A Skilled Cheesemaker

Cooper went into partnership with Frances Pawlett, a skilled cheese maker from Wymondham, in Leicestershire, and her husband, a dairy farmer, to both produce Stilton cheese and to set the first quality and shape standards for cheese good enough to be called Stilton. Together they built the trade in Stilton cheese to record levels until literally thousands of cheese a week were being sold from the village. Thus began its development into an internationally recognised name and one of Britain's most famous food products. Cooper Thornhill died in 1759. His grave can still be seen in the local churchyard.

In 1936 the Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association was established to maintain the criteria for Stilton production. In 1996 Stilton was granted the status of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) by the European Commission, allowing only six dairies in the three counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to produce what is known as ‘The King of English Cheeses’.

Stilton Origins * Landlord of the Bell Inn
Skilled Cheesemaker * Roman Cheese Dish
Time Team * Cheese Dishes