Cheshire Cheese Producer & Supplier - H S Bourne - Traditional farmhouse Cheshire cheese since 1930

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr valign="top"> <td colspan="2" height="22"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="middle"> <td width="56%" height="12"><img src="images/page_titles/cheshire_cheese_specialists.gif" width="256" height="18" alt="Cheshire Cheese Specialists" border="0"> </td> <td width="44%" height="12"> <div align="right"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm" target="_self"><img src="images/clickheretoorder.gif" width="149" height="21" border="0" alt="Click Here to Buy Our Traditional Farmhouse Cheshire Cheese "></a></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="78%"> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The Bourne family have been hand-making fine Cheshire cheese since 1930. We still use traditional methods to produce cheeses which have been awarded gold, silver and bronze medals at the British Cheese Awards, and prizes at the Nantwich International Cheese Show. Our Cheshire cheese is available in major supermarkets, farmers markets nationwide, direct from our farm and by mail order. <a href="bourne_cheshire_cheese_distributors.htm">Click here to find out more</a>.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We are Cheshire specialists and make a range of cheese with flavours suited to most tastes and requirements. Well known for <b>Mrs. Bourne's Mature Cheshire</b> and the recent addition of <b>John Bourne's Cheshire</b>, we also now have <b>Oak Smoked Cheshire</b> and <b>Blue Cheshire</b>, all available in various sizes. All our cheese is suitable for vegetarians. We also produce seasonal specials and Butter.</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese.htm" target="_self">Click here to view our full product range and order our Cheshire cheese</a>. </font> </p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Don't forget to visit <a href="cheshire_cheeze_wheeze.htm">Mrs Bourne's Recipe Page</a> which will be updated on a monthly basis with recipes for great tasting dishes using our Cheshire cheeses.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We are currently members of The British Grassland Society, and Specialist Cheesemakers Association. We follow the Milk Marque's Code of Practice for Animal Welfare. </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The milk for our Traditional cheese is produced from our own herd of Friesian cows, specially bred to produce milk from grass. The herd and the Farm here at The Bank are both sensitively managed to ensure high quality care and produce. </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The milk for our cheese is produced on a farm in the middle of the Cheshire plain.</font></p> <p> </p> </td> <td align="right" width="22%"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="126"> <tr> <td align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese.htm" target="mainFrame"><img name="cheeses" src="images/cheeses.jpg" width="150" height="191" border="0" alt="Cheshire Cheese Producer & Supplier - H S Bourne - Traditional farmhouse Cheshire cheese since 1930"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#660000" size="1">"We still use traditional methods which have been developed over many years to produce excellent Farmhouse and Cheshire Cheese with a flavour far from mild or bland." </font></b><font color="#660000" size="1"><i>Mrs Bourne<br> </i></font></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><br> <br> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese_specialists.htm" >About Us</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese.htm">Our Cheshire Cheeses</a><a href="bourne_cheshire_cheese_distributors.htm"><br> Distributors</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm">Online Shop</a><br> <a href="cheshire_cheese_history.htm">History of Cheese</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_making.htm">Making Cheese</a> <br> <a href="cheshire_cheeze_wheeze.htm">Mrs Bourne's Cheeze Wheeze!</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_recipes.htm">Mrs Bourne's Cheshire Cheese Recipes</a><br> <a href="useful_web_sites.htm">Useful Links</a> | <a href="bourne_contact_details.htm">Contact Details</a> | <a href="bourne_email.asp">Send Us An E-Mail</a></font></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="100%"> <tr valign="top" align="left"> <td width="100%"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td valign="middle"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><img src="images/page_titles/product_range.gif" width="172" height="18" alt="Cheshire Cheese and Dairy Product Range"></b></font></td> <td> <div align="right"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm" target="_self"><img src="images/clickheretoorder.gif" width="149" height="21" border="0" alt="Click Here to Buy Our Traditional Farmhouse Cheshire Cheese "></a></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="left"> <td width="100%"> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm"><img src="images/dairy_pictures/CHEESE24.jpg" width="174" height="133" alt="Cheshire Cheese - H S Bourne - Traditional farmhouse cheshire " border="0" align="left"></a></font></b>We are Cheshire specialists and produce a range of cheese to fulfill our customer's requirements of variety, quality and flavour whilst maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and food production. Our aim is to produce a cheese much closer in flavour to the great Cheshire of years ago, than to the modern style of mild and crumbly. Try our cheeses, and we hope you can agree that we have succeeded.