by Anne Hayes - Hills Group

Purton Brickworks, run for many years byHarold Hill and later by son VictorBy 1900, at the age of 28, he was working for himself at theMorris Street Brickworks in Rodbourne. Six years laterEdward acquired three brickworks – at Kingshill, atBadbury and at Purton. By then trading as E Hill, he neverlooked back.The Purton works was to become the main brickworks ofthe growing company. In the years before the First WorldWar Edward made an agreement with GWR for the use ofrail sidings close to the claypit to speed the despatch of hisproducts. Other improvements were made and Purtonvillagers soon had a new landmark – a 100ft brick chimney.Stacking the continuous kiln atPurton, left to right, R. Bastin,G. Woolford, A. Kinnet andK. ZeleckThe 1914-18 war proved a significant period for thecompany. As well as stimulating increased brick production,it led to diversification and the start of Hills fleet of lorries,both steam and petrol-driven. After the war, Edward beganto dig gravel in South Cerney; prospecting for gravel was tobecome a major part of his life. He also bought or leased astone quarry at Stratton, Cirencester.The clay pit at PurtonThe Earl KitchenerChimneys at Purton7