Hillier Funeral Service opens new headquarters in Old Town

Family-run business Hillier bought the historic Kingshill House in Old Town for around £1.3m with the intention of turning it into its new headquarters.

After a year of construction work, several prominent local figures and friends and family had the chance to see what the firm - established in 1923 - had done with the building.

READ MORE: Hillier's Funeral Service buys Grade II listed Kingshill House for around £1.3million

It is the first major project overseen by the new Hillier general manager Rebecca Hillier, who took over the running of the company from her father Mark a month before the deal for Kingshill House was finalised.

Rebecca Hillier and vicar Simon Stevenette (Image: Newsquest)

Rebecca welcomed the guests for the open tour of the new facility, before handing over to Christ Church vicar Simon Stevenette for a service of dedication. She later said it was a poignant moment for her.

She said: "It's a very proud moment for me, my first major project as general manager and to follow in the footsteps of my father and grandfather. I learn from them every day and rely on them so much for their support and guidance.

"I'm really pleased with how the building has turned out, I'm not quite sure what I imagined it to look like when we started, but I think it looks great now. I know that people are pleased to see it being used and safe for years to come."

Kingshill House, Swindon, after it was renovated by Hillier's Funeral Service (Image: Newsquest)

The historic 16-bedroom Kingshill House property was placed on the market in January 2020.

It was built in the mid-1800s and became the town's first-ever maternity house in 1931, with babies delivered for more than 40 years.

Hillier hasn't been in Swindon quite as long but it's not far off, with the company preparing for its centenary next year having been managed by four separate generations. 

A photo of the company's founder Harold Hillier has pride of place in the lobby of the funeral home, a picture that his son and Rebecca's grandfather Michael took.

Only four years away from a centenary himself and still going strong, he too spoke proudly of the legacy he'd helped create and pass down through his family. 

"I'm very proud of what my family has achieved and for everything we've done to help people," said Michael.

Kingshill House in Swindon before Hillier's renovated it (Image: Newsquest)

Kingshill House, Swindon, after it was renovated by Hillier's Funeral Service (Image: Newsquest)

Kingshill House, Swindon, after it was renovated by Hillier's Funeral Service (Image: Newsquest)