Brockworth, in Gloucestershire, England is situated on the old Roman road that connects the City of Gloucester with Barnwood, Hucclecote and Cirencester. For the past 150 years Brockworth has been known locally for the annual rolling of Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper's Hill. During World War II its Gloster Aircraft Company produced the famous Hurricane fighter, and following the War it gained renewed fame for producing several famous aircraft including the world's first jet aircraft which took off from its test runway.

Brief history

Brockworth was the third in a series of rural villages located along an old Roman Road following a more-or-less straight line to the inland port city of Gloucester. Its original semi-remote location made it ideal for the location of an aircraft factory where planes could be built and tested without worry over noise. Land availability made the location ideal for the site of a test runway.

Gloster Aircraft Company

The Gloster Aircraft Company was formed at Brockworth, Gloucestershire in 1915, as the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company. In 1926 the name of the company was abbreviated to Gloster because customers outside of the United Kingdom found the original name too difficult to pronounce. The company produced the Gloster Gladiator; Hawker Hurricane; Hawker Typhoon; Gloster Meteor and Gloster Javelin and its test runway became famous for the first flight of Sir Frank Whittle's turbo-jet aircraft .

Brockworth bombed

The Brockworth aircraft factory drew upon an employment pool from the surrounding area and it was responsible for much of the growth in the development of housing estates which were halted by the outbreak of World War II. During the War Brockworth and the surrounding area was bombed by the Luftwaffe in an attempt to halt its production of vital war materials.

1939-1945 WWII production

In 1939 the company built 1,000 Hawker Hurricanes in the first 12 months of World War II and it delivered its last of 2,750 Hurricanes in 1942. Production was the switched to building 3,330 Hawker Typhoons for the Royal Air Force. On April 8, 1941 the first test flight of the Gloster E28/39 with a turbo-jet engine invented by Sir Frank Whittle took off from company airfield at Brockworth. This formed the basis for the Gloster Meteor, the only jet to be used by the Allied Forces during World War II. In 1945 it gained a world speed record of 606 mph and it was eventually put into service by 12 nations.

Post-WWII developments

Following WWII it took the area many years to revive; but after the mid-1950s, renewed housing growth, the development of motorways and redistricting eventually changed the entire look of Brockworth and what were once adjoining villages. In 1952 the Brockworth factory produced the two seat, delta-winged Gloster Javelin which was developed as an all weather fighter that could fly above 50,000 feet at almost the speed of sound. In 1962 the Gloster Aircraft Company closed down and its once famous test runway fell victim of redistricting and it is now within the boundary of Hucclecote.

Cooper's Hill

Cooper's Hill is a local landmark in Brockworth and for the past 150 years it has gained local fame for its annual cheese rolling contest. Some believe that this event (which is held every May during the Spring Bank-holiday Monday, at midday), is a fairly dangerous fertility ritual. Its origins are unclear, but it is thought that its roots can be traced to an ancient pagan festival that once celebrated the arrival of summer.

Strange local custom

The main feature of the Cooper's Hill cheese rolling contest are the Double Gloucester cheese rolls. Weighing seven pounds and measuring a foot in diameter, these dairy products are hurled off the hilltop and then chased by runners. A Master of Ceremonies escorts invited male or female guests to the start line where they sit on the precipitous slope holding a large Double Gloucester cheese. (During the Post-War rationing period that lasted from 1941 to 1954, a wooden substitute which had a small niche containing a token piece of cheese was used.)

The Master of Ceremonies then gives the chaser a countdown of one to be ready; two to be steady; three to prepare, at which point the guest releases the cheese to roll down the hill. At the next count of four, the guest is told to be off and try to catch the cheese before it reaches the bottom of the hill. If they are successful they will have "proved" (according to local custom), their own fertility. To date there have been no winners but there have been injuries to participants and to onlookers: In 1997 33 people were hurt and 7 were hospitalised during the event. Among the wounded was a spectator who was hit by a cheese that veered off course and into the observing crowd of onlookers. In 2004 21 people were injured, including one with a broken ankle and one with concussion and a dislocated shoulder.

Regardless of the threat of injury and the absence direct winners, people still try to become the first person to arrive at the foot of the hill, because that person always wins the cheese. Those who come in second and third receive a small cash prize. There are four downhill races held at twenty-minute intervals and because this is a segregated fertility ritual, one of the races is strictly for women. Between the downhill races there are also uphill races, one for boys and one for girls who are under the age of twelve years. There is also an open race where a small cheese is awarded as first prize. Sweets (candies) are scattered on the hill for children to scramble after, once the cheese rolling has been completed.

See also:

Double Gloucester cheese - an explanation of how this cheese got its name.

External sources

• Scenes of Brockworth
• Brockworth Parish Council
• Gloster Javelin pictures and story
• Cooper's Hill Annual Cheese Rolling and Wake
• BBC coverage of the 2004 Cheese Rolling event
• Injuries suffered at 2004 annual Cheese Rolling.
• Brockworth Albion AFC