National Cheese Day
- Ken Reece
- Jun 3
- 5 min read
Today is National Cheese Day. Taking place annually on 4 June it celebrates the artistry and versatility of cheese. In Britain, 700 named varieties of cheese are produced, making it one of the most diverse cheesemaking countries in the world. But did you know that the village of Hartington, located on the route of the Peak Way Walk, had a rich history of cheese making? When the factory closed in 2009, it must have been devastating for the 150 or so workers who lost their jobs. And, of course for the impact it had on the tight knit village community. In a sense, the village must have lost a big part of its identity. Cheese may never be produced in Hartington as it was formerly. But in 2012, there was hope when Hartington Creamery started producing cheese, just a few miles away. And this marked the revival of cheese making in the area.
The Story of Cheese Making in Hartington
The village of Hartington has long been associated with one thing above all others: cheese. For well over a century, this small Derbyshire village has played an important role in British cheesemaking, producing traditional regional cheeses that became known across the country.
Today, the tradition continues through The Old Hartington Cheese Shop and the nearby Hartington Creamery, where artisan cheesemakers still use methods rooted in the village’s Victorian past.
Origins
Cheesemaking in Derbyshire stretches back centuries, but Hartington became especially important in the late nineteenth century. In 1876, the seventh Duke of Devonshire established the Dove Dairy creamery in the village. The creamery is widely regarded as the first purpose-built cheese factory in England. Its purpose was both practical and economic: local tenant farmers could sell surplus milk to a central dairy, while skilled cheesemakers produced consistent, high-quality cheeses.
Before industrial dairies existed, most cheese was made on farms or in cottage kitchens. Hartington represented a new model for British agriculture — centralised production using traditional regional recipes. Early cheeses produced there included a crumbly Derbyshire cheese similar to Cheshire cheese.
The creamery suffered a devastating fire in 1894, but its story did not end there. In 1900, prize-winning cheesemaker Thomas Nuttall took over the site and began producing Blue Stilton in Hartington. His cheeses became famous throughout Britain, and the “Nuttalls” name developed a reputation for quality and craftsmanship.
During the twentieth century, Hartington emerged as one of the great centres of English blue cheese production. While many Peak District dairies gradually disappeared as milk production became more profitable than cheesemaking, Hartington continued to preserve Derbyshire’s cheesemaking heritage.
Hartington and Stilton Cheeses
One of Hartington’s most important contributions to British food culture is its connection to Stilton cheese. Stilton has Protected Designation of Origin status, meaning it can legally be produced only in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Hartington became one of the few places outside the major industrial producers where traditional Stilton was still made by hand.
Over the decades, Hartington cheesemakers also developed other regional favourites, including Dovedale Blue and Buxton Blue.
The original factory finally closed in 2009 after ownership changes within the dairy industry. For many locals, it felt like the end of an era.
The Revival of Hartington Cheesemaking
Fortunately, Hartington’s cheese story did not end with the closure of the old factory. In 2012, cheesemaking returned to the village when the modern Hartington Creamery began production at Pikehall Farm near Hartington. The creamery revived traditional methods and once again started producing artisan Derbyshire cheeses using local milk.
Today the creamery produces a range of cheeses that combine heritage recipes with modern artisan techniques. Among its award-winning cheeses are:
White Stilton
Blue Stilton
Dovedale Blue
Sage Derby
Traditional Derby
Devonshire Gold
The creamery places strong emphasis on local milk, slow maturation and hand-crafted production methods.
In recent years, the creamery has even revived Traditional Derby Cheese after a sixteen-year absence, reconnecting Hartington with one of its oldest regional styles.
Cheese Production Near Hartington Today
Modern cheese production around Hartington remains small-scale compared with industrial dairies, but it is highly respected among artisan cheese enthusiasts. The surrounding Derbyshire Dales provide excellent grazing land, helping produce rich milk with distinctive flavour.
The modern creamery at Pikehall Farm continues to produce award-winning cheeses using techniques passed through generations of Derbyshire cheesemakers. And local production focuses on quality rather than volume
Hartington’s cheeses are now sold nationally and online, but they remain closely tied to the landscape and traditions of the Peak District.
The Cheese Shop in Hartington
For visitors to the village, the heart of the local cheese scene is still The Old Hartington Cheese Shop, an attractive stone built building overlooking the village pond.
Located in the village marketplace, the shop has operated in various forms for nearly forty years and has become a well-known destination for cheese lovers visiting the Peak District. Alongside Hartington Creamery cheeses, the shop stocks British regional cheeses, chutneys, biscuits, local ales and speciality foods.
The shop preserves the atmosphere of a traditional English village cheesemonger. Shelves are filled with Derbyshire blues, crumbly territorial cheeses and seasonal specialities, while knowledgeable staff help visitors discover local flavours. For many travellers exploring the Peak District, a stop at Hartington’s cheese shop has become almost as essential as visiting nearby walking trails or limestone valleys.
A Living Tradition
What makes Hartington special is not simply its history, but the fact that cheesemaking there never completely disappeared. Despite factory closures, changing agricultural economics and industrial competition, the village retained its connection to artisan cheese production.
Today, Hartington remains one of the few places where visitors can still experience a living tradition of Derbyshire cheesemaking — from historic Stilton recipes to modern artisan creations made in the heart of the Peak District.
Treat Yourself
So, next time you’re in Hartington, why not call in the Cheese Shop and treat yourself! If you’re walking the Peak Way Walk, it would make a really special ingredient in your packed lunch. Or you might want to send some to a loved one or a friend. You can head over to the Hartington Creamery website to see the extensive range on offer, and to place an order if you wish https://hartingtoncreamery.co.uk. Either way, you’ll be supporting a local industry that uses high quality ingredients – they have a herd of over 300 cows, so the milk they use couldn’t be fresher! And, importantly, they use traditional handcrafted methods of production, rather than mechanisation. I believe it’s part of our heritage that is well worthy of support. And, I cannot resist a visit to the Cheese Shop whenever I’m in the lovely village of Hartington.
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