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21/09/09 - NEW RESEARCH REVEALS A CHEESE CALLED STILTON WAS ONCE PRODUCED IN THE LOCAL AREA

 

 

STILTON CHEESE – WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

Evidence shows a cheese called Stilton was produced in or around the village of Stilton in the early 18^th Century

 

FOR years it has been believed that the King of English cheese, Stilton, was never actually produced in the village of Stilton, despite its name being associated with the village. However, research carried out by Richard Landy, a resident of the village, using Google Books open library, has revealed that a cheese called Stilton was once produced in the local area.

Texts from the late 18th century onwards had always suggested that Stilton cheese was originally produced in Leicestershire and was made famous after being sold from The Bell Inn in the village of Stilton, on the Great North Road.

In 1724, Daniel Defoe referred to Stilton village as being “famous for cheese”.

Richard’s research has revealed a recipe dating from that period for a pressed, cooked, cream cheese which was called Stilton and was produced in the village. Defoe referred to it as the ‘English Parmesan’ and it seems that the cheese was kept for some time before being sold.

The recipe suggests a high quality, hard cream cheese which, unlike most cheeses of this time, was made from milk to which extra cream had been added.

 Nigel White, Secretary of  the SCMA, explains: “Although a cheese called Stilton was produced in the village, we believe that the finished product would bear very little resemblance to the blue Stilton cheese produced in modern times. We now think that production ceased in the area in the second half of the 18^th century as production moved to Leicestershire.

“No one person invented Stilton – it evolved over time from this pressed cooked cheese to the cheese we have today - an unpressed, semi-hard, blue veined cheese.

“There are still many ‘missing links’ within Stilton’s history and we appreciate all the work that the villagers of Stilton have put into this research, not to mention collaborative research done by Matthew O’Callaghan in Melton Mowbray. We welcome any new information that sheds light on the King of English cheese’s heritage and urge anyone who has further knowledge about its evolution in the first half of the 18^th century, to get in touch.”

As a result of the findings, all official Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association resources will in due course be amended to reflect the latest information on Stilton’s heritage.

For more information, interviews, recipes and images please contact Nikki Girvan or Graeme Anthony at Brazen PR on 0161 923 4994 or email stilton@brazenpr.com