We’ve been working with a group of historians for the last year, to track back our family tree as far as it will go.
Family heritage is something we’re very proud of here at Wyke Farms and we know our family have been farming and cheese-making in Somerset for centuries, we just didn’t know quite how far back it went!
The latest findings really tickled us, so we thought we’d let you know about them.
We have found court records from Ivy’s great great grandfather who had a wheel of cheese stolen off of his cart in Shepton Mallet in 1789 – the cheese was of ‘West Country’ make – which we would now call Cheddar and was worth seven shillings.
The lady accused of stealing it, said it had fallen off of his cart as it went through the town – amazing how the centuries can pass but the excuses remain the same!
We’re waiting for the official court documents so we can show you a picture of this fascinating story – it’s so amazing to find out that our heritage of cheese-making in the area goes back further than we could ever think – and further than our strapline suggests!
We’ve got a funny feeling that we really might be THE original and oldest Cheesemakers in Somerset! Watch this space!
August 2016