Montgomery's Cheddar
Traditional clothbound farmhouse cheddar from Somerset, made by the Montgomery family at Castle Cary and aged at least… · United Kingdom
Also known as Montgomery's Cheddar, Montgomery Cheddar, Montgomery's Farmhouse Cheddar
Traditional clothbound farmhouse cheddar from Somerset, made by the Montgomery family at Castle Cary and aged at least a year on wooden shelves — savoury, dense, and slightly crystalline.
About Montgomery's Cheddar
Montgomery's Cheddar is a traditional farmhouse cheddar made in Somerset, in the southwest of England, by the Montgomery family at their Castle Cary dairy. The recipe has been followed almost unchanged since the early twentieth century and is considered one of the most faithful examples of traditional English clothbound cheddar still in production. Wheels are pressed, bound in muslin, and matured on wooden shelves for at least a year, often longer, during which the rind dries and the interior develops the dense, crystalline texture that mature farmhouse cheddar is known for.
The milk comes from the farm's own herd of Friesian cows and is warmed in a traditional copper vat before starter cultures and rennet are added. Once the curd has set, it is cut by hand, scalded again, and pitched — a step in which the wet curds are allowed to fuse and the acidity is gently raised before milling, salting, and packing into moulds. The cheese is then turned repeatedly during the early weeks of pressing to ensure an even rind, after which it is coated in lard and aged on the wooden shelves of the maturing room.
The flavour of a fully matured wheel is rich, brothy, and intensely savoury, with a long, almost meaty finish and a hint of caramel from the slow breakdown of proteins in the curd. The texture becomes slightly crumbly as the cheese ages and small tyrosine crystals form. Today the cheese is sold directly from the farm, through specialist cheesemongers, and at farmers' markets across the West Country, where it is a fixture on cheese counters in Bath, Frome, and Bruton.
🏛️ History & Culture
Montgomery's Cheddar is a farmhouse cheese produced in North Cadbury, Somerset, by the Montgomery family, who have been making cheese there for several generations. It belongs to the West Country Farmhouse Cheddar tradition, which holds protected designation of origin (PDO) status, and is made from raw milk from the family's own Friesian herd, then aged for 9–12 months. The recipe follows classic Somerset methods, but the cheese's specific character—a dense, nutty, and slightly sharp profile—reflects the farm's terroir and the family's long-standing craft.
While cheddar itself has ancient roots in Somerset, the modern reputation of Montgomery's rests on its association with the revival of traditional, unpasteurised farmhouse cheesemaking in the late 20th century. The cheese is celebrated by British and international cheese enthusiasts as a benchmark for authentic cheddar, and it is frequently sold in specialty shops and featured in food writing. Its production remains small-scale and tied to the farm, reinforcing its status as a regional artisan product rather than a mass-market commodity, and its continued popularity underscores the cultural value placed on heritage dairy practices in the UK.
Recipes from travellers
No one has shared their own Montgomery's Cheddar recipe yet. Yours would be the first.
Share how you make Montgomery's Cheddar
You'll need to be signed in with Google or Facebook so your name can appear on it. Recipes go through an automatic food-safety check before they publish.
Sign in to share your recipe
Montgomery's Cheddar — frequently asked questions
What is Montgomery's Cheddar?
Montgomery's Cheddar is a traditional farmhouse cheddar made in Somerset, in the southwest of England, by the Montgomery family at their Castle Cary dairy. The recipe has been followed almost unchanged since the early twentieth century and is considered one of the most faithful examples of traditional English…
What is Montgomery's Cheddar made of?
Montgomery's Cheddar is made with Cow's milk (unpasteurised), Starter cultures, Rennet, Salt and Muslin cloth for binding.
Where does Montgomery's Cheddar come from?
Montgomery's Cheddar comes from United Kingdom, and is especially associated with Somerset (southwest England, around Castle Cary and Bruton). Montgomery's Cheddar is a farmhouse cheese produced in North Cadbury, Somerset, by the Montgomery family, who have been making cheese there for several generations.
Where can I eat Montgomery's Cheddar?
Cheese counters in Bath, Frome, and Bruton, specialist cheesemongers across the West Country, and farmers' markets at the Castle Cary dairy itself.
