Long Clawson
Encyclopedia
Long Clawson is a small village
in Leicestershire
, England
.
There is some debate about the origin of the village's name; one theory is that there were once two villages named Clawson and Claxton, which grew together and became Long Clawson. The “Long” part of the name probably arose because the village is over a mile in length although with 14 sharp bends.
It is a village with a rural history. Its position in the Vale of Belvoir
has afforded the area with rich soil ideal for pasture. Servicing the many farms in the area for at least 900 years the rich dairy heritage has led to the production of Stilton cheese on a famous scale. The Long Clawson dairy is one of the largest producers of this cheese. There are many thriving farms in the area which is still very much a rural area with many attractions for ramblers and walkers including the nearby Grantham Canal
.
The village features in the 1086 Domesday Book
as Clachestone, but there is evidence of much earlier settlements. Very near to the Manor House, indeed embedded into the tarmac footpath against the wall of that property, there is an ancient megalith
. The Long Clawson Stone is approximately 3 feet long and allegedly a fragment of a larger ancient stone. The Manor House itself boasts an ancient fish pond that is still stocked.
Like many larger village settlements, the number of businesses in the village has declined in recent years. Once boasting five pubs, numerous small stores and traders along with its own police presence the village now only has one pub, the Crown and Plough and a few shops. The community is strong and thriving, however, with a growing population. This may well be due to its proximity for commuting to Melton Mowbray, Nottingham and the success of the dairy. Around 100 new houses were built in the village in the early part of the 21st century and the primary school has doubled the number of its pupils. Local demographic information shows the population to be 970 as of 2003.
The parish church of St Remigius, which is often simply referred to as "Saint Remi's", has a dedication shared with few other churches. It dates from around the 14th century and its walls, like those of the nearby manor house, are of a local stone which is richly red in hue. The church, which seats 300, was thoroughly restored in 1893 and contains a medieval effigy of cusader
William Bozon. The Society of Genealogists
holds copies of the parish registers covering marriages from 1558 - 1837 which can be studied at their library in London.
The present Methodist Church was opened in 1956. Methodism was introduced into the village Clawson by a Mrs Hind through her contact with the Wesleyan Society in 1797. After joining a small society at Nether Broughton
she formed a society in Long Clawson, with meetings held in the kitchen of her home. Later a licence was obtained and William Parkes home was registered for public worship and was known as 'The Consecrated Barn'. The first chapel was built in 1801 and in 1816 was improved by the addition of a gallery. In 1840 a new chapel was built on the present site at a cost of £1100. In 1873 a schoolroom and a Minister's vestry were added. A Manse
was built alongside the chapel in 1887. In 1954 the chapel burnt down. A committee was quickly formed to raise funds for a replacement and on 25 June 1955 the foundation stone for the new building was laid. The new chapel opened on 29 September 1956.
Long Clawson Dairy was founded in 1911 when 12 farmers from the Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire, formed a co-operative to produce Stilton® Cheese in the village of Long Clawson. As a traditional company, Long Clawson Dairy is well known for its quality and innovation in Stilton® and Blended Cheese Markets.
The company has prospered and today is supplied by over 40 farms, all from within the Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire area. As Stilton® is protected by a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) it can only be made with milk from these Counties. Long Clawson Farms range in size, producing between 350,000 to over 4 million litres of milk per year.
Long Clawson have more than 30 products in their portfolio including Blue Stilton®, Blue Shropshire, Blue Vinney plus many blended cheeses, all operating from 3 separate sites.
Long Clawson Cheese can be purchased from leading supermarket retailers and selected independent stores. We also supply to the foodservice, wholesale and export markets.
The dairy employs about 200 people and produces 6,700 tonnes of cheese in 60 varieties every year. Exports account for about 20% of the company's business. The company had a turnover of about £54m in 2008.
Long Clawson Dairy scooped a total of 11 trophies at the International Cheese Awards
2011, which took place at the Nantwich Show in Cheshire, including being crowned 'Reserve Champion UK' and 'Reserve Supreme Champion' for the Dairys 'Blue Stilton' after seeing off thousands of competitors across the globe.
that dominates the skyline from the south. The windmill, located at Mill Farm, has a characteristic Lincolnshire-style cap (white painted ogee-shaped) and is a Grade II listed building.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
There is some debate about the origin of the village's name; one theory is that there were once two villages named Clawson and Claxton, which grew together and became Long Clawson. The “Long” part of the name probably arose because the village is over a mile in length although with 14 sharp bends.
It is a village with a rural history. Its position in the Vale of Belvoir
Vale of Belvoir
The Vale of Belvoir is an area of natural beauty on the borders of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire in England. Indeed, the name itself derives from the Norman-French for beautiful view.-Extent and geology:...
has afforded the area with rich soil ideal for pasture. Servicing the many farms in the area for at least 900 years the rich dairy heritage has led to the production of Stilton cheese on a famous scale. The Long Clawson dairy is one of the largest producers of this cheese. There are many thriving farms in the area which is still very much a rural area with many attractions for ramblers and walkers including the nearby Grantham Canal
Grantham Canal
The Grantham Canal is a canal that runs for 33 miles from Grantham, falling through 18 locks to West Bridgford where it joins the River Trent. It was built primarily to allow for the transportation of coal to Grantham. It opened in 1797, and its profitability steadily increased until 1841...
