Thomas Hill (clothing manufacturer)

Hill became the managing partner of the Nottingham branch of I. & R. Morley in 1860 and worked under the renowned abolitionist and MP, Samuel Morley, who introduced pensions and elementary education for his workers.[1]

While managing the operation, Hill opened and developed factories on Manvers Street and Handel Street, Daybrook, as well as several others. He greatly improved the factories with better machinery, lighting and sanitation and was one of the first to introduce steam powered machinery in Nottingham. He also introduced regular working hours and standard wages.[2]

Hill ran his own company, Thomas A. Hill Ltd, which later became Sunspel.[3] It made high quality undergarments from merino wool, cashmere, silk and cotton and operated from a large factory on Castle Gate, Nottingham. Hill introduced modern machinery and ensured working conditions were good, with adequate lighting, ventilation and fire safety drills. His goods were "subjected to a rigid examination by an experienced overlooker whose duty it [was] to inspect every article before finally passing the goods as finished."[4] The firm developed fabrics using modern hosiery machines which included "rib frames, rotary frames, circular and fleecy web frames, circular body and webbing frames with the requisite complement of winding machines."[4] It sold its products to large wholesaler buyers in Britain as well as exporting abroad.

In 1908 Thomas A. Hill Ltd became one of the first companies to sell T-shirts, which were made from rare, extra-long staple Sea island cotton.[5]

Hill died in 1909, being survived by two sons (Charles and Thomas Arthur) and a daughter.[6] His son Thomas Arthur took over the business and in 1934, it changed its name to Sunspel. In 2005 Hill's great-grandson, Peter Hill, sold the firm to Nicholas Brooke.[7]