Oliver Falvey Hill [commonly known as Oliver Hill] was born in London, England on 15 June 1887. Following school he was apprenticed to a firm of builders. Between 1907-10 he was articled to William Flockhart (1852-1913) . He also studied part-time at the Architectural Association, London.
Hill began in private practice in 1912. Following service in the Army during World War One (1914-18), he built up a highly successful practice as both an architect, interior designer and exhibition designer. His early work in the 1920s, such as Sandhill, Aldeburgh (1923-25), Cock Rock, Croyde (1925-26) and Knowle, Warwickshire (1923-29), show the influence of Edwin Lutyens, a family friend. The influence of Hollywood has been detected in Hill’s work during the late 1920s, particularly in some of his Spanish hacienda style houses, such as Marylands, Hartwood (1928-29).
Following a visit to the Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 he seems to have embraced Modernism. His first project in the Modernist style is generally accepted to have been Joldwynds, Holmbury St Mary (1932-34). Other significant architectural projects in the 1930s included the Midland Hotel, Morcambe (1932-33), Frinton Park Court, Frinton on Sea (1934) and Landfall, Poole (1936-38). For these and other projects Hill commissioned decorative features by several of the leading contemporary artists and designers including Marion Dorn, Eric Gill, Syrie Maugham, Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious.
Hill also contributed to the design of some of the most important architecture and design exhibitions in Britain in the 1930s including the industrial art exhibitions at Dorland Hall Exhibition, London (1933, 1934), and the Royal Academy, London (1935); and designed the British Pavilion at the 1937 Exposition des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in Paris. In 1930 Hill set up the short-lived Rondo company with the purpose of displaying and marketing modern decorative art.
Hill’s architectural work following World War Two show a reversion to his Lutyenesque style of the 1920s. In 1951 he designed the ‘Cotswold Tradition’ exhibition, which coincided with the Festival of Britain that year.
Hill wrote, or co-authored a number of books on architecture including 'Balbus': A Picture Book of Building', with Hans Tisdall (London: Pleides Books Ltd., 1944), 'Fair Horizons: Buildings of Today' (London: Collins, 1950), 'Scottish Castles of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries' (London: Country Life, 1953), and 'English Country Houses: Caroline 1625-1685' (London: Country Life, 1966).
In addition to his work as an architect, Hill was a photographer. Books of his photographs include 'The Garden of Adonis' (London: Philip Alan, 1923), 'Pan's Garden' (London: Philip Allan, 1928), 'Pan's Children' (London: Philip Allan, 1928), 'Jonquil' (London: Philip Allan, 1930). Hill died at his home on 29 April 1968.
Moor Close, Binfield, Berkshire - alterations and additions (1910-13); Gallery at Aston Abbots for Henry Lowenfeld (1911); London Scottish Regimental Monument, Messines, Belgium (1920); Cour, Kintyre, Argylelshire - new house, power house and estate cottages for J. B. Gray (1920); Lyne Grove, Virginia Water, Berkshire (alterations and decorations 1920); 19 West Eaton Place, London - reconstruction of mews for Mrs William Neave Hill (1921); houses in Stonebridge Way, Wembley Hill Garden Suburb (1922); Popeswood Lodge, Popeswood, Binfield, Berkshire - alterations and decorations (1922); 5-9 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London - premises for Philip Alan, publisher (1922-23); Wilbraham House, D'Oyley Street, London - new house and garden for Dr. Lindley Scott (1922-23); 49 Great Cumberland Place, London - interior decoration (19230; Chantry House, London - interior decoration (1923); Prinsted Farmhouth, Southbourne, West Sussex (1923-24); Fox Steep, Wargrave, Berkshire - conversion of an old inn for Donald van den Bergh (1923-25); The Thatched House, Knowle - new house and garden for Gilbert Edgar (1923-29); Sandhill, Priors Hill Road, Aldburgh, Suffolk (1923-25); 15 Hill Street, London - new bay, porch and internal decorations (1923-26); Venice Yard House, Smith Square, London - new house with later alterations and additions (1923-37); Gayfere House, 12 Gayfere Street, London 1923-26); display stand for Pottery Section, British Empire Exhibition, Wembley (1924); 73 Cadogan Square, London - alterations and additions (1924); Woodside Copse, Holmbury Street, Mary, Surrey (1924-26); Cock Rock, Croyde, Devon 1925-26); 63 Cadogan Place, London - alterations (1925-26); Grand Hotel Harrogate, Yorkshire - reconstruction of hotel (1925-28); Hall Place, Bexley, London - alterations and repairs (1925-28); Lynwood Chase, Bracknell, Berkshire - new cottage for chauffeur; alterations and decorations (1925-28); The Manor, Thorpe Mandeville, Northamptonshire - alterations and additions (1925-37); Dolphon House, Prior's Hill Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk (1926); Binfield Manor House, Berkshire - conversion ito club (1926-27); Churt Gate House, Westcott, Surrey garden and garden house (1926-28); 48 and 49 Albert Court, London - alterations and decorations (1926-29); Sanatorium for Aldeburgh Lodge School, Aldeburgh, Suffolk (1926-27); alteration and repairs of bungalow, Wellington, Oxfordshire (1926-29); Barton Mills Hall, Suffolk -alterations to front of house, decorations (1926-30); Devonshire House, Piccadilly, London - decorative work for flats 40 and 41 (1926-30); Merryfield House, Witney, Oxfordshire (1926-30); 30 Bryanston Square, London -alterations, interior decoration and furnishings (1926-31); The Long House, Frinton, Essex - alterations and additions (!926-34); Vicarage, Mashland St. James, Norfolk (1927); Boxhurst Farm, Sandhurst, Kent - remodelling of barn and oast house (1927-28); Brrome Hall, Holmwood, Surrey - decoration of dining room (1927-29); Prior's Hill, Aldeburgh, Suffolk - alterations and decorations (1927-29); Horstone Point, Seaview, Isle of Wight (1927-29); Tye House, Hartfield, East Sussex - alterations and decorations (1927-29); Eaton Terrace, London - alterations and additions (1927-30); Blackhill, Hertfordshire - studio for Sir Barry Jackson (1927-31); Maryland, Hurtwood, Ewhurst, Surrey (1927-31); memorial tablet to Osbert Hubert Wade, St. Mary's Church, Studley Royal, Ripon, Yorkshire (1927-31); Cottage in Benton Road, Midhurst, West Sussex (1927-31); 11 Hans Place, London - trellis work in garden (1928-29); 70 Grosvenor Street, London - alterations and decorations (1928-30); 36 Grove Court, London - alterations and decoration of flat (1928-39); Genogil Mansions, Glenogil, Tayside - alterations, decoration and furniture (1928-32); Bastide de la Roquette, Cannes, France (1928-34):(1929-30); Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London - decoration and furnishing of rooms (1929-30); Essendon Place, Essendon, Hertfordshire - additions, alteration and decoration; 10 North Street, London - alterations and addition (1929-30); Westbrook House, Elstead, Surrey - additions (1929-30); Blackhill, Esher, Surrey (1929-31); Gayfere House, Smith Square, London - alterations (1929-33); North house, North Street, London (1929-33); temporary display for Rondo Modern Decoration at the Ideal Home Exhibition, Olympia, London (1930); stand and brick fireplace for W. T. Lamb & Sons at the Building Exhibition, Olympia, London (1930); Ralkes Hollow, Abinger, Surrey (1930); 21 Devonshire Place, London - furniture for a doctor's consulting room (1930-31); memorial tomb to William Neave Hill, St. John's Church, Wotton, Surrey (1930-31); Hampton Lodge, Seale, Surrey - addition, furniture and furnishings (1930-32); Lerryn, Convent Road, Kingsgate, Kent - alterations and additions (1930-32); Haven Cottage, Queensmore, Wimbledon Common (1930-33); Vernon House, 40 Chelsea Square, London (1930-34); Joldwyns, Holmbiry St. Mary, Surrey (1930-37); Upper Terrace House, Judge's Walk, London (1931-33); Shop for 'Julie's Hats', 19 Berkeley Street, London (1931-34); Children's Memorial, St. Andrew's Church, Croydon, Surrey (1932); 45 Montagu Square, London - decoration of two bedrooms (1932); 213 King's Road, London - alterations and decorations for Syrie Maugham (1932-33); Midland Hotel, Morcambe, Lancashire (1932-33); Cutt Hill, Puttenham, Surrey - alterations and additions (1932-33); Fosrums, Postling Green, Kent (1932-34); The Warren. Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire - alterations and decorations (1932-34); Katherine House, 41 Chelsea Square, London (1932-35); design of exhibition of Contemporary Industrial Design at Dorland Hall, London (1933); gate house at Malwood Walk, Lyndhurst, Hampshire (1933); showroom for 'Delores' hat shop, Silver House, Beak street, London (1933-34); memorial at St. Peter's Church, Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk (1933-34); club house and decoration of church hall, St. Andrew's Club, St. Andrew's, Croydon, Surrey (1933-35); Holthanger, Portnall Drive, Wentwoth, Surrey (1933-35); 54 Harley Street, London - decorations and furnishings (1933-37); design of exhibition of Contemporary Industrial Design in the Home, at Dorland Hall, London (1934); addition