What else is Montgomery's Cheddar called?
Montgomery's Cheddar is also known as Montgomery's Cheddar, Montgomery Cheddar, Montgomery's Farmhouse Cheddar.
Taste Montgomery's Cheddar in London
Independent picks. We earn a small commission if you book through these — at no extra cost to you. How this works.
✅ Before you go to United Kingdom
Round out your trip — most travellers book these alongside their trip.
More dishes like Montgomery's Cheddar
Cabbie Claw
Hailing from the United Kingdom, Cabbie Claw is a much-loved fish dish.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Moist date sponge drenched in warm toffee sauce.
Fruit Scone
A fruit scone is a tender British and Irish baking-powder bread studded with dried currants or sultanas, split and served with jam and cream.
Moloko Plus
Moloko Plus counts among the traditional food of the United Kingdom, a cocktail locals hold dear.
Kedgeree
Curried rice with smoked haddock and egg.
Welsh Rarebit
Savoury melted-cheese sauce grilled onto toast.
Racotin
Racotin is one of the classic dishes in the cheese tradition of France.
Melinda Mae
Melinda Mae is one of the classic dishes in the cheese tradition of the United States.
Crowdie
Crowdie is Scotland's soft, crumbly fresh cheese, a mild, slightly sour curd cheese drained in muslin and served on oatcakes with honey or berries.
Bohinjski Sir
A pressed full-fat alpine cow's-milk cheese made in summer pastures of the Bohinj valley in Slovenia, aged on wooden boards.
Petit-Suisse
Petit-Suisse is a silky fresh French cheese of milk enriched with cream, mild and spreadable, born in Normandy and eaten at breakfast or in desserts.
Savoiardi
Savoiardi is a beloved cookie, traditional to Italy.
Fyrstekake
Fyrstekake is a beloved tart, traditional to Norway.
Pasta Flora
A shortcrust jam tart that travelled from Italy to Greece and South America — pasta frolla base covered in fruit preserve or dulce de leche, finished with a thin lattice top.
Antikristo
Cretan cross-roasted whole lamb cooked over an open wood fire, traditionally served at Easter and summer feasts with horta, lemon potatoes and village salad.
Skordopsomo
Skordopsomo counts among the traditional food of Greece, a snack locals hold dear.
- 🇬🇧 Cabbie Claw · United Kingdom
- 🇬🇧 Sticky Toffee Pudding · United Kingdom
- 🇬🇧 Fruit Scone · United Kingdom
- 🇬🇧 Moloko Plus · United Kingdom
- 🇬🇧 Kedgeree · United Kingdom
- 🇬🇧 Welsh Rarebit · United Kingdom
- 🇫🇷 Racotin · France
- 🇺🇸 Melinda Mae · United States
- 🇬🇧 Crowdie · United Kingdom
- 🇸🇮 Bohinjski Sir · Slovenia
- 🇫🇷 Petit-Suisse · France
- 🇮🇹 Savoiardi · Italy
- 🇳🇴 Fyrstekake · Norway
- 🇬🇷 Pasta Flora · Greece
- 🇬🇷 Antikristo · Greece
- 🇬🇷 Skordopsomo · Greece
Travel guides for United Kingdom
All travel guides →Planning a trip where Montgomery's Cheddar is on the menu? These guides cover United Kingdom and beyond.
Budget Travel Europe on a Budget: How to Travel Comfortably for €70 a Day (2026 Guide)
Aug 23, 2026 · 8 min read
Adventure Travel Walking the Camino de Santiago: A First-Timer's Guide to Choosing Your Route (2026)
Jun 08, 2026 · 6 min read
City Breaks 3 Days in Porto: The Perfect Long-Weekend Itinerary (2026)
Jun 07, 2026 · 5 min read
Destination Guides Slovenia Travel Guide 2026: Lake Bled, Ljubljana, and Beyond
Apr 27, 2026 · 9 min read
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Montgomery's Cheddar.
Write a review
Sign in to verify you're a real person, then share your thoughts on Montgomery's Cheddar.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to say something about Montgomery's Cheddar.