A Heritage as Rich As our Cheddar
We’ve been family farming in the heart of Somerset for over 160 years. And making award-winning cheddar to our Grandmother Ivy’s secret recipe for generations.
A few things have changed since Ivy made her first blocks of cheddar. But our family is still as passionate about providing your family with delicious, traditional Farmhouse Cheddar.
2016
First Cheddar company to achieve Carbon Trust triple standard
2015
Winner of a Guardian Sustainable Business Award
2015
Rebranded our cheddar range to better reflect our Somerset farming and Green credentials
2014
Commissioned the water recovery plant allowing up to 90% of waste water from the cheese dairy to be reused
2014
Commissioned phase 2 of our Bio Gas project gas upgrading – supplying green gas to the grid
2013
Launch of Wyke Farms 100% Green & Green Energy Centre. Our first 500KW generator was started and connected to the grid running on Biogas and generating green power to run the dairy
2013
Win Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards ‘Dairy Company of the Year’ and Rich Clothier, our MD & third generation cheese maker won Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards ‘Personality of the Year’
2012
Wyke starts green energy program by fitting first solar arrays to farm buildings and securing planning for a green biogas plant powered by farmyard manure and dairy waste
2012
Redesign of our award winning cheddar packaging to make the range easier to shop and give greater stand out and more shelf presence
2009
Rich Clothier wins Entrepreneur of the Year Award for business and marketing strategy growth of the Wyke brand
2009
Investment in intelligent cutting and packing equipment allowing up to 100 tonnes of cheddar per day to be packed
2008
Wyke Farms brand now sold in 150 countries across the world
2005
The Wyke Farms brand starts to be stocked by major multiples in the UK
1997
Wyke Sales Director, Ashley Wilson meets Alain Pancelot in Bordeaux. Wyke joins with Long Clawson dairy to create Alliance Fromage Anglais, to sell prize-winning Wyke Cheddar and Long Clawson Stilton in France and the rest of the world
1994
Tom Clothier buys the company’s first pre-packing machine enabling the business to pack sizes from 200g to 1kg. 1994-2000 – Wyke supplying mainly milk rounds, convenience and impulse stores with cheese pre-pack portions
1992
Brand changes from the Wyke Farmhouse Cheese Company to Wyke Farms as it fitted on the labels better and was easier to say!
1980
John Clothier decides to leave the Farmhouse Cheesemakers Co-operative to form the Wyke Farmhouse Cheese Company and sell his own cheese. Armed with his tractor and a CB radio he sets off for London
1975
John Clothier starts making some block Cheddar as well as rind on traditional Cheddars
1965
Brothers John & Jim work together with Jim running the farm and John the cheese making
1952
Ivy's Daughter Sue wins Reserve Champion prize for her cheese
1948
The herd expands
1947
John Clothier starts making cheese alongside his mum, Ivy
1943
Richard ‘John’ Clothier is born
1940
Forcing Tom to produce more milk
1939
The demand for Ivy's Cheddar increases supplying local shops & delis
1930
Jim Clothier is born
1927
Tom and Ivy marry and continue farming and cheesemaking at Wyke
1911
Ivy’s Dad Albert James shown as a Somerset farmer in 1911 Census
1908
Ivy is born
1906
Tom Clothier is born in the cheeseroom in the farmhouse at Wyke Champflower
1904
1904, 1905, 1908, 1913 – Ivy’s Dad, Albert ‘Jim’ Thorne wins Champion Dairy Cow at the Mid Somerset Show
1891
In the 1891 Census, Tom’s Grandfather is shown dairy farming and making cheese at Bridge Farm, Ditcheat, Alhampton
1880
Tom’s Dad, Wilton ‘Frank’ Clothier, born on the farm in Alhampton, Somerset. In the late 1800s he moves from the family cheese Farm in Alhampton, to Hill House Farm, Wyke Champflower, to dairy farm and make cheese at Wyke, leaving his 3 sisters to make the cheese there. His sister Emma is still listed as the cheesemaker here in the 1911 Census. In the 1891 Census Tom’s Grandfather is shown dairy farming and making cheese at Bridge Farm, Ditcheat, Alhampton
1869
Ivy’s Dad born
1861
Ivy’s Grandfather, James, shown on 1861 Census as a farmer of 100 acres. Tom’s Great Grandfather shown in the 1861 Census as a farmer of 34 acres in Somerset
1857
Tom’s Grandfather, Thomas, born in Ditcheat, Somerset
1851
Ivy’s Great Grandfather shown in the 1851 Census as a big farmer with 300 acres, employing 7 people on the Mendip hills
1815
Ivy’s Grandfather, James, born
1808
Tom’s Great Grandfather, John, born
1796
Ivy’s Great Grandfather, William, born
1789
Ivy's great great Grandfather had a wheel of cheese stolen off of his cart in Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet.
The cheese was of 'west country' make – what we now know as Cheddar & was worth seven shillings.
The lady accused of pinching the cheese, said that it fell off of his cart – apparently the excuses don't change no matter how many years go by!