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We currently have the following product ranges available:</font></p> <ul> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><a href="#cheshire">The Cheshire Cheese Range</a></b> represents our traditional Cheshire cheeses produced all year round.</font></li> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><a href="#extrav">The Cheshire Extravaganza Range</a></b> are one off special Cheshire cheeses produced at intervals throughout the year.</font></li> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="#other"><b>Other Dairy Products</b></a> including Butter.</font></li> </ul> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>All our cheese is suitable for vegetarians. </b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Our cheese is matured carefully for up to 10 years to produce cheeses that are equally 'at home' as part of a 'cheesy' recipe, or at the center of an after dinner cheese board. Our product range includes traditional mature white and coloured, mature white and coloured, and an oak smoked traditional Cheshire. <a href="#code">Please click here to view our Code of Practice</a>.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">To be kept informed of our latest news please <a href="bourne_email.asp">click here to send us an e-mail</a>.</font></p> <hr noshade> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="left"> <td width="100%" height="623"> <p><a name="cheshire"></a><img name="cheshire_cheese_range" src="images/page_titles/cheshire_cheese_range.gif" width="198" height="14" border="0" alt="The Cheshire Cheese Range">  </p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><i>Traditional Farmhouse Cheshire </i></b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"><br> The cheese supplied to the retail trade via Dairy Crest and Mendip Foods for over thirty years.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><i>Mrs Bourne's Mature Cheshire</i></b><b><i> </i></b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"><br> This cheese was created many years ago to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for a return to the fuller flavoured Cheshire.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><i>Tom Bourne's Oak Smoked Cheshire</i></b><b><i> </i></b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"><br> A very popular addition to our Cheshire range, traditionally smoked over oak, with a combination of subtle flavours.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><i>John Bourne'sCheshire</i></b><b><i> </i></b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"><br> This cheese is supplied at a range of flavour levels, handmade using carefully produced Cheshire milk. This cheese was awarded a Gold Medal at the World Cheese Awards 2000.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><i>John Bourne's Cheshire (Unpasteurised)</i></b><b><i> </i></b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"><br> Made in response to demand for a totally natural handmade Cheshire cheese in the style of fifty years ago.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><i>H.S. Bourne's Anniversary Blue Cheshire</i></b><b><i> </i></b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"><br> Our latest very exciting project is the revival of Blue Cheshire, renowned for its most distinctive flavour.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><i>Mrs Bourne's Cheeseboard</i></b><b><i> </i></b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"><br> Why not try a selection of our cheeses</font></p> <p align="center"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm">Please click here to visit our Online Shop or print out an order form.</a></font></b></font></b></p> <hr noshade> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="left"> <td width="100%" height="351"> <h1 align="left"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a name="extrav"></a><img src="images/page_titles/cheshire_extravaganza_range.gif" width="242" height="14" alt="The Cheshire Extravaganza Range"></font></b></h1> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">There will be available at intervals throughout the year a selection of Cheshire cheeses with:</font></p> <ul> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> Apricot</font></li> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Cranberry</font></li> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Ginger</font></li> </ul> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">These cheeses will provide an interesting addition to the chhese board and it may be possible to include an organic cheese. There will be different sizes available, the smallest weighing around 12ozs.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">In addition we use pasteurised whole milk to make a soft cheese, which is very good as the basis for cheesy dips, with the addition of garlic or chives for instance, for use on baked potatoes or summer salads.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>All our cheese is suitable for vegetarians. </b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"></font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm">Please click here to visit our Online Shop or print out an order form.