Why? The annual Gloucestershire 'Cheese Rolling and Wake' has been taking place for possibly hundreds of years

It may have been started by the Phoenicians, the Ancient Britons or the Romans.
The remains of an Ancient Britons' fort stand at the top of the hill, and the Romans are known to have inhabited the area.

 

Research undertaken so far is not complete, but documentary evidence shows that Cheese Rolling on Cooper's Hill was already an old tradition in the early 1800s.  It could have evolved from early fertility rites and hopes of a successful harvest, or to safeguard the 'Commoners' Rights of the inhabitants of the Hill.

 

There is no evidence of a break in this amazing event*, one that thousands flock to see each year, and local residents are determined that the tradition will never die.

Where?
Coopers Hill, Cooper's Hill near Brockworth, is 4 miles southeast of Gloucester and is on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment.

 

The Cheese Rolling slope runs from a point just above the start of the tree free, shadowed part at the lower centre of the picture, to the perimeter of the cottage gardens near the top of the picture, short but very steep!

 

The Cockrell on the pole at the top of the hill can be located by the shadow cast by the pole

 

The sunlit area lower centre of the picture is a plateau at the top of the hill.

 

http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/


There are 5 downhill races (one is for ladies).
At the top of the hill, competitors (any number from 2 to a maximum of about 20) sit in a line and wait.

The Master of Ceremonies escorts an invited guest to the start line and helps him / her to sit on the precipitous slope, holding a 7-8lb. 'Double Gloucester' cheese.