Built / Designed For: Thomas Steade

House & Family History: The House was named in honor of Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough, later 1st Marquess of Downshire, who was a friend of the Steade family. Between 1852 and 1860 Hillsborough House was occupied by the family of Edward Bury, the pioneer locomotive builder and one of the founders of the Sheffield steel firm of Bedford, Burys & Co. In 1865 Hillsborough was purchased by James Willis Dixon, son of the founder of the well-known Sheffield silver company James Dixon & Sons. In 1906 the House opened as Hillsborough Library, after its 1890 purchase by the local council, following the death of James Willis Dixon, Jr. in the same year. In 1929 a single-story extension was added to house a young people's library. In the 1940s and 1950s a maternity and child welfare clinic was located on the third floor.

Collections: At the death of James Willis Dixon in 1876, his library of over 1,000 books, and his art collection, which included works by Rubens, Watteau, and Rembrandt, were auctioned.

Garden & Outbuildings: In 1890, when the House was purchased by the local council, the 50-acre Park was also acquired and became the public Hillsborough Park in 1906.

House Listed: Grade II

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Thomas Steade, 18th century. John Rimington Wilson, 1801-38. John Rodgers, 1838-52. Edward Bury, 1852-60. Ernest Benzon, 1860-65. James Willis Dixon, 1865-76; Dixon family here until 1890.

Current Ownership Type: Government

Primary Current Ownership Use: Other

Ownership Details: Since 1906 Hillsborough Library.

House Open to Public: Yes

Historic Houses Member: No