Hill, Daniel Rowlinson 1809 - 1857

Daniel Rowlinson Hill was born at St. Martin's, Islington, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England on 12 June 1809. Nothing is known about his early education. In 1829 he was articled to the Birmingham architect Thomas Rickman (1776-1841). By 1833 he identified as an architect and was living at 4 Bennett's Hill, Birmingham [source: ancestry.com].  In 1834 he set up his own architectural practice in an office in Union Passage, Birmingham. In the 1850s he took William Martin (1828-1900) into partnership as Hill & Martin. In the 1840s he began to specialise in the design of prisons which he built in various parts of the country.

Hill was a member of the Birmingham Architectural Society and its first President. His address was given as Camden Villa, Warstone Lane, Birmingham in 1850; and 5 Lees Drive, Warstone Road, Birmingham in 1851. He died at 39 Frederick Street, Birmingham on 1 May 1857. Following his death William Martin continued the practice until 1864.

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Obituary of Daniel Rowlinson Hill in The Civil Engineer and Architectural Journal vol. 20, no. 279, June 1857 p. 201:

"On the 15th ult, Mr. Daniel Rowlinson Hill, borough architect of Birmingham. Among his principal works are the borough gaol and lunatic asylum at Birmingham. He had largely distinguished himself in the erection of prisons. The Surrey gaol was his work; he was also engaged to erect the county prison at Lewes; and, at the time of his death, he and his partner, Mr. W. Martin, were employed in designing or executing several of these important buildings in various parts of England. The Birmingham Architectural Society, at its annual meeting since held, resolved "that, in consequence of the respected member and first president of the society, Mr. Hill, all the business of the meeting should be postponed, and the members should manifest their respect by attending the funeral".