Lymeswold cheese
Encyclopedia
Lymeswold cheese was an English
cheese
variety. Many English cheeses are named after regions but Lymeswold was not, although it may have been derived from the place name Wymeswold
. The cheese was a soft, mild blue cheese with an edible white rind, much like Brie, and was inspired by French
cheeses. It was similar to non-branded cheeses sold as Blue Brie. For the export market, the cheese was branded Westminster Blue, because people had difficulty pronouncing Lymeswold.
began discussions with the large dairy firm Unigate
that led in 1981 to the restructuring of its processing and marketing activities under the Dairy Crest
brand to use surplus milk production for making other dairy products. The initiatives that followed included the launch in 1982 of Lymeswold cheese. It was at first produced at Cannington
creamery in Somerset. The cheese's creation was hailed by Peter Walker
, then Agriculture Minister
, who said it would improve the balance of payments by replacing imports and becoming "one of our most successful cheese exports".
ing exercise, initial demand for Lymeswold exceeded supply. It has been suggested that the Board then released maturing stocks before they were ready, which gave the cheese a reputation for poor quality. Certainly the initial success of the cheese did not turn into steady long-term sales. It was later subjected to strong competition from Cambozola
, a German cheese, and eventually ceased production in 1992. Dairy Crest
said at the time that it "could not sustain demand". John Withley, then the restaurant
critic
of the Daily Telegraph, welcomed the news with "unfettered joy", saying it had always been "an artificial cheese".
. As it is well known that Lymeswold is not a real location, the word is also sometimes used for the name of a generic fictitious English place.
In Episode 3 ("Casualties"), Series 3, of the British sitcom Men Behaving Badly
, Gary (played by Martin Clunes
) refers to the cheese impressions that he was discussing with his roommate Tony (played by Neil Morrissey
), pointing at Deborah (played by Leslie Ash
) and blurting at her, "Lymeswold!"
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...
cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
variety. Many English cheeses are named after regions but Lymeswold was not, although it may have been derived from the place name Wymeswold
Wymeswold
Wymeswold is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is in the north of Leicestershire, and north-east of Loughborough. It has a population of about 1,000...
. The cheese was a soft, mild blue cheese with an edible white rind, much like Brie, and was inspired by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
cheeses. It was similar to non-branded cheeses sold as Blue Brie. For the export market, the cheese was branded Westminster Blue, because people had difficulty pronouncing Lymeswold.
Origins
In 1979 the Milk Marketing BoardMilk Marketing Board
The Milk Marketing Board was a government agency established in 1933 to control milk production and distribution in the United Kingdom. It functioned as buyer of last resort in the British milk market, thereby guaranteeing a minimum price for milk producers...
began discussions with the large dairy firm Unigate
Unigate
Uniq plc is a British food manufacturer. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
that led in 1981 to the restructuring of its processing and marketing activities under the Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest Group plc is a major dairy products company in the United Kingdom. Its brands include Cathedral City Cheddar cheese, Utterly Butterly, Vitalite, Clover, St Ivel and Frijj. The company delivers milk to around 1.1 million households via their milkmen...
brand to use surplus milk production for making other dairy products. The initiatives that followed included the launch in 1982 of Lymeswold cheese. It was at first produced at Cannington
Cannington, Somerset
Cannington is a village and civil parish north-west of Bridgwater in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England. It lies on the west bank of the River Parret, and contains the hamlet of Edstock.-History:...
creamery in Somerset. The cheese's creation was hailed by Peter Walker
Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester
Peter Edward Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester, MBE, PC , was British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet as the Environment Secretary , Trade and Industry Secretary , Agriculture Minister , Energy Secretary and Welsh Secretary...
, then Agriculture Minister
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The post was originally named President of the Board of Agriculture and was created in 1889...
, who said it would improve the balance of payments by replacing imports and becoming "one of our most successful cheese exports".
Rise and fall
The concept of Lymeswold was created by an advertising agency, 'Butler Dennis & Garland' in response to a brief from the Milk Marketing Board to make use of more milk. It was conceived after a review of upcoming types, where soft blue cheese seemed to be missing from the UK's indigenous repertoire. The village of Lymeswold was created as part of the brand idea. With heavy promotion and a very successful brandBrand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
ing exercise, initial demand for Lymeswold exceeded supply. It has been suggested that the Board then released maturing stocks before they were ready, which gave the cheese a reputation for poor quality. Certainly the initial success of the cheese did not turn into steady long-term sales. It was later subjected to strong competition from Cambozola
Cambozola
Cambozola is a cow's milk cheese that is a combination of a French soft-ripened triple cream cheese and Italian Gorgonzola.-History:It was patented and industrially produced for the world market by large German company Champignon in the 1970s. The cheese was invented circa 1900 and is still...
, a German cheese, and eventually ceased production in 1992. Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest Group plc is a major dairy products company in the United Kingdom. Its brands include Cathedral City Cheddar cheese, Utterly Butterly, Vitalite, Clover, St Ivel and Frijj. The company delivers milk to around 1.1 million households via their milkmen...
said at the time that it "could not sustain demand". John Withley, then the restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
of the Daily Telegraph, welcomed the news with "unfettered joy", saying it had always been "an artificial cheese".
Continued influence
The name Lymeswold has lived on as one of many running jokes in Private EyePrivate Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
. As it is well known that Lymeswold is not a real location, the word is also sometimes used for the name of a generic fictitious English place.
In Episode 3 ("Casualties"), Series 3, of the British sitcom Men Behaving Badly
Men Behaving Badly
Men Behaving Badly is a British comedy that was created and written by Simon Nye. It follows the lives of Gary Strang and his flatmates, Dermot Povey and Tony Smart It was first broadcast on ITV in 1992...
, Gary (played by Martin Clunes
Martin Clunes
Alexander Martin Clunes is an English actor and comedian. Clunes is perhaps best known for his roles as Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly, Doctor Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin and the title character in Reggie Perrin....
) refers to the cheese impressions that he was discussing with his roommate Tony (played by Neil Morrissey
Neil Morrissey
Neil Anthony Morrissey is an English actor, media personality and businessman. He is best known for his role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly....
), pointing at Deborah (played by Leslie Ash
Leslie Ash
Leslie Ash is an English actress, best known for her role in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. Her book My Life Behaving Badly: The Autobiography was published in 2007....
) and blurting at her, "Lymeswold!"