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1854
John Lay acquires the business of Salmon & Son, Wine Merchants.
John Lay came from an old Colchester Quaker family. The Silhouette emblem of his father John Sarjant Lay became the company logo was used until 2004. Lay was secretary of the local hospital and became Alderman of the Borough.
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1862
John Lay relocates to larger premises 10 High Street.
The business remained in these, or part of these premises for over 130 years, and for much of this time the building was also the Wheeler family residence.
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1883
Lay's nephew George Wheeler, from an old farming family, joined the business, subsequently renamed Lay & Wheeler
John Lay was a bachelor and as the business grew he invited the husband of his niece to join him.
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1895
John Fredrick Wheeler becomes sole proprietor following the death of both John Lay and George Wheeler.
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1937
John Wheeler was brought into the partnership by his mother, May Wheeler.
Following John Fredrick's death in 1923, his wife May owned the business, run with her son George.
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1937
Business relocates to 6 Culver Street.
Lay & Wheeler delivered orders to customers' 'motors', stationed on the newly created 'car park', land which is now the Culver Center.
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1958
Lay & Wheeler Ltd. incorporated.
John Wheeler's son, Richard, a director, became Managing Director in the late 1960s.
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1960
Wine cellared for customers for first time.
The widening interest in fine wine, and the building of modern houses with more efficient heating and without the need for cellars, led inevitably to the provision of cellarage and to what has become a Lay & Wheeler speciality. Principally port at this time was cellared.
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1964
Lay & Wheeler's first national press tasting of Bordeaux' top wines.
A depressed market in the early sixties permitted an ambitious company to acquire stocks of the great 1961 vintage at favourable prices. It was Richard Wheeler's foresight to offer these to journalists of the day to taste 'without the need to travel to Bordeaux'.
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1968
Trade depot re-locates to purpose-built premises in Gosbecks Road.
The Culver Street premises incorporated initially stabling for horse-drawn drays as well as a cramped bottling cellar, and subsequently commercial storage for goods marshalled for delivery to both trade and private customers.
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1973
Cessation of Colchester bottling of Lay & Wheeler labels.
EEC regulations come into force marking the closure of one life-form of the wine merchant, indeed its initial raison d'être, the agent responsible for reducing the unit size from barrel to bottle. Wine was now more safely bottled at source. Guinness continued to be bottled until 1982.
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1980
New Trade Distribution depot created at Peddars Close, Shrub End, Colchester.
An agreement with Suffolk brewers Adnams led to the creation of a substantial 'real beer' wholesaling business, servicing free houses throughout the region. In 1984 Lay & Wheeler opened 'Clipper', a cash & carry for the licensed house trade.
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1980
First full size Mail Order Wine List published.
A decision was taken at Board level to create, as quickly as possible, the finest merchant's wine list in the country. John Thorogood, wine buyer, was charged with the task.
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1981/2
Three Lay & Wheeler wine shops opened in Essex.
As the demand for wine grew, the company took the initiative to build an enlarged customer base in the increasingly wealthy commuter belt of the south of Essex.
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1983
Wine Workshop, Garrison Officers Club, Colchester.
Rising star of wine journalism Jancis Robinson was invited to present 'Ten Great Vignerons', including Yquem, Vollrads, Mondavi, Prüm, Hugel and Ausone.
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