Richard L. Hills

Richard Leslie Hills MBE (born 1 September 1936) is an English historian and clergyman who has written extensively on the history of technology, particularly steam power. He founded Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry.

He was born on 1 September 1936 at Lee Green, Middlesex, the second son of Leslie Hills and Margaret Magalen Miller (the youngest daughter of John Ontario Miller).

He currently lives near Hyde in Cheshire.

Hills was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to industrial heritage.

From an early age, he was fascinated with mechanical toys, whether making model aircraft on the nursery window sill, arranging layouts for model trains or taking clocks to pieces. At school, he started making a 3 ½ ins. gauge live steam model of the 1830 Invicta or Canterbury Lamb which he was now trying to finish. In National Service, he obtained a commission as 2 nd. Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, ending up with the 26 Field Regiment at Folkestone during the Suez Crises. He was sent to Lydd-on-Sea to supervise the accommodation for Territorial units practising shooting on the Dungeness ranges. Mechanical interests at this time covered as well as the guns a small 2-stroke Excelsior motor bike and a small Standard car which needed a great deal of restoration.

Then followed the History Tripos at Cambridge and the acquisition of a 1924 Lancia Lambda. Through the need to restore this, he was introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Kenny who were prepared to allow impecunious students use of their workshop facilities near Long Melford. They were trying to preserve the steam engine at Stretham that once drained the Waterbeach Level. Recovery from a climbing accident gave me the opportunity to research the history of this engine and the Fen area. After completing the Dip. Ed. at Cambridge followed by a brief teaching spell, a years research into fen drainage at the Imperial College, London, led to the award of its Diploma and the publication of his first book, Machines, Mills and Uncountable Costly Necessities.

Through the support of Prof. Rupert Hall at Imperial, Donald Cardwell offered him a post of Research Assistant in his History of Science Department at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to study the History of Textile Technology as well as assisting in launching a science museum for Manchester. The proposed museum was supported by the City of Manchester, the University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. In 1967, UMIST purchased 97 Grosvenor Street for demolition but agreed to allow one part of it to be used temporarily to start the museum. In 1968, the three authorities found between them £12,670 p.a. to fund a lecturer in charge, two technicians and a secretary was well as all the other running costs. Because he had been collecting exhibits such as the Beyer, Peacock archives of their locomotive production and many more, He was offered the post of lecturer in charge. The first stage of the museum was opened on 20 October 1969 by Hervey Rhodes, Baron Rhodes of Saddleworth, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. It contained displays of steam and internal combustion engines, papermaking, printing, spinning and weaving, scientific instruments, clocks, electrical exhibits such as wireless sets, archives and much more.

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