The Cheesemakers
A taste of our award-winning products
Jane Bowyer already had over 20 years in the dairy business under her belt when she established Cheesemakers of Canterbury in 2007. She knew from her own experience that Kent was a county boasting excellent milk, cream and butter but that it was limited in locally produced, naturally rinded unpasteurised cheeses.
A cheesemaking couple in Wiltshire who were planning to retire passed on their skills, equipment, and the traditional recipe for Ashmore cheese, which began life in a smallholders’ text book by the North of Scotland College of Agriculture. Jane’s old dairy at Lamberhurst Farm, Dargate was fully refurbished and her small but merry band of “blessed cheesemakers” got down to work. Six months later, the first batch was ready to go to market.
The Parlour
Learn more about the art and craft of changing milk to cheese
- British Friesian cows produce the delicious milk we use
- We collect the unpasteurised milk from nearby Debden Farm
- The milk is heated and hand-stirred before adding starter culture and rennet
- Knives at the ready for cutting the curd to release the whey
- The temperature is very gently raised, and then the cheese is left to settle and release more whey
Today our Ashmore cheeses continue to be made traditionally by hand from the unpasteurised milk of British Friesian cows, collected in our own tanker from nearby Debden Farm in Petham.
The naturally rinded hard Ashmore varieties have been joined by a hard goat’s cheese developed from the same recipe. Kelly’s Canterbury Goat is made from local goat’s milk from Ellie’s Dairy in Wychling. We also have a growing soft cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s cheese range, including Bowyer’s, Chaucers and Dumpy.
The Good Shed
Come and meet us at The Good Shed next to Canterbury West station to taste the best of British handmade cheeses.
You can find all our cheeses at our own outlet in The Goods Shed, Canterbury, among a mouthwatering selection of more than 50 British artisanal cheeses. We also sell Kentish crisps, chutney, apple juice and crackers. Gift vouchers are available as the perfect treat for the cheese lovers in your life.
Trade inquiries for our cheeses, Duskin apple juices, Korkers sausages, Kent Crisps, local chutneys and Zingiberi crackers can be made to jane@cheesemakersofcanterbury.
You will also find our cheeses at farmers’ markets, delis, pubs and restaurants across Kent and beyond.