Our History
Gunn was founded in 1890 by the Gunn brothers, and the company initially supplied tools and equipment to the civil engineering and building industries. A pivotal moment occurred in 1958 when Gunn became an official JCB dealer. This partnership was forged after Michael Gunn outbid Joe Bamford for four Backhoe Loaders, leading Bamford to invite Gunn to sell JCB products rather than compete against them. Under the leadership of Michael and John Gunn, the company continued to thrive.
The 1960s and 1970s were marked by significant expansion. In 1962, Tom Young joined the company, and by 1968, Gunn JCB Ltd was officially established with Young as its Managing Director. The company expanded into North Wales and Garstang, near Preston, opening new depots modelled after their head office in Altrincham. By 1972, Gunn achieved an impressive turnover of £3 million, selling 405 units and exporting used equipment worth £65,000 to Europe and the Middle and Far East.
In 1975, the Gunn group of companies was acquired by Hewden Stuart PLC. Further restructuring occurred in 1998 when Gunn JCB was divided into Northern and Midlands divisions, each with its own operational management. The Northern division, covering areas including Lancashire and Manchester, was managed by John Davies, while the Midlands team, serving Shropshire and North Wales, was led by Keith Bastock.
The early 2000s saw continued growth, with the official opening of Gunn JCB Midlands in 2002. However, in 2023, Gunn sold its Midlands depots, which then became Midlands JCB. Most recently, in 2024, TCH Group officially acquired Gunn JCB, welcoming Gunn into the TCH family and marking an exciting new chapter in its storied history.