George Wostenholm and Son Ltd., cutlery manufacturers, Washington WorksGeorge Wostenholm and Son Ltd., cutlery manufacturers, Washington Works
George Wostenholm and Son Ltd., cutlery manufacturers, Washington Works

Sheffield retro: 9 pictures showing the Steel City's industrial past through the years

Sheffield is renowned world-wide for its steel production and famous for its manufacture of cutlery especially knives. These were taken at the many cutlery factories around the city

Cutlery means ‘that which cuts’, and can be anything from pocket knives to scissors, ice skates and scythes.

The first reference to cutlery made in Sheffield was in 1297 when the hearth tax records include Robertus le Coteler – Robert the Cutler.

By the 1600s, the city was the second-largest producer of cutlery production in England.

Take a look at these retro pictures from some of the old cutlery factories.

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