Hillbrush was established in 1922 by Fred and Bill Coward in the small rural town of Mere, Wiltshire. The brothers named their business The Hill Brush Company, inspired by its location at the base of the distinctive Castle Hill, a landmark still visible in Mere today. Initially, the company specialised in making brushes for the dairy and agricultural industries. However, within a few years, many streets across the country were being swept with Hillbrush products.

Over time, the family business expanded as the next generation joined. Fred and Bill were later joined by their sons, David and Richard, as well as Bill’s son-in-law, Brian Thomas. In 1997, David's son Martin became the company’s Finance Director, while his second son, Philip, served as Managing Director of Hillbrush in the UK until 2018. At that point, leadership passed to Philip’s son, Charles, and Martin’s son, Andy, who became Co-Managing Directors. Philip now serves as Chairman of Hillbrush and is also President of Hillbrush Inc. in the United States. Meanwhile, Richard’s son Peter, a former Vice President of Hillbrush USA, is a board member. Hillbrush USA is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

From its inception, the company distinguished its brushes with a salmon logo, inspired by Bill’s passion for salmon fishing. The salmon symbol not only set Hillbrush apart from its competitors but also reflected the superior quality of its products, as the salmon is often called the "King of Fish." While the logo has evolved over the years, the salmon remains central to Hillbrush’s identity. To this day, many locals and customers around the world affectionately refer to the company as ‘salmon brushes,’ ‘the fish brand,’ or ‘the brushes with the fish.’

At the end of 2016, Hillbrush moved to a new state-of-the-art facility at Norwood Park, on the outskirts of Mere. At the same time the company issued the latest iteration of the logo, along with contemporary brand guidelines to support the business for the next generation of products.

Hillbrush is unique in having its own brush fibre-dressing department which began in 1926 and now processes all types of natural fibres from around the world. Having a fibre-dressing department makes it possible to offer special mixes, with natural fibres used alongside synthetic materials. The company's use of synthetic fibre has increased in recent years due to the manufacture of specialist brushes. These include brushes used in food production or catering establishments, and in hygiene-sensitive areas such as hospitals and kitchens.

Automatic brush making machines were first introduced in the 1930s, but over time increasingly sophisticated production equipment has been installed. This allows Hillbrush to manufacture various types of brushes that were not previously made. As well as producing millions of brushes each year, Hillbrush also offers a selection of other cleaning-related products such as squeegees, shovels, buckets, floor signs, scoops, scrapers, paddles and more.

The Royal Warrant is a recognition of personal service of a high order, and today there are over 850 Royal Warrant holders given permission to use the title and Royal Arms. It is a mark of acknowledgement of those who have supplied goods or services to the Royal Households.The Monarch decides who may grant Royal Warrants, and these are known as Grantors.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, visited Hillbrush in 1952 during a trip to the local area. In 1981 Hillbrush was granted a Royal Warrant by Her Majesty Elizabeth II, for the supply of brushware to the Royal Households, and retains the Warrant to this day.