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Hilhouse

December 07, 2023

Hilhouse (also spelled Hillhouse) was a shipbuilder in Bristol, England, who built merchantman and men-of-war during the 18th and 19th centuries. The company subsequently became Charles Hill & Sons in 1845.[1]

Hilhouse
TypePrivate
IndustryShipbuilding, Shipowner
Founded1772
Defunct1845
FateClosed
SuccessorYard taken over by Charles Hill & Sons
HeadquartersRiver Avon, UK
Key people
J.M. Hilhouse (founder),
George Hilhouse (son),
Charles Hill

The company, and its successor Charles Hill & Sons, were the most important shipbuilders in Bristol,[2] and taking the concern together built over 560 ships over their 200 years of existence.

History edit

Origins edit

 
HMS Cleopatra, launched by James Martin Hilhouse on 26 November 1779, as depicted by Nicholas Pocock.
 
Silhouette of the ship-of-the-line Nassau launched on 28 September 1785 by Hilhouse in Bristol.

The shipbuilding concern Hilhouse and Company was first established in 1772[3] by James Martin Hilhouse (1749–1822),[4] after inheriting a fortune from his father, James Hilhouse, a Bristol Sheriff and councillor who also ran a successful privateering venture. The company acquired the large Hotwells drydock, built by the engineer William Champion in 1765 on the north side of the River Avon, to build merchantman and undertake ship repair work. From 1778, Hilhouse secured Admiralty contracts for warships following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, including for the fourth rate Trusty.[5]

On 28 September 1785, Hilhouse launched the 1,406 tonne 64-gun Ardent-class ship of the line Nassau, which was the largest ship yet built in Bristol.[6] By 1786 they had built twelve warships of 3rd to 6th rates before orders became dominated by merchantmen.

Hilhouse and Company-built ships edit

Major ships built by Hilhouse and Company:

  • Exeter (1776), 300 tons (bm) West Indiaman.
  • Medea (1778). 611 tons (bm) 28-gun sixth-rate frigate.
  • Cleopatra (1779). 689 tons (bm) 32-gun fifth-rate frigate.
  • Crescent (1779). 689 tons (bm) 28-gun sixth-rate frigate.
  • Mars (1779). 600 tons (bm) privateer frigate.
  • Termagant (1780). 26-gun sloop.
  • Arethusa (1781). 948 tons (bm) 38-gun fifth-rate frigate.
  • Trusty (1782). 1,000 tons (bm) 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line.
  • Serapis (1782). 900 tons (bm) 44-gun fifth-rate frigate.
  • Charon (1783). 900 tons (bm) 44-gun fifth-rate frigate.
  • Nassau (1785). 1,200 tons (bm) 64-gun third-rate ship of the line.
  • Melampus (1785). 939 tons (bm) 36-gun fifth-rate frigate.
  • Severn (1786). 900 tons (bm) 44-gun fifth-rate frigate.
  • Pilgrim (1786). 306 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Marquis of Worcester (1787). 315 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Diomede (1795). 891 tons (bm) 44-gun fifth-rate frigate.
  • Fame. 492 tons (bm) Intended as a West Indiaman but employed as an East Indiaman.
  • Hope (1801). 216 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Concord (1801). 317 tons (bm) merchant vessel.

Hilhouse & Sons-built ships edit

In 1803 the company became Hilhouse & Sons and Company[1] and expansion continued. By 1810, Charles Hill had joined the firm, and Hilhouse had acquired two further dockyards in city,[6] Wapping dockyard, near Prince Street in 1813, and Limekiln Dock, on Gasferry Lane on the north side of the river in 1820. In 1814 the company built the first steamboat in Bristol, the Charlotte and Hope.[7] In 1820 the company developed New Dockyard opposite the original site at Hotwells, what was to become the Albion Yard, and built two wet docks, a dry dock and building berths. This lead within 4 years to the closure of both the Wapping and Hotwells Dockyards.[6] The West Indiaman Weare of 446 t was the first launch from the Albion Yard in 1820.

