Millowner, MP, Sportsman
Young Sam
Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, the only child of Samuel and Anne Kershaw Wood, was born in 1872. His father, Samuel Wood, was one of the sons of John Wood who established Howardtown Mills in Glossop. His three sons, John Hill, Daniel and Samuel, had followed him into the business.
Right – Anne Kershaw Wood, mother of Sam Hill-Wood
Sam’s father died when he was 16. He then moved with his mother, Anne Kershaw Wood, to Moorfield after it was rebuilt in 1890. When Samuel came to his majority in 1893 a spectacular party was held at Moorfield.
Like his father, Sam held a great interest in sport. He had cricket and football pitches at Moorfield and ran teams of gardeners and outdoor workers that played against other local cricket teams. He played cricket for the Glossop Club and in 1894 played for Derbyshire.
Sam’s mother was a great and respected member of the Glossop community. Sam was also immensely popular in the town and known as “young Sam”. He was a director of Messrs Wood Bros Ltd., and also Mayor of Glossop before he was 30, from 1898-1902.
In 1899 he married Hon. Rachael Anne Selina Decima Bateman-Hanbury (Decima) and had four sons.
MP for High Peak
Sam became MP for the High Peak in 1910 and held the constituency for 19 years. He served as a Major in World War One and gave his home, Moorfield, over to the Red Cross to be used as a convalescent hospital.
He changed his surname to Hill-Wood by royal license in 1912. Hill was the maiden name of his paternal grandmother who died when his father was a young child. He was created a baronet “Sir Samuel Hill-Wood of Moorfield” in 1921.
Alongside playing and captaining the cricket team at Glossop, he was also the Chairman and Owner of Glossop North End Football club. His sons all followed in his footsteps all playing cricket for Derbyshire.
In the late 1920s Sir Sam made a permanent move to London with his family. He later became Chairman of Arsenal FC.
Sam passed away in London in January 1949 at the age of 76. He is buried in St James’ Churchyard, Whitfield with other members of the Wood family.