History and Heritage

The art of cheese making, perfected by the monks back in 1150, was passed down to local farmers’ wives who continued to produce the cheese in their own farmhouses. In 1897 a local corn and provisions merchant of Hawes began to purchase milk from surrounding farms to use it for the manufacture of Wensleydale cheese on a large scale.

Back in the 1930’s the industrial depression made trading conditions difficult, leaving the creamery in significant debt to farmers and the dairy faced closure.

In 1935 local businessman Kit Calvert rallied support from local farmers, raising enough capital to rescue the only dairy producing cheese in the heart of Wensleydale. In 1966 Kit Calvert sold his now well established cheese business to the Milk Marketing Board. In 1979 the creamery title passed to Dairy Crest and in May 1992 the creamery closed with the loss of 59 jobs.

Six months later, following many offers to rescue the creamery, four ex-managers together with a local businessman completed a management buy-out.

It was then, with the skilled help of eleven members of the former workforce, that cheese making recommenced and Real Yorkshire Wensleydale was produced in time for Christmas.

Over the following years increasing demand for Wensleydale, added-value and speciality cheeses, led to the acquisition of another creamery at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

Now employing over 200 people, The Wensleydale Creamery continues to enjoy global acclaim for its award-winning cheeses.

Today the Wensleydale Creamery supplies a broad range of customers including major multiple retailers, wholesalers, export, and the food service sector.