Stilton Cheese, known as "The King of Cheeses", and "Britain's Historic Blue", has never actually been made in Stilton!

Stilton cheese was first made in the early 18th century in the midlands of England, specifically in and around the Melton Mowbray area. Stilton takes its name from the village of Stilton as it was here that the coaches travelling from London to Scotland and other northern cities made their first stop for fresh horses and overnight stays. Convenient to Melton Mowbray and the surrounding area, the village became the centre market place for the cheese with thousands being sold every week. Thus the blue cheese one would buy in Stilton became known as Stilton cheese.

For more information about the history of Stilton Cheese, recipes, the making process, and other details, please visit the excellent stiltoncheese.com web site.

Stilton cheese can be purchased in the village at Brown's, and The Bell Inn,
as can Trevor Hickman's book "A History of Stilton Cheese" (see also our Publications Page)

If you're into cheese, this site is worth a visit: The Cheese Diaries
as is this site: cheese-4u.com.

In June 2006, Quenby Hall's Stilton Cheese made an historic return to the Bell Inn after an absence of 300 years. The cheeses travelled the 39 miles from Hungarton to Stilton by coach and horses. Pictures here, and more info at the Quenby Hall website.

Local potter Rick Landy has created an exclusive range of distinctive cheese dishes. More information can be found on the Business - Crafts page.