| Melton Mowbray is found in Leicestershire in the | | | | 1,000 years and its inhabitants can date its status |
| Melton borough. The town is situated by the River | | | | back to 1086 when the Domesday Book noted |
| Wreake and River Eye. It is known as the Rural | | | | there were 200 individuals permanently settled at |
| Capital of Food as it is known for its culinary | | | | Melton Mowbray. This town is the third oldest in |
| specialties. It is the home of Stilton Cheese and | | | | England. |
| best known for its pork pies. | | | | The vast majority of the buildings around the |
| Stilton cheese originated near Melton Mowbray | | | | Melton Market Place, including Church Lane, |
| and takes its name from the village of Stilton. | | | | Sherrard Street, King Street, and Nottingham |
| Stilton cheese was never made in Stilton but this | | | | Street all have ancient foundations. The area |
| is the spot where the cheese was marketed to | | | | around 5 King street was found to be part of a |
| travelers along the Great North Road. There is a | | | | medieval open-halled house, possible part of a |
| special hand-raising process needed to make | | | | castle. During the Civil war in the 1600s Melton had |
| authentic Melton Mowbray pork pies. It is possible | | | | a Roundhead garrison. |
| to buy an authentic pie at ye olde pork pie | | | | The town was also a popular spot for fox hunting. |
| shoppe on Nottingham Street. The pork pie won | | | | The phrase, painting the town red, originated in |
| an award in 2008 and the name carries a | | | | Melton during hunt. A hunting party in 1837 found |
| Protected Geographical Indication status. | | | | a few tins of red paint which the used to paint |
| Melton has approximately 28 ancient monuments | | | | buildings along high street. Some older buildings still |
| and over 700 buildings listed as having historical | | | | show the red paint. Melton cloth also comes from |
| significance. Grantham Canal contains remains of | | | | Melton, which is a heavily milled tight-woven |
| ironstone working, windmill sites and smelting | | | | woolen cloth. This cloth was used to make Sailors' |
| spots, as it was the site of Wreake navigation. | | | | pea coats, workman's' donkey jackets. Loggers' |
| Melton Mowbray has been a market for over | | | | cruising jackets and Mackinaws. |