Blue Stilton cheese has over 300 years of tradition flowing through its blue veins. The word Stilton and the Stilton Cheesemakers' Association logo are Certification Trade Marks since 1966. Its PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status awarded in 1996 means the king of cheeses can only be made in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire or Derbyshire.
Cropwell Bishop Creamery is an independent family owned and run company in the Vale of Belvoir near the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire border. Frank Skailes acquired a Stilton making business at North Street, Melton Mowbray in 1948. Four or five years later he took a lease of Cropwell Bishop Creamery where he made territorial cheeses such as Leicester, Derby and Double Gloucester. Some years later he acquired the freehold of the premises at Cropwell Bishop. There is evidence that Blue Stilton cheese was made on the site between the wars and some suggestion that Blue Stilton cheese was produced there periodically over the last 100 years. The Skailes family began their long association with cheesemaking and distribution in the nineteenth century through grandparent company Matthews and Skailes, whose headquarters were in Tooley Street, London.
Frank Skailes’ sons, David and Ian followed their father into the business and became joint managing directors in 1981 and continue to run the company in conjunction with a dedicated and highly experienced team of management and staff. In 1983/4 they moved the Stilton manufacture from Melton to a new purpose built building at Cropwell Bishop Creamery. In 1996 the Stilton Creamery at Cropwell Bishop was extended to provide improved facilities. In 2004 David’s son, Ben joined the Creamery and in 2006 Ian’s son Robin joined making the third generation of Skailes to work at Cropwell Bishop.
The Creamery is very much a part of village life. Most of the employees live locally and there are several members of staff who have been with the Creamery for over 25 years. In 2007 the facilities were increased by the building of a new packing and despatch department.
Meticulous attention to detail and quality control by a dedicated team is part of everyday life at the Creamery. All cheeses are still made using traditional methods and each year Cropwell Bishop Blue Stilton, Organic Blue Stilton and Blue Shropshire cheeses bring home top prizes (please use this link to see our awards list). Cropwell Bishop supply some of the finest retailers and most discerning customers across the world.
