From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cheddar
Coordinates: 51.2785° N 2.7777° W
Population	5724 (2002)
OS grid reference	ST458535
District	Sedgemoor
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRISTOL
Postcode district	BS27
Dial code	01934
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Wells
European Parliament	South West England
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Cheddar is a large village and civil parish in the district of Sedgemoor in English county of Somerset. It is situated on the edge of the Mendip Hills 14.5 km (9 miles) north west of Wells.

It is a frequent misconception that Cheddar is a town, presumably based on its present-day size and importance. Officially, however, Cheddar is a village. The adjacent settlement of Axbridge, although only about a third the size of Cheddar, is a town. This apparently illogical situation is explained by the relative importance of the two places in historic times. While Axbridge grew in importance as a centre for cloth manufacture in the Tudor period and gained a charter from King John, Cheddar remained a more dispersed dairy-farming village until the advent of tourism and the arrival of the railway in the Victorian era.

This situation is unlikely to change in the near future, with the residents of both Axbridge and Cheddar proud of their settlements' respective status and the inevitable friendly local rivalry between the two.

Cheddar is twinned with Felsberg in Germany and Vernouillet in France.

Main article: Cheddar cheese.

The village is famous for having given its name to Cheddar cheese which is one of the most popular kinds of cheese. Although the cheese is now made worldwide, only one producer remains in the village itself.

Cheddar's other main produce is the strawberry, which gave name to the now disused Strawberry Line railway that ran from Yatton to Wells. In the 1960s, when the rest of the line was closed and all passenger services ceased, the section of the line between Cheddar and Yatton remained open for goods traffic, to provide a fast link with the main markets for the strawberries in Birmingham and London. The former station has become housing and a trading estate, and is the starting point for a cycle path along the old track to Axbridge, passing the Cheddar Reservoir, an SSSI for its large population of wintering waterfowl, and the home of a sailing club.

Cheddar Village circa 1907

Main article: Cheddar Gorge and Caves.

Cheddar is also famous for Cheddar Gorge, the largest gorge in England, and for the Cheddar Caves, including Cox's cave, Tyning`s Barrow Swallet and Gough's Cave where the remains of Cheddar Man were found. Nearby is Wookey Hole and Ebbor Gorge.

There are several large and unique Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) around the village including Cheddar Reservoir and Cheddar Wood. By far the largest is called Cheddar Complex and covers 441.3 hectare (1090.5 acre) of the gorge, caves and the surrounding area including the Longwood Swallet. It is considered important for both biological and geological features.

Close to the village and gorge are Batts Combe quarry and Callow Rock quarry two of the active Quarries of the Mendip Hills where limestone is still produced.

There is evidence of occupation from both the Neolithic and Roman periods in Cheddar.^[1] It was also the site of a Saxon Royal palace which has been fully excavated. Its outline has since been laid out in the grounds of The Kings of Wessex School, which was built on the site although not directly on the palace.

Cheddar was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Ceder, meaning 'Shear Water' from the Old English scear and Celtic dwr.^[2]

When William Wilberforce saw the poor conditions of the locals when he visited Cheddar in 1789 he inspired Hannah More in her work to improve the conditions of the Mendip miners and agricultural workers.^[3]

Cheddar, as seen from the top of the church tower. The left of the picture shows the Kings of Wessex School and the remains of the Saxon palace. In the distance is Cheddar Reservoir and Crook Peak

Cheddar has a number of active service clubs including Cheddar Vale Lions, Mendip Rotary and Mendip Inner Wheel Club. The clubs raise money for projects in the local community and hold annual events such as a fireworks display, duck races in the Gorge, a dragon boat race on the reservoir and concerts in the grounds of the nearby St Michael's Cheshire Home[1].

There are three schools: Cheddar First School, Fairlands Middle School and The Kings of Wessex School. There is an indoor swimming pool and a refuse recycling centre. Cheddar village also has a Youth Hostel and several camping sites. There is a Church of England parish church with a tall tower in the typical Somerset style, and also churches of the Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and other groups.

The Church of England parish church is dedicated to St Andrew and dates from the 14th century. It was restored in 1873 by William Butterfield. It is a grade I listed building and contains some 15th century stained glass and an altar table of 1631. The chest tomb in the chancel is believed to be to Sir Thomas Cheddar and dated 1442.^[4]

The market cross in Bath Street dates from the 15th century, with the shelter being rebuilt in 1834. It has a central octagonal pier, socket raised on 3 steps, hexagonal shelter with 6 arched 4-centred arch openings, shallow 2 stage buttresses at each angle, and embattled parapet. The shaft is crowned by an abacus with figures in niches, probably from the late 19th century although the cross is now missing. Rebuilt by Thomas, Marquis of Bath. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 21) and grade II* listed building.^[5] It was recently restored after being seriously damaged in a road traffic accident.

• Community website
• Cheddar First School
• Fairlands Middle School
• The Kings of Wessex Community School
• Cheddar Caves
• Cheddar Valley Gazette
• Cheddar Archaeological Survey
• Photos of Cheddar in 3d (Anaglyphs)
• YouTube videos: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3