Cheddar (Somerset)

Cheddar is a town in the English county of Somerset.

Location

The village lies at the foot of the Mendip hills near the Cheddar Cliffs, about 25 km southwest of Bristol.

History

The area around the village has a long history. In the caves of Cheddar Gorge evidence was found that the area was inhabited as early as 11,000 BC. The Gough 's Cave is an archaeological exhibition of the finds from the late Paleolithic ( 12,000-13,000 years old ) and the oldest complete skeleton in Britain ( Cheddar one, about 9000 years old ).

Already in ancient writings from 1103 there was talk of a very beautiful, fertile area with great canyons. The region was first mentioned in King Alfred in 880, at that time the place was known as Ceodre. To 1086 and at the time of the Domesday Book of Cheddar was royal property. The village was dependent on the laws of nature in the middle of a medieval forest. In the 13th century, when the cheese was already famous, is enlarged the place, but this changed in the mid 14th century because of the plague and the subsequent hunger again.

Tourism began in 1869 with the opening of the Cheddar Valley Railway. The workers came out of the cities to enjoy the " bank holiday " there one day. The track was also well known as The Strawberry Line ( " Strawberry Line" ) because they transported strawberries from the area in all parts of the country. Strawberries are grown today and sold at the roadside.

Twinning

Cheddar has been twinned with the German city of rock hill in the Schwalm - Eder district and the French Commune Vernouillet.

About Cheddar

Known the place is because of the cheddar cheese that is produced there. The name Cheddar probably comes from the Celtic word meaning " whey ". Cheddar is a popular destination today. Remains of a Roman villa were discovered. Since the 15th century marked a monument ( Cheddar Market Cross ) at the junction of three roads in Cheddar former marketplace. Pay a visit to St. Andrew 's Church, caves, Cheddar Gorge and the cheese museum. Destinations are, for example, Weston -Super-Mare, Glastonbury Tor and the cities of Bath, Bristol and Wells.