W. E. Hill & Sons

18/06/2025

Great to see our archivist .blade.violin ’s article, “The W. E. Hill & Sons Archive Tells the Story of Richard Bennett’s Fabulous Violin Collection,” has been published in the March/April 2025 issue of ! You can read Sam’s article through the link in our bio

Over the course of his life, Bennett amassed one of the greatest collections of Violins to ever exist, including over 30 instruments by Antonio Stradivari.

Delving into these magnificent historical records is a constant source of fascination. The archive, which stretches back to 1850 and chronicles the histories of a vast number of the world’s finest instruments, truly allows us to uncover hidden secrets and previously unknown stories, such as those of Richard Bennett and his extraordinary collection.

Thank you to Strings Magazine for helping us share the incredible world chronicled within the W. E. Hill & Sons archive. It is a privilege it is to contribute to preserving and sharing the rich provenance of these instruments.
  

15/07/2024

Quiz time! On the 2nd of October 1886, W. E. Hill & Sons sold to John Ruston the first ever string instrument for a record-breaking £1,000, but which instrument was the first to achieve this landmark price? Answers in the comments!
  

27/06/2024

Many instruments passed through the hands of W. E. Hill & Sons more than once. One such example is the “Dolphin" Stradivari Violin of 1714 which was sold by W. E. Hill & Sons no fewer than four times! It was even owned twice by the same customer - Richard Bennett - from whom the Hills bought it in 1892, and later resold it back to him in 1915.
Alfred Hill wrote about the violin “its tone is A.1”. It was later owned by the legendary Jascha Heifetz, and it is now loaned to and played on by Ray Chen and is owned by the .
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01/05/2024

Our Head of Sales Sam McLaren Blade spent the afternoon testing strings with Ole Wichmann and from ! Our Stradivari model violin sounded incredible with the new Larsen Il Canone Gold strings!
  

18/04/2024

The first ever W. E. Hill & Sons Quintet!
In 2024, we have completed the first ever W. E. Hill & Sons Quintet, comprising of three Violins, Viola and Cello, all modelled on instruments by Antonio Stradivari. The Quintet was commissioned by a significant British institution and will be played for many important public performances.
Before the current directors reopened the workshops of W. E. Hill & Sons in 2018 the firm had never made a complete String Quartet. Since then we have made two: the first is owned by the Harrison Frank Foundation and currently played on by the , and the second is on loan to students of a famous music school by a very generous anonymous sponsor. However, this is the first Quintet in our history! To enquire about our instruments or bows please email [email protected]
  

12/04/2024

W. E. Hill & Sons directors Stefan-Peter Greiner, Simon Morris, and Derek Wilson recently had the opportunity to visit the famous former W. E. Hill & Sons shop at 140 New Bond Street!
Even though the firm left New Bond Street in the 1970s, there are still a few remnants of the building’s previous life, including some of the exterior facade, the sweeping mahogany staircase, and the original safe. These features all date from when W. E. Hill & Sons moved into the building in 1897.
  

11/04/2024

Do you know the history of your instrument?
Many instruments still carry a “Hill Number” on the end of the fingerboard. These numbers are recorded in the W. E. Hill & Sons Archive, which contains detailed descriptions and histories of every instrument that W. E. Hill & Sons bought and sold.
If your instrument has a Hill Number and you want to know more about it email [email protected]

20/03/2024

01/02/2024

W. E. Hill & Sons luthier Jason recently finished the linings and glued the front on the next W. E. Hill & Sons , being made to order as part of a quintet for a very special customer!
  

24/09/2023

Sam and Robert had the privilege to have a private tour of Casa Stradivari, Antonio Stradivari’s house in Cremona, which has been recently renovated into a beautiful working museum. Thank you Martina!

22/09/2023

We’re in Cremona for . We’re not exhibiting this year, but our Head of Sales and Archivist Sam Blade is around over the weekend - drop us a message to say hi!

08/07/2023

On this day in 1907 Robert Brandt, the prolific collector, purchased from W. E. Hill & Sons a full string quartet of : the 1690 “Tuscan”, the decorated 1722 “Rode”, the “Spanish” Viola of 1696, and the 1690 “Cristiani” cello, now in the , possession of the