The story began with Dan's great great-great-grandfather Thomas Williams in Holmes Chapel in 1975. He visited farms buying cheese, then selling it on to local markets as well as places as far away as the grand London hotels. Thomas was succeeding in the business by his son Griff with next-generation Godfrey Williams and his wife Maureen, opening in Sandbach in 1957.
When an opportunity arose to move to the Cobbles, the couple seized the opportunity in 1979, which is where the iconic shop still stands. Godfrey’s son David Williams continued to grow the business here with his wife Carol and their son, Dan, representing the fifth generation, is at the helm today. Dan Williams is in the fifth generation of his family to champion and serve Cheshire produce.
(Image: Kurt Thomas) Dan recalls the early days of the business and how cheese has always been a mainstay of the excellent fare served up by Godfrey C Williams & Son – purveyors of the world's finest food. Appleby’s Cheshire Cheese made over the border at Appleby’s dairy at Hawkstone Abbey Farm, Marchamley, Shropshire, is among the most popular. The family expertise is called upon at the judging of many shows and to this day, Dan uses an heirloom cheese iron to extract the core from truckles to test taste and texture.
At his wedding to Eva, the newlyweds walked under a guard of honour of cheese irons at the celebration at Combermere Abbey. Other specialities include roast meats with hams glazed with honey from hives jus.