of sun room at Goodtrees Farm (1934); decorations to millinery showroom at 3 South Molton Street, London for Feodor Ltd. (1934); New American Bar, St. Pancras Hotel, London (1934); 12 Geyfere Street, London - alterations and decorations (1934-36); River Barn, Burlesdon, Hampshire (1934-36); 56 Eaton Square, London - repairs and decorations (1934-37); Layout of Frinton Park Estate, Fronton, Sussex for Fronton Park Estate Company (1934-37); Mallards, Chartfield Avenue, Putney, London (1934-37); reproduction of drawing room from Vernon House, Chelsea for the Modern Table ware Exhibition at Harrods, Knightsbridge, London (1935); planning and layout of an exhibition of work by Paul Manship at the Tate Gallery, London (1935); design of rooms at the British Art and Industry Exhibition at the Royal Academy, London (1935); showroom for Shanks & Co., 81 New Bond Street, London (1935-36); Upmeads, East Dean, West Sussex (1935-37); Meadow Cottage, New Yatt Road, Witney, Oxfordshire (1935-37); Glenamoy, Highwood Hill, London (1935-37); Thimble Hall, Belson Road, Camberley, Surrey (1935-38); design of a Steinway grand piano for the Piano exhibition at Dorland Hall, London (1936); layout of an estate for the Earl of Antrim at Portrush, Co., Antrim, Ireland (1936-37) 9 Chester Terrace, London - alterations and additions (1936-38); 'Hill House, Redington Road, London (1936-38); Landfall, Chrichel Mount Road, Poole, Dorset (1936-38); Prospect Inn, Minster in Thanet, Kent for Group Services Ltd. (1936-39); Stafford Court, Kensington High Street, London - decoration and furnishing of three entrance halls (1936-38); Burrows Wood, Shere, Surrey (1936-39); 15 Ladbroke Mews, London - furniture and light fittings (1937); British Pavilion, Exposition Internationale Arts et Tenchniques, Paris for the Board of Trade (1937); Shenley Park, Buckinghamshire - alterations (1937-38); 35 Cliveden Place, London - alterations (1937-38); house, Yateley Common, Hampshire (1937-38); Whitwood Mere School, Castleford, West Yorkshire (1937-39); Orchard House, Tickenham, Somerset (1938); 20 Devonshire Place, London (The London Clinic) - redecoration of consulting rooms (1939); Southington Hill, Hampshire - conversion and layout of garden (1939-40); design of the 'Chelsea Remembers' exhibition, 96 Cheyne Walk, London (1940); Higher Trayne, Berrynarbour, North Devon (1941); YMCA King George's Club for Officers, Piccadilly, London - decoration (1942); Cock Rock, Croyde, Devon - addition of sitting room (1942); Strathmore, Killiney, Dublin - alterations (1946); Newbury Park Station, Ilford, Essex - reinforced concrete canopy for bus station (1947-50); war memorial and library, Uppingham School, Upingham, Rutland (1948-50); Daneway House, Sapperton, Gloucestershire - alterations (1948); installation of The Cotswold Tradition exhibition for the Festival of Britain, Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire (1951); Cock Rock, Croyde, Devon (1951-55); Coronation decoration, Cirencester, Gloucestershire (1953); Venice Yard House, Gayfere Street, London - conversion of a ballroom into a flat (1953); memorial to Sir Cecil Fitch in churchyard, Painswick Church, Gloucestershire (1953); design of Guild of Gloucestershire Craftsmen Exhibition, Painswick, Gloucestershire (1955); Williinghurst Farm, Cranleigh, Surrey - alterations and decorations (c.1957); Madgehole Farm, Shamley Green, Surrey - reconstruction of interior (c.1957); consultant architect, Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth, Dorset (1958-60); The Pavilion, Warren Road, Coombe Hill, Kingston, Surrey (1958-61); and Long Newton Priory, Long Newton, Gloucestershire (1963-66) [Source: Powers, Alan. Oliver Hill: Architect and Lover of Life 1887-1968. London: Moulton, 1989 pp.64-77].
House at Coombe, near Kingston; Architect: Oliver Hill '. Country Life 28 December 1961 pp. 1636-1367
'Houses of vintage years: Burrows Wood, Shere, Surrey; Architects: Oliver Hill'. Country Life vol. 163, no.4208, 2 March 1978 p. 538
'Oliver Hill'. Brick Builder October 1927 pp. 24-30
'Tickenham, Clevedon: Orchard House; Architect: Oliver Hill'. Country Life 10 December 1943 pp. 1034-1035
'Willinghurst Farm, near Cranleigh, Surrey; Architect: Oliver Hill'. Country Life 24 November 1960 pp. 1242-1245
Armstrong, Barrie and Armstrong, Wendy. The Arts and Crafts movement in the North West of England: a handbook. Wetherby, England: Oblong Creative Ltd., 2006
Aslet, Clive. A fairy house. Marylands, Surrey: the home of Anna Hunter. [Designed in 1929 by Oliver Hill for the music publisher Montague Cecil Warner]. Country Life vol. 222, no. 1, 3 January 2024 pp. 32-37.
