Barry Greenbank has supplied the following:
Maurice Cridland Hill was born 26th June 1876 at Plawsworth. His father, Charles, was born at North Shields, his mother, Fanny, was born at Feltham, Middlesex. Maurice was baptised on 9th August in Chester-le-Street. He was educated at Newcastle Preparatory School, Dame Allan's School, Rossall School, Fleetwood, in 1891, and Cambridge University.
The 1881 Census shows the family living at 4 Archbold Terrace, Jesmond. Charles D., aged 46, was a merchant outfitter. An unnamed sister, aged 5, had been born at Plawsworth, as had Maurice, aged 4. Two other brothers, Charles, aged 3, and Dennis, aged 2, were born in Newcastle. There were also three servants.
The 1901 Census shows the family living at Southend Villas, Jesmond. Charles Dennis, a company director, was 66, Fanny was 50; Maurice was a solicitor, aged 24; brother Eric G., aged 18, was an articled clerk; there was another brother aged 9. There were also three servants.
By 1904 Maurice was living at Southend, Fernwood Road, Jesmond.
Ward's Directories 1904, 1906, 1907-8 and 1910 name him as Solicitor at Rochester Chambers, 21 Collingwood Street, Newcastle.
Between 1901 and 1912 he played cricket, and was captain of Northumberland St. George's team. His two brothers also played for the same team. St. George's played at Jesmond Towers, just north of St. George's church. The field was lost to cricket when tennis took it over c1926. The attached photo was taken in July 1901 when the team played Yorkshire II at Hull. It was found with others in the County Pavilion at Jesmond. They may have been stored when the pavilion was opened in 1963. The names of the men shown are Back row: A. Lowings; J. Marshall; F.W. Gillespie; M.J.F. Brackenbury (assistant secretary); Maj. C.E. Greenway; M.C. Hill. Middle row : J. Hansell; F.G.H. Clayton; R.G.E. Mortimer. Front row: E. Tomlin; L. Greenwood; G. Elsey.
The 1911 Census shows Maurice, aged 34, married to Alice May and now living at Eland Hall, Ponteland. They had one servant.
In 1914 he seems to have had a partner in the solicitor's firm of M.C. Hill and Wilkinson.
Maurice went to war with the Northumberland Fusiliers and died 24th May 1915 at Ypres. Probate was given to Charles Gerald Hill, insurance official. The estate was worth £15,730 15s gross, reduced to £15,199. 6s. 11d after all expenses had been paid.
Maurice Cridland Hill is remembered in Fenham on F31.01, in Jesmond on J1.08 and J1.12, in Newcastle on NUT061 in Gosforth on G9.37 and in Ponteland on P12.08 and P12.10
