhibited to the public at agricultural fairs and other events. The ox proved extremely popular. For most of 1802 the Ketton Ox was on show in London, where it is recorded that in one single day admission fees to see him totalled £97 or £10,000 in today’s money.
The impact made by the Ketton/Durham Ox is reflected in the large number of British pubs named after him.
Ketton College Manager - Mrs Merifield
The key word for Ketton College is “community”.
This refers not just to the sense of community within our college, but to the community links within Hummersknott Academy Trust and also to the wider public community outside of school.
We try to show this by;
– the way we respect, encourage, challenge and care for each other.
– the way in which we help and support others through fundraising and events.
– reaching out to others of all ages and bringing them in to share our enthusiasm, our building and it’s facilities.
– the way we think about our place in the world and how we can make that world a better place for everyone.
