Historical information

The cheese press was a manual device used for the final steps in making cheese. Widely used throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, there were many different styles including the screw lever press, spring presses, and this horizontal design. Two presses were generally done: the first gave form to the ‘cheese’, ensuring it was appropriately dense, and the second used a greater weight to eliminate the excess whey. Each pressing took place overnight, and after complete, the cheese was wrapped in a muslin cloth, date stamped and stored in a cool room.

The manufacturer of this cheese press was J & T Young Ltd, and was probably manufactured at the Vulcan Foundry in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Physical description

Metal cheese press, white