Did You Know?

This expression originated in Melton!
It was on Thursday 6th April 1837 at around 3 o'clock in the morning that the Marquess of Waterford and friends who, after a night's drinking daubed the Swan Porch, the local toll keeper and other parts of the town with red paint.

Pork Pies

Dickinson and Morris are the only producers of authentic Melton Mowbray pork pies in the town. Their shop in Nottingham Street dates from the 17th century. Pork pies were first made there in 1851. Within a couple of years (by 1854) the Melton Hunt Cake was also being produced on the premises. This is a rich fruit cake, spiced with Jamaican rum and both of these products were enjoyed by the hunting fraternity, who used to carry them as snacks in their saddle bags.

Stilton Cheese

Stilton cheese is only manufactured in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. There are six producers in all and one of these, Tuxford and Tebbutt is in Melton Mowbray. The origins of Stilton are unclear but Frances Pawlett of Wymondham became a wholesale supplier for many of the smaller local cheese makers in the 1740s. She marketed the cheese via the landlord of the Bell Inn at Stilton on the Great North Road. Melton became the market center for Stilton and three specialist fairs were held here each year from 1883 until 1914.

Local Books

A more detailed description of events leading to the "painting of the town red" can be found on page 18 of Trevor Hickman's book "Melton Mowbray to Oakham".
ISBN: 0-7509-2068-8

His book "The History of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie" (perhaps unsurprisingly!!) provides a detailed history of the pork pie plus other interesting information about the surrounding areas.
ISBN: 0-7509-1627-3.

Trevor Hickman has also written an excellent local book on the history of Stilton Cheese.