George Hill continues to build after 95 years

Established in 1919, family-run timber merchant George Hill is celebrating its 95th year of successful trading.

The company, in Scottfield Road, Oldham, employs 45 staff and is one of the North-West’s major timber suppliers.

Inspired by the timber business in America while spending some time there in the early 1900s, the firm was established in Oldham by Saddleworth farmer George Hill, brother Roland and son Wilfred.

When George Hill died in 1948 the business passed to his two sons, George and Wilfred, who began to specialise in their own areas of purchasing and production.

The business flourished during the post-war housing boom and in 1960 the brothers bought a five-acre site at Scottfield from the council.

The founder’s grandson, George Frank Hill III, died in August 2014, and the company is now run by his daughter, Jayne Hill, son in law Andy Taylor and son George William Hill.