During the 1830s and 1840s William Patterson launched the ground-breaking Great Western and Great Britain steamships in the adjacent Bristol dockyard, and the company subsequently lost out on important subsequent orders.[6]

 
French frigates Cybèle and Prudente battling HMS Centurion and the Hilhouse-built HMS Diomede (in the centre), on 17 December 1794
 
The site of the Hilhouse built Albion Yard today, now occupied by Abels Shipbuilders and Baltic Wharf Marina

Major ships built by Hilhouse & Sons and Company:

  • Albacore (1804). 18-gun sloop-of-war.
  • St Vincent (1804). 493 tons (bm) West Indiaman.
  • Fame (1805). 401 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Nelson (1807). 580 tons (bm) West Indiaman.
  • Severn (1806 ship). 478 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • William Miles (1808 ship), 577 tons (bm) West Indiaman.
  • Lady Carrington (1809 ship). 471 tons (bm) merchant vessel; 564 tons (bm) East Indiaman.
  • Sarah (1810 ship), 500 tons (bm) West Indiaman.
  • Charlotte (1810). 427 tons (bm) West Indiaman.
  • Bernard (1813). 468 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Princess Charlotte (1814). 411 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Charlotte and Hope (1814). Wooden paddle-wheel steamer.
  • Kingston (1817). 431 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Henry Porcher (1817 ship). 485 t East Indiaman.
  • Woodford (1819 ship) 544 tons (bm) (bm), merchant vessel
  • Weare (1820). 446 tons (bm) West Indiaman.
  • George IV (1821). 135 tons (bm) wooden paddle-wheel steamer.
  • Viscount Palmerston (1821). 188 tons (bm) wooden paddle-wheel steamer.
  • Hero (1823). 402 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Elphinstone (1825). 420 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Lord William Bentinck (1828), 564 tons (bm), made one voyage for the British East India Company and one voyage transporting convicts to Tasmania. Wrecked with great loss of life at Bombay on 20 June 1840.
  • Reliance (1831 ship), 337 tons (bm), wrecked 1836.
  • Elizabeth (1832). 445 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Orestes (1835). 529 tons (bm) East Indiaman.
  • Princess Royal (1841). 462 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Duke of Cornwall (1843). 505 tons (bm) merchant vessel.
  • Manuela (1843). 348 tons (bm) barque, the last ship built by Hilhouse.

Enter Charles Hill edit

In 1824 the company became George Hilhouse & Company, and the following year a young shipwright by the name of Charles Hill became a partner, eventually leading in 1840 to the name of the business becoming Hilhouse, Hill & Company.[6] Charles Hill subsequently took over running more and more of the business, and in 1845 he took sole control of the business and the firm became Charles Hill & Sons.

The Hilhouse built Albion Yard has continued in use up until this day, as Abels Shipbuilders to 2016, and later reopening as Albion Dock.[8]

 
Bristol Shipyards with the various locations of Hilhouse highlighted. They operated five different sites in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Portraits edit

A pair of portraits of Mr. and Mrs. James Martin Hilhouse by Thomas Hudson were once owned by American preservationist Jim Williams. They hung in the dining room of his Mercer House home, until they were sold at a Sotheby's auction by his sister in 2000, ten years after Williams' death.[9][10]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b . Memories of Bristol England Past & Present. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  2. ^ Farr, Graeme (1977). Shipbuilding in the Port of Bristol National Maritime Museum Maritime Monographs and Reports. p3
  3. ^ "Charles Hill and Sons". Grace's Guides. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  4. ^ "James Martin Hilhouse (1749-1822): Ships for the Navy" - Bristol Museum
  5. ^ Winfield, Rif (2005). The 50-Gun Ship A Complete History Mercury Books. ISBN 1-84560-009-6. pp. 58-61
  6. ^ a b c d e Hill, John (1981). Shipshape & Bristol Fashion. Bristol: Redcliffe. ISBN 0-905459-70-9. various
  7. ^ . Bristol Railway Archive. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  8. ^ History - Albion Dock Company, March 7, 2021
  9. ^ "The Furnishings: Mercer House" - The Devoted Classicist, December 16, 2011
  10. ^ "MERCER HOUSE, SAVANNAH. THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE JAMES A. WILLIAMS. CONTENTS TO BE SOLD BY SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 20" - Sothebys

References edit

Hillhouse, Helen T. & Laurens Petigru (1959) Hillhouse.