.
The village features in the 1086 Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Clachestone, but there is evidence of much earlier settlements. Very near to the Manor House, indeed embedded into the tarmac footpath against the wall of that property, there is an ancient megalith
Megalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
. The Long Clawson Stone is approximately 3 feet long and allegedly a fragment of a larger ancient stone. The Manor House itself boasts an ancient fish pond that is still stocked.
Like many larger village settlements, the number of businesses in the village has declined in recent years. Once boasting five pubs, numerous small stores and traders along with its own police presence the village now only has one pub, the Crown and Plough and a few shops. The community is strong and thriving, however, with a growing population. This may well be due to its proximity for commuting to Melton Mowbray, Nottingham and the success of the dairy. Around 100 new houses were built in the village in the early part of the 21st century and the primary school has doubled the number of its pupils. Local demographic information shows the population to be 970 as of 2003.
Religion
The village has a long history and its churches reflect this. They include St Remigius' Anglican church, a Methodist church and a Baptist Church (dating from 1845) The latter two are attractive 20th century red brick buildings, though the Primitive Methodist chapel of 1868 is now a private residence.The parish church of St Remigius, which is often simply referred to as "Saint Remi's", has a dedication shared with few other churches. It dates from around the 14th century and its walls, like those of the nearby manor house, are of a local stone which is richly red in hue. The church, which seats 300, was thoroughly restored in 1893 and contains a medieval effigy of cusader
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
William Bozon. The Society of Genealogists
Society of Genealogists
The Society of Genealogists is a UK-based educational charity, founded in 1911 to "promote, encourage and foster the study, science and knowledge of genealogy". The Society's Library is the largest specialist genealogical library outside North America. Membership is open to any adult who agrees to...
holds copies of the parish registers covering marriages from 1558 - 1837 which can be studied at their library in London.
The present Methodist Church was opened in 1956. Methodism was introduced into the village Clawson by a Mrs Hind through her contact with the Wesleyan Society in 1797. After joining a small society at Nether Broughton
Nether Broughton
Nether Broughton is a village in Leicestershire, England.Nether Broughton lies on the A606 road. The neighbouring village of Upper Broughton is on the same road but is in the county of Nottinghamshire.-External links:...
she formed a society in Long Clawson, with meetings held in the kitchen of her home. Later a licence was obtained and William Parkes home was registered for public worship and was known as 'The Consecrated Barn'. The first chapel was built in 1801 and in 1816 was improved by the addition of a gallery. In 1840 a new chapel was built on the present site at a cost of £1100. In 1873 a schoolroom and a Minister's vestry were added. A Manse
Manse
A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church...
was built alongside the chapel in 1887. In 1954 the chapel burnt down. A committee was quickly formed to raise funds for a replacement and on 25 June 1955 the foundation stone for the new building was laid. The new chapel opened on 29 September 1956.
Long Clawson Dairy
Long Clawson has one of only six dairies in England where Stilton cheese is manufactured. Long Clawson Dairy was founded in 1911 after 12 farmers from the Vale of Belvoir came together to produce authentic Stilton cheese.Long Clawson Dairy was founded in 1911 when 12 farmers from the Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire, formed a co-operative to produce Stilton® Cheese in the village of Long Clawson. As a traditional company, Long Clawson Dairy is well known for its quality and innovation in Stilton® and Blended Cheese Markets.
The company has prospered and today is supplied by over 40 farms, all from within the Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire area. As Stilton® is protected by a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) it can only be made with milk from these Counties. Long Clawson Farms range in size, producing between 350,000 to over 4 million litres of milk per year.
Long Clawson have more than 30 products in their portfolio including Blue Stilton®, Blue Shropshire, Blue Vinney plus many blended cheeses, all operating from 3 separate sites.
Long Clawson Cheese can be purchased from leading supermarket retailers and selected independent stores. We also supply to the foodservice, wholesale and export markets.
The dairy employs about 200 people and produces 6,700 tonnes of cheese in 60 varieties every year. Exports account for about 20% of the company's business. The company had a turnover of about £54m in 2008.
Long Clawson Dairy scooped a total of 11 trophies at the International Cheese Awards
International Cheese Awards
The International Cheese Awards is a cheese show and competition held each year at Dorfold Park in Nantwich, England. It represents the most important cheese events in the UK and one of the most important events on the global level...
2011, which took place at the Nantwich Show in Cheshire, including being crowned 'Reserve Champion UK' and 'Reserve Supreme Champion' for the Dairys 'Blue Stilton' after seeing off thousands of competitors across the globe.
Other landmarks
The village has a recently restored windmillWindmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
that dominates the skyline from the south. The windmill, located at Mill Farm, has a characteristic Lincolnshire-style cap (white painted ogee-shaped) and is a Grade II listed building.