10 Facts You Never Knew About Cheddar

At Majestic Designs, we’re proud of our Cheddar roots! That’s why we set up shop here, with manufacturing facilities in Cheddar Business Park. Proud Cheddarites as we are, we decided to find out more about our picturesque Somerset town…

1. Cheddar Has A Population of 5,839 People

   According to the 2021 census, the village of Cheddar in the South West of England has a population of 5,839 people, with an average age of 46!

2. Cheddar Gorge is the Largest Gorge in the United Kingdom

   Cheddar Gorge isn’t just a beautiful sight—it’s the largest gorge in the UK! With a maximum depth of 137 metres and stretching over 3 miles, it’s been millions of years in the making. Formed by floods at the end of ice ages, when melting ice forced water to carve its way through the limestone, it created the stunning gorge we see today.

   So next time you’re in Cheddar, you’re walking through a landscape shaped over the past 1.2 million years!

3. Cheddar Cheese Was Supposedly Discovered by Accident

   The story of how Cheddar cheese was discovered by accident is a widely shared local legend. It’s said that around 800 years ago, a milkmaid in Cheddar accidentally left a pail of milk in one of the local caves. When she returned, she found the milk had curdled and turned into what we now know as Cheddar cheese. The constant cool temperature of around 7°C in the caves created the perfect conditions for the cheese to mature, giving it the tangy flavour that people quickly grew to love.

   To this day, some traditional Cheddar cheese is still matured in the caves of Cheddar Gorge, where the temperature and humidity provide the ideal environment for the ageing process.

4. Britain’s Oldest Skeleton Was Found Here in 1903

   Discovered in Gough’s Cave, the Cheddar Man dates all the way back to 7,150 BC. He’s the oldest surviving skeleton ever found in the UK, though it seems he didn’t meet the best end—a hole in his skull suggests a violent death.

   In 1997, scientists were able to sequence DNA extracted from one of the Cheddar Man’s molars, and they found two locals who share the same DNA as him—so the Cheddar Man still has distant relatives living in the village today!

5. There’s a Saxon Royal Palace Under the Kings of Wessex Academy

   Believe it or not, the Kings of Wessex Academy sits on the remains of an ancient Saxon royal palace. Discovered during school construction in 1963, this palace dates back to the time of King Alfred the Great and even hosted the Witenagemot, a powerful assembly, in the 10th century.

   The remains were excavated and later reburied, but you can still see the layout marked with concrete plinths. In 2006, Roman skeletons were also found during building work, adding even more layers to this historic site!

6. The ‘Cheddar Catchment’ of Caves are Famed for Their Beauty

   Cheddar Gorge and the surrounding Mendip Hills are home to several impressive cave systems, known collectively as the ‘Cheddar catchment.’ This area includes caves like GB Cave, Charterhouse Cave, Longwood Swallet, Manor Farm Swallet and Upper Flood Swallet—all of which are renowned for their geological diversity and intricate stalagmites. These caves all flow into the ‘Cheddar Rising,’ a spring that emerges beneath the gorge’s cliff face.

   Within the gorge itself, you’ll find famous caves such as Gough’s Cave, Cox’s Cave, Great Oones Hole and Reservoir Hole.

7. Flocks of Feral Sheep and Goats Live on the Gorge

   If you’ve ever driven through Cheddar Gorge in the summer, you’ve likely spotted the local residents—flocks of goats and a rare breed of sheep called the Soay. These animals help to keep down the growth of vegetation and scrub on the gorge.

   The Soay sheep, native to Britain, are particularly rare, with only around 900 registered Soay ewes left. Thankfully, they’ve found a perfect home in the gorge, where they can roam freely and thrive in their natural habitat. Interestingly, ‘Soay’ comes from the Old Norse word for ‘sheep’.

8. Cheddar Once Had a Railway That Was Known as ‘The Strawberry Line’

   Cheddar isn’t just famous for cheese! In the 19th century, the surrounding countryside became known for its strawberries, and demand from cities like Birmingham and London grew so much that a railway was built to transport them.

   This railway, known as The Strawberry Line, ran from Yatton to Cheddar and beyond. Although it closed in 1965, much of the line has been transformed into a beautiful walking and cycling path that you can still access today, passing through cider orchards, woodland and even Cheddar Gorge.

9. Gough’s Cave Contained Evidence of Prehistoric Cannibalism

   In 2011, scientists uncovered some eerie evidence in Gough’s Cave—prehistoric cannibalism! Researchers found human skulls that had been carefully shaped into drinking cups, along with bones showing clear cut marks, suggesting they were used in ritualistic practices. The cannibalism likely wasn’t for survival, but instead part of a symbolic ritual. So, while Gough’s Cave may be beautiful, it certainly has a darker side to its history!

10. Cheddar Gorge Has Starred on the Big Screen

    In 2013, the gorge’s towering cliffs were used as the home of the giant in the film Jack the Giant Slayer. This modern retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk brought Cheddar’s natural beauty to the big screen, showcasing its dramatic landscape. It’s not every day that a famous gorge gets a starring role in a fantasy adventure, but it’s just one more reason Cheddar Gorge continues to attract attention from tourists.