</a></font></b></font></p> <hr noshade> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="left"> <td width="100%"> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a name="other"></a><img src="images/page_titles/other_dairy_products.gif" width="151" height="14"></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We also have available our Malbank Farm Butter, made with pasteurised whey cream. It is avaialble in the following forms:</font></p> <ul> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Lightly Salted</font></li> <li><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Unsalted</font></li> </ul> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> Please note that we do not produce our butter all year round so please contact us to ensure availability.</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm">Please click here to visit our Online Shop or print out an order form.</a></font></b></font></p> <p align="center"> </p> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" align="left"> <td width="100%" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" height="182"> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><b><font size="2"><a name="code"></a><img name="code_of_practice" src="images/page_titles/code_of_practice.gif" width="149" height="12" border="0">  </font></b></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The milk for our Traditional cheese is produced from our herd of Friesian cows. The herd and the Farm here at The Bank are both sensitively managed to ensure high quality care and produce.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> The milk for our cheese is produced on a Cheshire farm in the middle of the Cheshire plain. That farm and our Cheese Dairy have the Certificate of Approval of Organic Farmers and Growers as the certifying body. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>All our cheese is suitable for vegetarians. </b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese_specialists.htm" >About Us</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese.htm">Our Cheshire Cheeses</a><a href="bourne_cheshire_cheese_distributors.htm"><br> Distributors</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm">Online Shop</a><br> <a href="cheshire_cheese_history.htm">History of Cheese</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_making.htm">Making Cheese</a> <br> <a href="cheshire_cheeze_wheeze.htm">Mrs Bourne's Cheeze Wheeze!</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_recipes.htm">Mrs Bourne's Cheshire Cheese Recipes</a><br> <a href="useful_web_sites.htm">Useful Links</a> | <a href="bourne_contact_details.htm">Contact Details</a> | <a href="bourne_email.asp">Send Us An E-Mail</a></font></p> </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <font face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><b><img src="images/page_titles/making.gif" width="262" height="18"></b></font></td> <td> <div align="right"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm" target="_self"><img src="images/clickheretoorder.gif" width="149" height="21" border="0" alt="Click Here to Buy Our Traditional Farmhouse Cheshire Cheese "></a></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <br> <table width="95%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><font color="#660000"><b>"We still use traditional methods which have been developed over many years to produce excellent Farmhouse and Organic Cheshire cheese with a flavour far from mild or bland."</b></font><b><font color="#660000"> </font></b><font color="#660000"><i>Mrs Bourne</i></font></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><img src="images/cheeses.jpg" width="150" height="191" align="right">The Bourne family have been hand making Cheshire Cheese for over 100 years. The cheese is made here by John Bourne, who has forty years experience, and whose Grand-father and Father both were Cheshire makers. Son Tom is the next generation now closely involved in the Dairy. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We are currently members of The British Cheese Board, Organic Farmers and Growers, Specialist Cheesemakers Association, North West Fine Foods, Cheshire Fine Food Trail and the Royal Society of Dairy Technology. We follow the Milk Marque's Code of Practice for Animal Welfare. <a href="#code">Click here to view our code of practice</a>.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Our non-organic cheeses are made using the milk from our own herd of Friesian cows. The herd and the Farm here at The Bank are both sensitively managed to ensure high quality care and produce. The milk for our organic cheese is produced on a Cheshire farm in the middle of the Cheshire plain.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>Please Note:</b> All of our cheese is suitable for vegetarians <img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><img src="images/dairy_pictures/CHEESE1.jpg" width="166" height="125" align="left">The milk for most of our cheese is pasteurised. To the warm milk we add a bacterial culture, followed after a time by '<a href="#vegerennet">vegetable rennet</a>'. This will cause the milk to form a semi-solid mass. