the stilton cheese classic vehicle run
About the history the route the organisers
The Original Route
In the early 1700’s the housekeeper at Quenby Hall, near Hungarton in Leicestershire used to make blue cheese. Her daughter married the inn keeper of The Bell Inn at Stilton and used to regularly take some of the cheese to her in-laws at the Inn.
The Bell Inn began to sell the cheese to hungry travellers journeying by coach and horses along the Great North Road from London to York and thus began the 300 year association.
The original route of 39 miles taken to deliver the cheese was by horse drawn carriage stopping off to make deliveries of cheeses at the various villages and towns along the route including Billesdon, Skeffington, East Norton, Allexton, Wardley, Uppingham, Seaton, Harringworth, Bulwick (where they changed horses at New Lodge Farm), Southwick, Oundle and Lutton. This was one of the longest commercial carriage rides until internal combustion engined vans and lorries took over as the main mode of commercial road transport.
event organisers
Margaret & Ron Simpson of Uppingham
The Stilton Cheese Classic Vehicle Run was originally run by Jim Barry and Joy Barry, the event organisers and fundraisers since its conception. Sadly both Jim and Joy passed away in 2018.
We will always remember the hard work and dedication they put in to this event every year and continue to make it happen with hundreds of people each year enjoying the fantastic scenery along the routes, admiring classic vehicles and having a good time.
The run is now jointly organised by Uppingham First and the Rotary Club of Uppingham.
event organisers
Margaret & Ron Simpson of Uppingham
A Few Changes
In recent years the run has and will continue to start from Uppingham, a market town in Rutland that was on the original delivery route. We will also be making slight detours along the Welland Valley either to Barrowden and Wakerley Woods or a slightly longer run to Rockingham near Corby before rejoining the original route at Harringworth or if you have the time why not enjoy both detours. The views are quite spectacular.
The Stilton Cheese Classic Vehicle Run is organised to coincide with the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Club’s annual ‘Drive it Day’ usually held in April, where owners of classic vehicles are encouraged to take to the road.
