Hilhouse

Hilhouse 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 1845cite web | title=The Story of Charles Hill & Sons | work=Memories of Bristol England Past & Present | url=http://weldgen.tripod.com/memories-of-bristol-england-past-present/id19.html | accessdate=2007-12-07] .

The shipbuilding concern Hilhouse and Company was first established in 1772 [cite web | title=Charles Hill and Sons | work=Grace's Guides | url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/index.php?title=Charles_Hill_and_Sons&printable=yes&printable=yes | accessdate=2007-12-07] by James Martin Hilhouse, 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" [Winfield, Rif (2005). "The 50-Gun Ship A Complete History" Mercury Books. ISBN 1-845690-09-6 p58-61 ] .

In 1780 the company expanded and built a second yard opposite Hotwells on the south side of the river, on the site of the present Albion Yard. On 20 September 1785, Hilhouse launched the 1,200 tonne ship of the line "Nassau", which was the largest ship yet built in Bristol.Hill, John (1981). "Shipshape & Bristol Fashion". Bristol: Redcliffe. ISBN 0-905459-70-9. various ] .

Hilhouse and Company built ships

Major ships built by Hilhouse and Company:
*"Exeter" (1776), 300t West Indiaman.
*"Medea" (1778). 611t 28-gun sixth rate frigate.
*"Cleopatra" (1779). 689t 32-gun fifth rate frigate.
*"Crescent" (1779). 689t 28-gun sixth rate frigate.
*"Mars" (1779). 600t privateer frigate.
*"Termagant" (1780). 26-gun sloop.
*"Arethusa" (1781). 948t 38 gun fifth rate frigate.
*"Trusty" (1782). 1000t 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line.
*"Serapis" (1782). 900t 44-gun fifth rate frigate.
*"Charon" (1783). 900t 44-gun fifth rate frigate.
*"Nassau" (1785). 1200t 74-gun third rate ship of the line.
*"Melampus" (1785). 939t 36-gun fifth rate frigate.
*"Severn" (1786). 900t 44-gun fifth rate frigate.
*"Pilgrim" (1786). 306t merchantman.
*"Marquis of Worcester" (1787). 315t merchantman.
*"Diomede" (1795). 891t 44-gun fifth rate frigate.
*"Fame" (1801). 492t East Indiaman.
*"Hope" (1801). 216t merchantman.
*"Concord" (1801). 317t merchantman.

Hilhouse & Sons built ships

In 1803 the company became Hilhouse & Sons and Company and expansion continued. By 1810, Charles Hill had joined the firm, and Hilhouse had acquired two further dockyards in city, Limekiln Dock, on Gasferry Lane on the north side of the river in about 1800, and Wapping dockyard, near Prince Street in about 1810. In 1814 the company built the first steamboat in Bristol, the "Charlotte and Hope" [cite web | title=The Albion Dockyard | work=Bristol Railway Archive | url=http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/albiondockyard.php | accessdate=2007-12-07] . In 1820 the company developed what was to become the Albion Yard, and built two wet docks, a dry dock and building berths, leading to the closure of the Wapping and Hotwells Dockyards. During the 1830s and 1840s William Patterson launched the ground breaking SS Great Western and SS Great Britain steamships in the adjacent Bristol dockyard, and the company subsequently lost out on important subsequent orders.

Major ships built by Hilhouse & Sons and Company:
*"Albacore" (1804). 18-gun sloop-of-war.
*"St Vincent" (1804). 493t West Indiaman.
*"Fame" (1805). 401t merchantman.
*"Nelson" (1807). 580t West Indiaman.
*"Severn" (1807). 478t merchantman.
*"William Miles" (1808). 577t West Indiaman.
*"Lady Carrington" (1809). 471t merchant ship.
*"Sarah" (1810). 500t West Indiaman.
*"Charlotte" (1810). 427t West Indiaman.
*"Bernard" (1813). 468t merchantman.
*"Princess Charlotte" (1813). 411t merchantman.
*"Charlotte and Hope" (1814). Wooden paddle-wheel steamer.
*"Kingston" (1817). 431t merchantman.
*"Henry Porcher" (1817). 485t East Indiaman.
*"George IV" (1821). 135t wooden paddle-wheel steamer.
*"Viscount Palmerston" (1821). 188t wooden paddle-wheel steamer.
*"Hero" (1823). 402t merchantman.
*"Elphinstone" (1825). 420t merchantman.
*"Lord William Bentinck" (1828). 564t East Indiaman.
*"Elizabeth" (1832). 445t merchantman.
*"Orestes" (1835). 529t East Indiaman.
*"Princess Royal" (1841). 462t merchantman.
*"Duke of Cornwall" (1843). 505t merchantman.

In 1825 Charles Hill became a partner, and in 1840 the name of the business became Hilhouse & Hill. He subsequently took over running more and more of the business. In 1845 he took sole control of the business and the firm became Charles Hill & Son.

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