The Hinton Family

William Hinton

Madeira Island

In the 18th century, British settlers began to establish a strong presence on Madeira Island, drawn by its thriving business opportunities. William Hinton, following this trend, chose Madeira as his new home in 1838, captivated by its charms.

 

William Hinton quickly developed a deep affection for Madeiran culture and made significant contributions to the island’s economy. He played a crucial role in promoting and developing the wicker sector and banana cultivation. However, his most notable impact was in the industrial realm.

 

Continuing his father’s visionary path, Harry Hinton constructed the steam industrial unit known as ‘Engenho do Hinton’ or ‘Fábrica do Torreão’, established in 1845, in Funchal city. This industrial powerhouse became a symbol of technological progress and economic growth for Madeira.

“Engenho do Hinton”

An Industrial Marvel

The ‘Engenho do Hinton’ was a remarkable feat of industrial engineering:

It employed 230 workers at the beginning of the 20th century.

 

In 1920, it reached its peak production, processing 608 tons of sugarcane in a 24-hour period. It became one of Europe’s largest, if not the largest, sugar cane processing units.

 

The factory was renowned for producing high-purity sugar cane juice, which was fermented into sugar cane wine and then distilled to create Madeira Agricole Rum. The impact of this commodity was so significant that in the first half of the 20th century, Madeira became known as “the island of rum”.

 

Although the Hinton factory no longer exists, having been demolished to make way for the Santa Luzia gardens, its legacy lives on. Visitors can still admire the imposing chimney of the old mill, a testament to Madeira’s industrial heritage.