December 07, 2023
hilhouse, also, spelled, hillhouse, shipbuilder, bristol, england, built, merchantman, during, 18th, 19th, centuries, company, subsequently, became, charles, hill, sons, 1845, typeprivateindustryshipbuilding, shipownerfounded1772defunct1845fateclosedsuccessory. Hilhouse also spelled Hillhouse was a shipbuilder in Bristol England who built merchantman and men of war during the 18th and 19th centuries The company subsequently became Charles Hill amp Sons in 1845 1 HilhouseTypePrivateIndustryShipbuilding ShipownerFounded1772Defunct1845FateClosedSuccessorYard taken over by Charles Hill amp SonsHeadquartersRiver Avon UKKey peopleJ M Hilhouse founder George Hilhouse son Charles HillThe company and its successor Charles Hill amp Sons were the most important shipbuilders in Bristol 2 and taking the concern together built over 560 ships over their 200 years of existence Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins 1 2 Hilhouse and Company built ships 1 3 Hilhouse amp Sons built ships 1 4 Enter Charles Hill 2 Portraits 3 Notes 4 ReferencesHistory editOrigins edit nbsp HMS Cleopatra launched by James Martin Hilhouse on 26 November 1779 as depicted by Nicholas Pocock nbsp Silhouette of the ship of the line Nassau launched on 28 September 1785 by Hilhouse in Bristol The shipbuilding concern Hilhouse and Company was first established in 1772 3 by James Martin Hilhouse 1749 1822 4 after inheriting a fortune from his father James Hilhouse a Bristol Sheriff and councillor who also ran a successful privateering venture The company acquired the large Hotwells drydock built by the engineer William Champion in 1765 on the north side of the River Avon to build merchantman and undertake ship repair work From 1778 Hilhouse secured Admiralty contracts for warships following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War including for the fourth rate Trusty 5 On 28 September 1785 Hilhouse launched the 1 406 tonne 64 gun Ardent class ship of the line Nassau which was the largest ship yet built in Bristol 6 By 1786 they had built twelve warships of 3rd to 6th rates before orders became dominated by merchantmen Hilhouse and Company built ships edit Major ships built by Hilhouse and Company Exeter 1776 300 tons bm West Indiaman Medea 1778 611 tons bm 28 gun sixth rate frigate Cleopatra 1779 689 tons bm 32 gun fifth rate frigate Crescent 1779 689 tons bm 28 gun sixth rate frigate Mars 1779 600 tons bm privateer frigate Termagant 1780 26 gun sloop Arethusa 1781 948 tons bm 38 gun fifth rate frigate Trusty 1782 1 000 tons bm 50 gun fourth rate ship of the line Serapis 1782 900 tons bm 44 gun fifth rate frigate Charon 1783 900 tons bm 44 gun fifth rate frigate Nassau 1785 1 200 tons bm 64 gun third rate ship of the line Melampus 1785 939 tons bm 36 gun fifth rate frigate Severn 1786 900 tons bm 44 gun fifth rate frigate Pilgrim 1786 306 tons bm merchant vessel Marquis of Worcester 1787 315 tons bm merchant vessel Diomede 1795 891 tons bm 44 gun fifth rate frigate Fame 492 tons bm Intended as a West Indiaman but employed as an East Indiaman Hope 1801 216 tons bm merchant vessel Concord 1801 317 tons bm merchant vessel Hilhouse amp Sons built ships edit In 1803 the company became Hilhouse amp Sons and Company 1 and expansion continued By 1810 Charles Hill had joined the firm and Hilhouse had acquired two further dockyards in city 6 Wapping dockyard near Prince Street in 1813 and Limekiln Dock on Gasferry Lane on the north side of the river in 1820 In 1814 the company built the first steamboat in Bristol the Charlotte and Hope 7 In 1820 the company developed New Dockyard opposite the original site at Hotwells what was to become the Albion Yard and built two wet docks a dry dock and building berths This lead within 4 years to the closure of both the Wapping and Hotwells Dockyards 6 The West Indiaman Weare of 446 t was the first launch from the Albion Yard in 1820 During the 1830s and 1840s William Patterson launched the ground breaking Great Western and Great Britain steamships in the adjacent