In the early 1700’s the housekeeper at Quenby Hall, near Hungarton in Leicestershire used to make blue cheese. Her daughter married the inn keeper of The Bell Inn at Stilton and used to regularly take some of the cheese to her in-laws at the Inn.
The Bell Inn began to sell the cheese to hungry travellers journeying by coach and horses along the Great North Road from London to York and thus began the 300 year association.
The original route of 39 miles taken to deliver the cheese was by horse drawn carriage stopping off to make deliveries of cheeses at the various villages and towns along the route including Billesdon, Skeffington, East Norton, Allexton, Wardley, Uppingham, Seaton, Harringworth, Bulwick (where they changed horses at New Lodge Farm), Southwick, Oundle and Lutton. This was one of the longest commercial carriage rides until internal combustion engined vans and lorries took over as the main mode of commercial road transport.
The Stilton Cheese Classic Vehicle Run was originally run by Jim Barry and Joy Barry, the event organisers and fundraisers since its conception. Sadly both Jim and Joy passed away in 2018. We will always remember the hard work and dedication they put in to this event every year and continue to make it happen with hundreds of people each year enjoying the fantastic scenery along the routes, admiring classic vehicles and having a good time.
The run is now jointly organised by Uppingham First and the Rotary Club of Uppingham. To register for the run see www.stiltoncheeserun.uk