Batten, M. I. 'Personalia: Mr. Oliver Hill'. Architectural Design and Construction vol. 2, 1931-32 pp. 207-208
Birnstingl, H. J. 'Mr Oliver Hill'. Architects Journal vol. 64, 1926 pp. 263-267
Carullo, Valeria. ‘Parting shot. Prospect Inn, Minster, Kent, 1938’ [Architect: Oliver Hill] RIBA Journal vol. 130, no. 5, May 2023, p. 82
Clifford, H. D. ‘Willinghurst Farm, near Cranleigh, Surrey [Architect: Oliver Hill] Country Life 24 November 1960 pp. 1242-1245.
Cornforth. ‘Houses of Oliver Hill’. Country Life vol. 183, no. 5, 2 February 1989 pp. 70-73.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001 [Note name incorrectly given as Oliver Francis Hill]
Gradidge, Roderick. ‘The architecture of Oliver Hill’. Architectural Design vol. 49, nos. 10-11, 1979, pp. 30-41.
Harwood, Elain. Art Deco Britain: Buildings of the Interwar Years. London: Batsford, 2019
Harwood, Elain. Mid-Century Britain: Modern Architecture 1938-1963. London: Batsford, 2021
Hill, Oliver. ‘British Pavilion for Paris 1937 Exhibition’ [Hill was architect of the pavilion] The Builder 11 September 1938 p. 470
Hill, Oliver. ‘The contemporary house’ in The Book of the Modern House. A Panoramic Survey of Contemporary Domestic Design. Edited by Patrick Abercrombie. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1939 pp. 225-252
Hussey, Christopher. ‘Merryfields House, Witney [Architect: Oliver Hill]. Country Life 2 January 1948 pp. 26-29.
Lincoln, Simon. ‘Oliver Hill in Killiney: an Irish Victorian house remodelled’. Irish Arts Review Yearbook vol. 12, 1996 pp. 139-141
Myerscough-Walker, Raymond. 'Oliver Hill FRIBA'. Building vol. 20, 1945 pp. 116-121
O'Donovan, Desmond. 'The Work of Oliver Hill. Decoration vol. 3, 1935 pp. pp. 28-31
Powers, Alan. 'The charm of the chameleon'. Country Life vol. 181, no. 40, 1 October 1987 pp. 158-162
Powers, Alan. Modern. The Modern Movement in Britain. London: Merrell, 2005
Powers, Alan. Oliver Hill: architect and lover of life 1887-1968. London: Moulton, 1989
Powers, Alan. ‘Hill pastures’ [Discusses Oliver Hill’s work as an exhibition designer] Designers’ Journal no. 44, February 1989 pp. 62-65.
Powers, Alan. ‘Oliver Hill as Exhibition Designer’. The Thirties Society Journal no.7, 1991 pp.28-39
Powers, Alan. ‘Oliver Hill’. RIBA Journal vol. 96, no. 2, February 1989 pp. 46-49
Reilly, C. H. 'Some younger architects of today: Oliver Hill'. Building vol. 5, 1930 pp. 432-438
Reilly, C. H. 'The war and architecture'. [mainly about the work of Oliver Hill Decorative Art 1941 pp. 12-22
Thirties: British Art and Design before the War. London: Arts Council of Great Britain, 1979 [Catalogue of an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London, 25 October-13 January 1979]
Who’s Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton London: Architecural Ublications, 1926
‘Covered bus station at Newbury Park for London Transport Exec. [Architect: Oliver Hill] Architects’ Journal 21 September 1950 pp. 263-264.
‘Hotel at Famagusta, Cyprus’ [Architect: Oliver Hill]. Architecture Illustrated October 1948 pp. 134-137.
‘Hotel at Famagusta’ [Architect: Oliver Hill]. Building October 1947 pp. 308-311.
‘House at Hampstead’ [Architect: Oliver Hill] Architectural Review April 1939 p. 187.
‘Houses of vintage years: Burrows Wood, Shere, Surrey’ [Architects: Oliver Hill] Country Life vol. 163, no. 4208, 2 March 1978 p. 538
‘Methley senior school and Whitwood Mere infants school, West Riding’ [Architect: Oliver Hill] The Builder 14 January 1938, p. 109
‘Obituary’ Building vol. 214, 3 May 1968 p. 76
‘Obituary’ RIBA Journal vol. 75, June 1968, p 277
Source of Images