Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hillier, George
HILLIER, GEORGE (1815–1866), antiquary, eldest son of William Hillier, commander R.N., born at Kennington in 1815, was educated at Place Street House, near Ryde, Isle of Wight. He was long engaged in the preparation of the ‘History and Antiquities of the Isle of Wight.’ He projected it on a comprehensive plan, and collected materials for two volumes, but he received little support, and the parts appeared at long and uncertain intervals. The plates he engraved with his own hand, and to diminish the cost he latterly undertook the printing at his own house. Although incomplete, it is an admirable work. He was also employed in illustrating C. Warne's ‘Dorsetshire,’ and travelled with the author throughout the county in order to prepare the map, which exhibits much artistic skill and is of great antiquarian value. The discovery of the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Chessel Down in the Isle of Wight, and the excavation of the graves, was one of Hillier's most valuable contributions to archæology. He died at Ryde on 1 April 1866, and was buried at Binstead.
His works are: 1. ‘The Topography of the Isle of Wight. To which is appended, a Voyage round the Island,’ Ryde, 1850, 12mo. 2. ‘A Narrative of the attempted Escapes of Charles the First from Carisbrook Castle, and of his detention in the Isle of Wight. Including the letters of the King to Colonel Titus, now first decyphered and printed from the originals,’ Lond. 1852, 8vo. 3. ‘The Sieges of Arundel Castle, by Sir Ralph Hopton and Sir William Waller,’ Lond. 1854, 8vo. 4. ‘A Memorial of the Castle of Carisbrook,’ Lond. 1855, 8vo. 5. ‘The Stranger's Guide to the town of Reading, with a History of the Abbey,’ Reading, 1859, 12mo.
[Gent. Mag. 1866, pt. ii. 262; Anderson's Book of British Topography.]