Charles Hill and Sons

Charles Hill and Sons grew out of the interests of the Hillhouse family who were a family of Bristol shipowners. They set up their first yard in 1772 in a dry dock and yard at Hotwells in Bristol.

Shipbuilding

• 1800s - During the early nineteenth century the Hillhouse's built twenty wooden warships before establishing their first company, the Bristol Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. in 1836 they then built a number of sailing ships. In 1840, Charles Hill worked at the yard and the company was renamed as Hillhouse and Hill before becoming Charles Hill and Sons in 1845. The first iron ship was built in 1881 at the Albion yard followed by a number of steel sailing ships. In 1879 Charles Hill and Sons established the Bristol City Line which was a transatlantic service between Bristol and New York.
• 1900s - The early 1900s were typified by the construction of coasters, steel hulled ships, along with tugs and barges.
• First World War - The yard made coasters, standard "D" type colliers, and six standard "H" type colliers.
• 1920s - The yard continued making large ships for Spanish, Scottish and Welsh companies along with large steamships and coastal tankers and dry cargo coasters for Shell Mex and B.P. Ltd.
• 1930s - The yard rode out the Depression thanks to the continual demand for motor barges, "Flower" class corvettes and frigates (which were the key output during World War II as well).
• World War II - As well as the above, the Ministry of War Transport also ordered six "Bird" class barges. Bombing during the War caused minor damage to the four berths and dry docks.
• 1950s - The post war period saw a return to pleasure paddle steamers, lightships, Bristol dredgers and hoppers along with several tugs and a steam salvage tug.
• 1960s - The 60s began with the construction of a large tanker followed by coasters, ferries and other large ships.
• 1970s - The yard closed in 1975 when it ran out of money and was unable to secure any Government funding. The site of the shipyard is now a marina and it contains the restored Bristol steamship, Great Britain, which was the first screw driven steamer in the world.

Sources of Information

British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss