by Anne Hayes - Hills Group

THE first member of the family to establishhimself in Swindon was Edward Hill, thecompany founder’s father who came from nearWeston-super-Mare. His family had long beeninvolved in brick and tile-making and with boats,in Somerset.Edward settled in Stratton St Margaret in themiddle of the 19th century, and married a localgirl, Emily Iles. He gave up hauling coal inbarges and worked as a master craftsman atStratton Potteries. Later, he managed three localbrickworks. The family became PrimitiveMethodists and eldest son, William, was wellknown as a preacher.The bold spirit of the family was clearlydemonstrated by Edward’s second son, alsoEdward. In 1891 at the age of 19, he and afriend spent two years in the United States,working for a time in a brickworks – anepisode which was to influence much of hislater thinking about brick production.There is a family legend that Edward workedas an engine driver for the Great WesternRailway. What is certain is that soon after hisreturn from America he took on themanagement of the Transfer Brickworks inCounty Road, Swindon.6