From Petmapz: “The first evidence of the Border Terriers’ ancestors comes from as early as 1219, when fox hunting had become a popular sport among the gentry. Sportsmen kept their own strains of hounds and Terriers. At this time forest land was owned by the King as his personal hunting grounds; history tells us that Sir John Fitz-Roberts, Sheriff of Northumberland, received permission from His Majesty King Henry III to keep his own Terriers for fox hunting in Northumberland’s forest. These dogs were the ancestors of the Dandie Dinmont, the Bedlington, and the Border Terrier and of the three Terrier breeds descended from the dogs, the Border Terrier is believed to be the oldest, it having retained most of its original working Terrier traits.”

“The Apple” by Emily Kapff
Stockbridge Gallery
http://www.dogsinart.com/