How a failed temperance crusade accidentally birthed a global baby formula giant
In short: In 1885, two Guildford brothers poured their entire stock of wine and spirits into the street to embrace temperance. Left with no business, they pivoted to dairy, eventually creating a dried milk formula that transformed their local shop into the international household name known as Cow & Gate.
Guildford’s history is defined by unexpected transitions, from its medieval origins as a wool-trading hub to its modern status as a high-value residential enclave. The town’s name, appearing as Gyldeforda in the will of Alfred the Great around 880, likely refers to the River Wey crossing or the golden-hued sand and yellow flowers found nearby. While early human activity dates back to the Mesolithic era, the modern town centre only emerged as a significant settlement in the 11th century, eventually prospering through the manufacture of 'Guildford Blue' cloth.
The 19th and 20th centuries brought radical shifts in industry and infrastructure. The arrival of the railways in the 1840s spurred suburban growth, exemplified by the 1862 development of Charlotteville, one of Britain's first planned suburbs. Meanwhile, local industry evolved from fulling mills to the production of cars and tanks. The Dennis Brothers, for instance, established what was likely the country's first purpose-built car factory in 1900, later pivoting to support the war effort during the Second World War by manufacturing Churchill tanks and aircraft parts.
The town also navigated significant cultural and institutional changes. The University of Surrey was established by Royal Charter in 1966, following a push by the local Rotary Club, while the construction of the Guildford Cathedral—a project spanning from 1936 to 1965—solidified the town's ecclesiastical importance. Today, the area remains a sought-after location for property buyers, with a housing market that ranks among the most costly in the United Kingdom outside of the capital.
Despite its growth, Guildford has faced moments of profound turbulence. In 1974, the town was the site of a tragic bombing by the Provisional Irish Republican Army, which led to the wrongful conviction of the 'Guildford Four'. Their eventual exoneration in 1989 remains a landmark case in British legal history, serving as a stark reminder of the town's complex journey through the centuries.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Guildford
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