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">When this process is complete, we then cut the curd to release the whey (the liquid). The mixture of curds and whey (remember little Miss Muffet!) is stirred and heated slowly for a further time - during which the pieces of curd shrink. We then separate the curds and whey.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><img src="images/dairy_pictures/CHEESE12.jpg" width="125" height="166" align="right">We now have just the curd left in the vat, which we break and turn by hand to enable further drainage of whey and drying of the curd. Throughout this process, the curd shrinks, until finally salt is added and the curd is then 'milled'. This process invloves mechanical breaking of curd and further mixing of salt.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><img src="images/dairy_pictures/CHEESE13.jpg" width="125" height="125" align="left">The curd is then put into moulds to produce the once familiar traditional round cheeses. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The cheeses are then stored for up to 10 years to ensure that they fully mature producing the rich tangy flavour that all good Cheshire cheese used to have and Bourne's Cheshire still does.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Please <a href="cheshire_cheese_making_in_depth.htm">click here for a more in depth look at the general process of making cheese</a>.</font></p> <p align="left"> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" height="113"> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><a name="vegerennet"></a>Vegetable Rennet </b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Traditionally the coagulant 'rennet' has come from calves stomachs. Another form of rennet is called 'vegetable' rennet which is derived from certain strains of fungi and bacteria. Today, this type of rennet is very popular, reflecting a move towards organic foods, and the manufacture of 'vegetarian cheese'. </font></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><b><font size="2"><a name="code"></a><img name="code_of_practice" src="images/page_titles/code_of_practice.gif" width="149" height="12" border="0">  </font></b></font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We are currently members of The British Cheese Board, The Organic Farmers and Growers Association, Specialist Cheesemakers Association, North West Fine Foods, Cheshire Fine Food Trail and the Royal Society of Dairy Technology. We also follow the Milk Marque's Code of Practice for Animal Welfare. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The milk for our Traditional cheese is produced from our own "Malbank" herd of pedigree Holstein Friesian cows. The herd and the Farm here at The Bank are both sensitively managed to ensure high quality care and produce.</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> The milk for our organic cheese is produced on a Cheshire farm in the middle of the Cheshire plain. That farm and our Cheese Dairy have the Certificate of Approval of Organic Farmers and Growers as the certifying body. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>All our cheese is suitable for vegetarians. </b><img src="images/vegetarian.gif" width="25" height="25" align="absmiddle" alt="All our cheshire cheese is suitable for vegetarians"></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <div align="left"> <br> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese_specialists.htm" >About Us</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese.htm">Our Cheshire Cheeses</a><a href="bourne_cheshire_cheese_distributors.htm"><br> Distributors</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm">Online Shop</a><br> <a href="cheshire_cheese_history.htm">History of Cheese</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_making.htm">Making Cheese</a> <br> <a href="cheshire_cheeze_wheeze.htm">Mrs Bourne's Cheeze Wheeze!</a> | <a href="cheshire_cheese_recipes.htm">Mrs Bourne's Cheshire Cheese Recipes</a><br> <a href="useful_web_sites.htm">Useful Links</a> | <a href="bourne_contact_details.htm">Contact Details</a> | <a href="bourne_email.asp">Send Us An E-Mail</a></font></p> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <font face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><b><img src="images/page_titles/history.gif" width="291" height="18" border="0" alt="The History of Cheshire Cheese"></b></font></td> <td> <div align="right"><a href="cheshire_cheese_cheese.htm" onMouseOver="MM_displayStatusMsg('Enter our Online Shop and Order our Cheshire Cheese');return document.MM_returnValue" onMouseOut="MM_displayStatusMsg('');return document.MM_returnValue" ><img name="buy_our_cheese" src="images/buy_our_cheese.gif" width="248" height="25" border="0" alt="Click here to enter our Online Shop"></a></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Cheese has been made in this country for at least 2000 years. From the 16th century onwards, cheeses came to be known by the name of the region or county in which they were made and until the second half of the 19th century cheesemaking was a widespread farmhouse activity. From this period on a series of events gradually eroded this local industry, beginning with a disastrous cattle disease in 1860. In an attempt to restore the tradition of English cheesemaking, the first cheese factory was established. Housed in a converted cheese warehouse in Siddals Road, Derby, it used the steam from the next door's silk mill for power. The first, purpose-built cheese factory was opened in 1870 in Longford, Derby and by 1876 ten factories had been constructed serving five counties.