Gilliver

[Siely]

A bit of interesting TV trivia for Gillivers out there.

The eleventh Doctor Who was actor Matt Smith.  In the eleventh episode of series seven entitled "The Crimson Horror" the character Mrs Gillyflower was played by none other than Dame Diana Rigg.

[Siely]

In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer he lmentions gillyflowers as a flavouring of ale in "The Tale of Sir Thopas"

"There spryngen herbes grete and smale, / The lycorys and the cetewale, / And many a clowe-gylofre; / And notemuge to putte in ale,"

clowe-gylofre translates as clove-gillyflower

Harvard's Geoffrey Chaucer Website.

[Siely]

Reference to reply#10 of wider interest is the family connection between Chaucer and John of Gaunt (his patron)
"Chaucer's wife, Philippa, was the sister of Katherine Swynford, who became John of Gaunt's mistress and later his wife." AI Google.)

[Siely]

John Gilliver was publican of Black Horse in Sheepy Magna around 1790 and nearest house was Groby Hall of the Grey family (Earls of Stamford).  Groby Hall is associated with two Queens, Elizabeth Woodville and Lady Jane Grey, but main Grey family seat was Dunham Massey, Cheshire (now a National Trust property).

(On the other hand some controversy associated with the 8th Earl of Stamford Harry Grey who was a priest sent to South Africa.  The wife of the 7th Esrl was famous for being a trick horse rider in Astley's Circus ! quite a family.)

[Siely]

The 7th Countess, circus performer, was Catherine Cox.