Arthur George Hill

Dr. Arthur George Hill (1857-1923) was a British organ builder and drawer.

Life

Hill was born to Thomas Hill and Mary Sophie, who was the daughter of Rev. Charles Thorold, Rector of Ludborough, Lincolnshire. He was educated at the Westminster School and subsequently went to study at Jesus College, Cambridge. He took an interest in archaeology and architecture and published several books about Cambridgeshire. In 1882 he became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. 'A note on the author', W.L. Sumner in the 1966 reprint of Hill's "The organ-cases and organs of the Middle Ages and Renaissance" published by Frits Knuf, Hilversum]

When he left Cambridge he began work at the organ building company that his grandfather William Hill had founded. Thomas Hill had been the head of the company since William's death in 1871, and when Thomas died in 1893 Arthur took over. He led the company until its merger with the firm of Norman & Beard in 1916. ["Obituary: Arthur George Hill", The Musical Times, Vol. 64, No. 965 (Jul. 1, 1923), p. 507.]

He married Amy Williams in 1886 and had two daughters. He became a "Docteur des lettres" at the University of Lille in 1913 on a thesis called "Christian Art in Spain".

References

Publications

* Christian art in Spain (1913), doctoral dissertation
* The architectural history of the Christian church (1908)
* The organ-cases and organs of the Middle Ages and Renaissance (1883)
* The tourist's guide to Cambridgeshire (1882)
* The churches of Cambridgeshire (1880)