Bristol dockyard and the company subsequently lost out on important subsequent orders 6 nbsp French frigates Cybele and Prudente battling HMS Centurion and the Hilhouse built HMS Diomede in the centre on 17 December 1794 nbsp The site of the Hilhouse built Albion Yard today now occupied by Abels Shipbuilders and Baltic Wharf MarinaMajor ships built by Hilhouse amp Sons and Company Albacore 1804 18 gun sloop of war St Vincent 1804 493 tons bm West Indiaman Fame 1805 401 tons bm merchant vessel Nelson 1807 580 tons bm West Indiaman Severn 1806 ship 478 tons bm merchant vessel William Miles 1808 ship 577 tons bm West Indiaman Lady Carrington 1809 ship 471 tons bm merchant vessel 564 tons bm East Indiaman Sarah 1810 ship 500 tons bm West Indiaman Charlotte 1810 427 tons bm West Indiaman Bernard 1813 468 tons bm merchant vessel Princess Charlotte 1814 411 tons bm merchant vessel Charlotte and Hope 1814 Wooden paddle wheel steamer Kingston 1817 431 tons bm merchant vessel Henry Porcher 1817 ship 485 t East Indiaman Woodford 1819 ship 544 tons bm bm merchant vessel Weare 1820 446 tons bm West Indiaman George IV 1821 135 tons bm wooden paddle wheel steamer Viscount Palmerston 1821 188 tons bm wooden paddle wheel steamer Hero 1823 402 tons bm merchant vessel Elphinstone 1825 420 tons bm merchant vessel Lord William Bentinck 1828 564 tons bm made one voyage for the British East India Company and one voyage transporting convicts to Tasmania Wrecked with great loss of life at Bombay on 20 June 1840 Reliance 1831 ship 337 tons bm wrecked 1836 Elizabeth 1832 445 tons bm merchant vessel Orestes 1835 529 tons bm East Indiaman Princess Royal 1841 462 tons bm merchant vessel Duke of Cornwall 1843 505 tons bm merchant vessel Manuela 1843 348 tons bm barque the last ship built by Hilhouse Enter Charles Hill edit In 1824 the company became George Hilhouse amp Company and the following year a young shipwright by the name of Charles Hill became a partner eventually leading in 1840 to the name of the business becoming Hilhouse Hill amp Company 6 Charles Hill subsequently took over running more and more of the business and in 1845 he took sole control of the business and the firm became Charles Hill amp Sons The Hilhouse built Albion Yard has continued in use up until this day as Abels Shipbuilders to 2016 and later reopening as Albion Dock 8 nbsp Bristol Shipyards with the various locations of Hilhouse highlighted They operated five different sites in the 18th and 19th centuries Portraits editA pair of portraits of Mr and Mrs James Martin Hilhouse by Thomas Hudson were once owned by American preservationist Jim Williams They hung in the dining room of his Mercer House home until they were sold at a Sotheby s auction by his sister in 2000 ten years after Williams death 9 10 Notes edit a b The Story of Charles Hill amp Sons Memories of Bristol England Past amp Present Archived from the original on 2 July 2007 Retrieved 7 December 2007 Farr Graeme 1977 Shipbuilding in the Port of Bristol National Maritime Museum Maritime Monographs and Reports p3 Charles Hill and Sons Grace s Guides Retrieved 7 December 2007 James Martin Hilhouse 1749 1822 Ships for the Navy Bristol Museum Winfield Rif 2005 The 50 Gun Ship A Complete History Mercury Books ISBN 1 84560 009 6 pp 58 61 a b c d e Hill John 1981 Shipshape amp Bristol Fashion Bristol Redcliffe ISBN 0 905459 70 9 various The Albion Dockyard Bristol Railway Archive Archived from the original on 25 October 2007 Retrieved 7 December 2007 History Albion Dock Company March 7 2021 The Furnishings Mercer House The Devoted Classicist December 16 2011 MERCER HOUSE SAVANNAH THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE JAMES A WILLIAMS CONTENTS TO BE SOLD BY SOTHEBY S NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 20 SothebysReferences editHillhouse Helen T amp Laurens Petigru 1959 Hillhouse Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hilhouse amp oldid 1186351816, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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