Samuel Gulliver and his ancestors are buried in Banbury churchyard where Jonathan Swift got the name for his heroic adventurer.

In the words of Jonathan Swift ‘although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire, where his father dwelt, yet I have heard him say his family came from Oxfordshire; to confirm which, I have observed in the churchyard at Banbury in that county, several tombs and monuments of the Gullivers.’

1747

Samuel Gulliver establishes his Wine & Spirits business in The White Horse, Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Samuel Gulliver & Co.’s portfolio was extensive and included wines, spirits, liqueurs, cordials and aerated waters.

Mid-1800’s

Henry Gulliver, Samuel’s grandson, opens a warehouse in Kingsbury Square, Aylesbury and operates his business from The Royal Oak.

Gulliver’s win medals for their wines and spirits throughout Europe.

LATE 1800’s

Samuel Gulliver opens 20 shops in London’s West End, with warehouses in Leith and 7 Argyll Street, London – now the site of The London Palladium.

The shops later became part of Victoria Wine. He also had enough energy to father 25 children!

1900’s

Gulliver’s launch a cordials and aerated waters company as well as supplying rum to the Army for the soldiers in the trenches.

Fred Gulliver came home from WW1 missing a leg and helped his uncle Samuel run the business.

MID-1900’s

After the premature death of Fred in 1944, another Samuel Gulliver decided to spend and gamble most of the business away.

The business declined to just an Aylesbury operation with a warehouse and wine bar.