Colston Bassett: Cheese, History and Walks

Colston Bassett offers historic landmarks, a long tradition of cheese-making and walking routes in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel in Colston Bassett, these themes can help you choose a destination that suits your interests. Historic landmarks include a Norman arcade, the market cross, Colston Hall and a war memorial. Cheese-making brings together Blue Stilton and Shropshire Blue, as well as direct sales at the Dairy Door. Millennium Walk and the network of footpaths add specific geographical points of reference to the village’s architectural and product history.

Architectural history and memorials

The surviving north arcade of St Mary's Church is Norman. The church was abandoned after its roof was removed in 1892. This brings together an early architectural feature and a later turning point in the building’s history: the arcade dates from the Norman period, while the church was abandoned following the removal of its roof.

The current shaft and top of the Colston Bassett market cross were added in 1831 to commemorate the coronation of William IV. The cross is a Grade II listed structure. The date identifies a specific occasion commemorated by the cross, while the listing indicates its separate designation.

Colston Hall originally dates from around 1704 and was remodelled around 1860. Its approximate date of construction and a later alteration are the focus here. Together with the architectural history of St Mary's Church and the market cross, this offers a view of different periods rather than a single construction date.

The war memorial commemorates 14 local servicemen who died in the First World War. This brings together different historical points of reference: the coronation commemorated at the market cross and the soldiers who fell in the war, remembered at the memorial. This commemoration adds another perspective to the information about the church and buildings, helping to place the village’s history in context.

Cheese tradition and the Dairy Door

Colston Bassett Dairy has made traditional Blue Stilton and Shropshire Blue by hand since 1913. Visitors can buy cheese directly at the Dairy Door. This connects the cheese-making tradition both with named products and with a specific reason to visit: buying cheese directly from the dairy. If cheese is one of your travel interests, the Dairy Door offers a tangible point of reference. The tradition of making cheese and buying it on site are two distinct aspects of the same cheese story.

Millennium Walk and routes in the surrounding area

Millennium Walk runs from New Road to the old church. In addition, a network of footpaths connects the village with neighbouring areas and the A46. These offer two different scales for finding your way around: the named walk leads to a specific destination, while the network describes connections beyond the village. The River Smite flows immediately west of the village centre, adding a geographical point of reference to the surrounding landscape.

Discover more destinations: Normanton on Trent, Calverton, Sibthorpe, Haughton, Worksop, Whatton, Willoughby On The Wolds, Stapleford.

For the wider travel overview: Nottinghamshire.