A Bath Tradition Since 1888
1888: The Henry & Louisa Partnership – Gillards of Bath was founded at the height of the Victorian era at 3 New Bond Street—right at the foot of fashionable Milsom Street. While Henry Gillard’s name hung above the door, our archives reveal a partnership ahead of its time. Records suggest that Henry may have been the face of the business, but his wife, Louisa, was the silent force and strategic mind driving their success from behind the counter.
A Tradition That Never Moved – Step into our shop in the Guildhall Market and you are stepping back into 1888. We do not just display our history; we work amidst it. The original Victorian shop fittings, historic tea urns, and the warm glow of the original lighting are still here, setting the stage just as Henry intended.
This continuity extends to our Recipes Box. We still hand-blend bespoke recipes for the great-grandchildren of our original customers—keeping family traditions alive in every tin.
Bath City Blend
The Legacy BeginsThe Original Hand Blend
Conquering the Water – Bath is built on stone, which makes our city beautiful but our water notoriously hard. Henry Gillard realised early on that the mineral-heavy water was flattening the taste of standard teas. He did not just accept it; he engineered a way around it.
His solution was the Bath City Blend—a radical innovation that remains a closely guarded secret over 135 years later. By expertly blending a precise ratio of fresh Green Tea into the finest Black Tea, he created a cup that cuts through the minerals rather than being suppressed by them.
A Secret Weapon for Hard Water Areas – While Henry designed it for Bath, this blend is the “missing link” for tea lovers in London and the Southeast. If you struggle to get a bright, full flavour from your tap water, the problem is not your kettle—it is your leaf. This is the blend that fixes it.
Historic Hand Blended Recipes
A Sip of History in Each Cup
Uncompromised Quality
Keeping the Recipe Alive – Over the last century, our handwritten archive of blends has grown, but our philosophy has remained strictly Victorian: small batches, blended by hand.
We do not just “follow” our historic recipes; we protect them. Whether it is a blend from 1888 or 1988, we treat it with the same reverence today, ensuring the cup you drink in your home today tastes exactly like the one served in the tea rooms of Bath a century ago.
The Refusal to Compromise – In an era of synthetic sprays and chemical aromas, we stand firm on purity. We believe tea should taste of tea and nature—nothing else.
The Bergamot Rule: We refuse to use synthetic flavourings. Our Bergamot collection teas are infused exclusively with pure Italian Bergamot oil for that authentic, citrus-sharp finish.
The Real Smoke: Our Russian Caravan gets its distinctive depth from traditionally pine-smoked Lapsang Souchong, never from a bottle of liquid smoke.
Entering the 1900s
In Changing Times Our Teas Remain the Same
A Century of Change
The Social Order of the Teapot – As the 20th century dawned, the grand townhouses of Bath were still running on strict Victorian rules. For decades, our order books showed a fascinating pattern: the “Great Houses” would always purchase two specific blends in tandem—one for the drawing room, and one for the scullery.
The “Upstairs” Cup (Guv’nors Blend) – For the master of the house, we created the Guv’nors Blend. Using large-leaf Assam and Darjeeling, it was designed to be smooth, refined, and balanced. It was a tea for leisure—to be sipped slowly from bone china while reading the morning paper.
The “Downstairs” Cup (Household Tea) – For the staff who kept the house running, we blended the Household Tea. This was a “working tea”—using smaller leaves for a faster, stronger infusion. It was bold, punchy, and provided the necessary kick to fuel a 14-hour workday.
Today, the class barriers are gone, but the recipes remain. Whether you prefer the refinement of the Guv’nor or the strength of the Household, you are drinking a piece of Bath’s social history.
Leaving New Bond Street
Retaining a Traditional Experience
Broad Street and Guildhall Market
Moving the Soul of the Shop – The 1970s brought a change of address, but not a change of heart. When Gillards of Bath moved from New Bond Street to a larger space on Broad Street, the new owners made a critical decision: they took the history with them.
In an era of modernization, they painstakingly dismantled and reinstalled Henry Gillard’s original Victorian fittings in the new location. This ensured that while the street name changed, the “Gillards Experience”—the smell of the tea, the glow of the lights, and the warmth of the wood—remained exactly as it was in 1888.
The Heart of the City – In the 1980s, Gillards of Bath moved again and found its spiritual home. We relocated into the historic Guildhall Market, the trading centre of Bath for over 800 years.
Today, we are proud to be the longest-standing merchant inside this iconic site. Surrounded by the buzz of the city and the architecture of the Guildhall, we continue to do exactly what we have done for over a century: serving the people of Bath their daily cup.
A Century of Hand Blending
New Recipes; Artisanal Methods
Over a Century of Blending
The Literary Tribute (Jane Austen Blend) – While our roots are Victorian, our creativity did not stop in the 19th century. In the 1980s, we created a dedicated tribute to Bath’s most famous resident: Jane Austen.
While a lady never reveals her age, this blend has quickly become a modern classic. Designed to capture the elegance of the Regency period, it is delicate, refined, and—much like Jane’s novels—has stood the test of time.
As Seen on Screen (Lady Whistledown’s English Rose) – Today, Bath is as famous for being a film set as it is for its history. From period dramas to global streaming hits, our city’s golden stone is the backdrop for romance and scandal.
Our Lady Whistledown’s English Rose is a nod to this theatrical new era. It is a dramatic, floral blend designed to capture the romance of the ballroom—perfect for spilling the tea, or just drinking it.
The Cosy Innovation (Fireside Brew) – We also continue to experiment with flavour. Taking our historic Russian Caravan—famous for its intense smokiness—we added a creative twist for the modern palate. By introducing a touch of vanilla to the traditional pine smoke, we created the Fireside Brew: a warming, slightly sweet cup that feels like a hug on a cold night.
Into the 21st Century
Traditional, But Not Old Fashioned
Another Century of Change
A Bath Institution (1888–Today) – From the gaslights of the late 19th Century, through the cultural shifts of the 20th, and now into the digital age of the 21st, Gillards of Bath has remained a constant. We have survived wars, recessions, and revolutions, always keeping the tea flowing.
2019: The Next Chapter – In 2019, just months before the world changed with the global pandemic, the keys to the shop were passed to the current owners. It was a baptism by fire that proved one thing: the enduring power of a good cup of tea.
Protecting the Future – We see ourselves not simply as business owners, but as custodians of a cherished brand. Our job is to protect the traditions Henry Gillard started while ensuring they survive for the next century. Through significant investment in our digital home and global reach, we have ensured that whether you are walking into the Guildhall Market or ordering from across the ocean, you have access to the same high-quality, small-batch, hand-blended teas that made us famous.