Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1900 & 09

Charles Henry Hill (1837 - 1900)


Charles Henry Hill was Head Brewer and then Director of Groves and Whitnall's Brewery, on Regent Road, Salford.

 

He was born on 5th February 1837 in Huddersfield. Little is known of his early years, but sometime before 1875 he was working as a Brewer for a small brewery in Ardwick named Beaumont and Heathcote. (According to the Groves and Whitnall's Globe Works website – to which we are indebted), Mr Arthur William Whitnall was determined to make Groves and Whitnall's beers the finest in the district. He sampled all the beers in Manchester and Salford and decided Beaumont and Heathcote was the best. He approached the brewer, Mr Hill and offered him the position of Head Brewer at G & W. Although he was on good terms with his employer Charles was surprised when he was told to take the job as there were plenty of other brewers about! Thus in 1875, Charles Henry Hill became Head Brewer for G & W.

 

Soon after his appointment it was quite evident that Mr Whitnall's judgement had been sound as sales of G & W beer made rapid progress. So popular did they become that there was a long waiting list of customers. He was a born Brewer and had no need for scientific methods.
 

The 1881 census has Charles aged 44, married to Mary Ann and living in a house in the brewery yard, between Nos 2 and 4 Regent Road, Salford. In February 1899, Charles was made a Director of the company. However, on 12th August 1900, shortly after arriving home, he had a seizure and died shortly afterward. He was 63 years of age.

 

The Salford Reporter of 18th August 1900 records, "The remains of the late Mr Charles Henry Hill, manager of Messrs Groves and Whitnall's Brewery, Regent Road, Salford, took place at Salford Cemetery on Wednesday (15 th August) afternoon. For 25 years he had been Chief Brewer in the service of the firm and latterly a Director. He was well known and highly respected. The courtege left his home, Grosvenor House, Withington Road, Whalley Range at about 1 o'clock. The body was enclosed in a sanitary coffin with an outer case of oak and walnut with brass mountings. The inscription read "Charles Henry Hill, born 5th February 1837, died 12th August 1900". The mourners included Mr W.G. Groves, Mr J.G. Groves (Altrincham) and Mr J.G. Groves (Lymm). There were deputations from the North of England Institute of Brewing and the Ardwick Cooperage Company. The service was read by the Rev.D. Pugh.