The Largest Cow Ever Shown in England
In the early 1800s, a cow named Craven Heifer drew enormous crowds not for what she did, but for the sheer scale of what she was.
Bred on the Duke of Devonshire’s estate at Bolton Abbey by Reverend William Carr, she grew to be the largest cow ever shown in England. Her measurements were staggering—11.3 feet long, 5.3 feet tall at the shoulder, a girth of 10.1 feet, and a weight of 4,370 pounds.
An Animal Too Large for Ordinary Doors
Craven Heifer was born in 1807, and Carr fed her intensively for five years. She eventually weighed 312 stone (approximately 1,980 kilograms), and her size required unusual accommodations.
A cowshed door had to be built specially—twice the usual width—just to let her pass through. That door still exists today on the Bolton Abbey estate. By the time she was fully grown, she drew attention not just from farmers, but also from the general public.
A 73-Day Journey to the Capital
In 1812, Craven Heifer was sold to John Watkinson of Halton East for £200, a considerable sum at the time. Watkinson decided to take her on tour.
The journey to Smithfield Market in London began on November 19, 1811, and ended on January 30, 1812. Over those 73 days, she passed through multiple towns and cities, where people paid to see her. At each stop, her size and calm demeanor made her a notable attraction.
A Short Life, a Long Impression
Craven Heifer lived only five years—well below the typical 15-year lifespan for cattle of her breed—but her reputation endured. An 1811 oil painting of her sold at auction in 2013 for £16,250.
Numerous pubs across North Yorkshire, especially in the Craven district, have adopted her name. Though her life was brief, her impact was measured not just in weight and width, but in public fascination and historical record.
In the early 1800s, a cow named Craven Heifer stunned crowds across England with her enormous size.
Bred in North Yorkshire, she became the largest cow ever shown, measuring 11.3 feet (3.4 m) long and weighing 4,370 pounds (1,980 kg). Her fame spread far beyond the pasture.🧵 pic.twitter.com/VEoAnWfIUi
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