stilton cheese originated through a commercial venture developed in manufacture of cheese for retail at the village of stilton in cambridgeshire, which has led to some claims that the cheese itself originated outside of that village. historical evidence would suggest an evolution of the form of the cheese over many years, with some sourced from melton mowbray or surrounds. stilton is still made in the town at the tuxford & tebbutt creamery, one of only six dairies licensed to make stilton, while makers in cambridgeshire are ironically prohibited from naming their own cheese stilton, even if it is in fact made in stilton. the earliest reference cited is daniel defoe, who in 1624 called the stilton-produced cheese, "the english parmesan". growth of business due to travellers on the great north road, as well as sale into london, led to a need to source additional cheese from further afield, includine the region of melton mowbray, and over time the modern blue cheese developed.