10 Facts About Hilary Page

Hilary "Harry" Fisher Page was an English toy maker and inventor of Self-Locking Building Bricks, the predecessor of Lego bricks.

Hilary "Harry" Fisher Page was born on 20 August 1904 in Sanderstead, England.

Hilary Page was the first child of Samuel Fisher and Lillian Maude Page.

Originally, Hilary Page imported wooden toys from Russia, but later began to introduce his own designs.

Hilary Page had become increasingly unhappy using wood as a material for children's toys and was an early advocate of plastics as a safe and hygienic alternative.

Post WWII, Hilary Page designed and produced the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Building Bricks, that have been described as the "original Lego".

Hilary Page later added tubular shapes under most bricks to aid grip.

Hilary Page conducted research by spending time playing with children in various nursery schools to find out their interests.

Troubled by pressures on the business and fearing a collapse of his company, Hilary Page died by suicide on 24 June 1957.

Hilary Page was recognised as an innovator in child education and toy design in 2007 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Toy and Hobby Association.