<br> <br> Cheshire Cheese is Britain's oldest named cheese. It can be dated back to Roman Britain and is also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In the 16th century it was reputed to be the best cheese of Europe and was a favourite at the Court of Elizabeth I. Originally, Cheshire Cheese was made near the village of Chester on the River Dee, but it soon spread to farms throughout the county of Cheshire, with its mild climate, vales and undulating hills.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Cheshire cheese is usually white or red in colour, and there is a blue Cheshire. The distinctive flavour of Cheshire is due to salt springs which ran under much of the pasture land. These give the milk, hence the cheese, a slightly salty tang, which is still a characteristic of the cheese today. Originally, cheese making in Cheshire was practised on farms during the Spring, Summer and Autumn to conserve the milk from the fresh grass. The Spring and early Summer cheese was eaten quite young but the Autumn cheese was matured before being eaten. <a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm">Mrs. Bourne's Mature Cheshire</a> offers you the chance to enjoy the Tradition of an after dinner cheese board accompanied by wine or port.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The Bourne family is still making Traditional Farmhouse Cheshire Cheese using the skills passed down from father to son. We have connections that can be traced back for at least six generations, where cheesemaking featured as part of the farming pattern. John Bourne's father, from whom much of the skill of modem practice was learned, came to the farm in 1930, and Cheshire cheese has been made here since that time. In 1931, there were 205 members of the Cheshire Cheese Federation, and 153 members had cheese graded during that year The family still has the Prize Card that was awarded in 1932, hr the Most Consistant Quality (third place) The value was three guineas! It is interesting to note that the Report of the Federation for the year ending 1932 states that:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>"A large production of Cheshire cheese has been maintained for a market that has been far from appreciative of tha farmers endeavour. Labour and other production costs have remained high whilst values of farm produce have fallen to pre-war market prices, bringing producers to the verge of a complete collapse."</b></font></p> </blockquote> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Evidently not much has changed in the last 70 years...</font></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <div align="left"> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="431" align="center">  <tr> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="42" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="112" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="61" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="59" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="114" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="40" height="1" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="42" height="30" border="0"></td> <td colspan="3"><a href="cheshire_cheese_online_shop.htm" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_displayStatusMsg('Enter our Online Shop to order our Cheshire Cheese and other dairy products');MM_swapImage('button_bar_r1_c2','','images/button_bar_r1_c2_f2.gif',1);return document.MM_returnValue" target="_self" ><img name="button_bar_r1_c2" src="images/button_bar_r1_c2.gif" width="174" height="28" border="0" alt="Enter our Online Shop to order our Cheshire Cheese and other dairy products"></a></td> <td rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="30" border="0"></td> <td colspan="3"><a href="bourne_email.asp" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_displayStatusMsg('Send us an e-mail or subscribe to our mailing list');MM_swapImage('button_bar_r1_c6','','images/button_bar_r1_c6_f2.gif',1);return document.MM_returnValue" target="_self" ><img name="button_bar_r1_c6" src="images/button_bar_r1_c6.gif" width="174" height="28" border="0" alt="Send us an e-mail or subscribe to our mailing list"></a></td> <td rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="40" height="30" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="28" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="174" height="2" border="0"></td> <td colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="174" height="2" border="0"></td> <td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="2" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onClick="window.external.AddFavorite('http://www.hsbourne.co.uk','H.S. 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Bourne - All Rights Reserved<br> <b><br> </b> H.S. Bourne<br> The Bank<br> Malpas<br> Cheshire<br> SY14 7AL<br> United Kingdom<br> <br> tel: +44 (0)1948 770214<br> fax: +44 (0)1948 770288<br> e-mail: <a href="bourne_email.asp">john@hsbourne.co.uk</a><br> <br> site design by <a href="http://www.notcon-internet.co.uk" target="_blank">notcon internet</a></font></div> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"></font> <p></p> <blockquote> <p></p> </blockquote> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <p> </p> <p> </p> </body>