Pictures from the past showing inside the Hartington's cheese business in the Peak District

The original Hartington Creamery was established by the Duke of Devonshire in the late 1800s and while our pictures may not go back that far, learn all about the fire which halted the business its boom in the 1900s and then it’s revival in the 21st century.

And now Hartington Creamery, near Pikehall, has acquired Fowlers Sage Derby, perhaps the country’s oldest family firm of cheese-makers, which can trace its origins back fourteen generations to 1670 in the village of Alstonefield.

The Parish of Hartington has a long history of cheese-making and Hartington Creamery has the unique title of the world's smallest Stilton producer.

The iconic Nuttalls Blue Stilton from the little Derbyshire dairy became world famous in 1900 and the creamery passed down to Nuttalls son and then was taken over by by his widow wife in the early part of the 20th Century.

By the 1930’s Blue Stilton was only allowed to produced in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire this Certification Trade Mark helped to keep the cheese unique.

However, as milk sales soared in town areas the Derbyshire cheese makers all closed, all except one – in Hartington – but the doors finally closed in 2009 when the factory shut.

Determined to bring back the cheese legacy tradition was reinstated in October 2012 when the new Hartington Creamery Limited made its first cheese.

To check out the creamery’s website click here