The Official History of Thatchers Cider

There have been Thatchers in northern Somerset since at least 1806 and we know that by 1878 Benjamin Thatcher of Upper Langford was advertising his Prime new cider at 30 shillings per hogshead.

James Russell traces the history of Thatchers cidermaking from those beginnings to the present day. The modern generation of Thatchers have established themselves as leading family cidermakers with a reputation for producing a wide range of ciders of the highest quality and for breaking new ground in the development of orchards while caring for the land that produces the finest cider apples in the world.

Photographer Neil Phillips has been capturing images of Thatchers cidermaking for many years and this book is a showcase for his fantastic pictures as he documents the orchard and cidermaking year, the traditions and innovations, and goes behind the scenes at Myrtle Farm, Sandford to produce this unique body of work.

James Russell writes and lectures about art, design and history, and enjoys making cider with the Totterdown Press. His book The Naked Guide to Cider is wide-ranging, comprehensively illustrated and surprisingly funny in places.


Neil Phillips studied photojournalism in London and worked as a press photographer for four years before returning to the West Country. He is married with four children, plays guitar in a local folk band, turns out for Wrington Dad's FC and makes his own cider.