Charles Hill took over the Hillhouse shipping and ship-building company in 1845. His company started the The Bristol City Line of Steamships Ltd in 1879, running steamships from Bristol to New York in competition with the Great Western Steamship Line, although the City Line carried cargo rather than passengers.

This brass nameplate from about 1900 was on the door of the registered offices in Gloucester Road, Avonmouth, until 1961.