The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire

Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire was incorporated in 1624 by an Act of Parliament. The head is called the Master Cutler.

The Master Cutler is elected each year from the freemen within the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. He or she also has 2 Wardens, 6 Searchers and 24 Assistants.

The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire should not be confused with the Worshipful Company of Cutlers in London.


A Listing of the Master Cutlers of Sheffield:


Robert Sorsby....................................1624
John Rawson.....................................1625
William Warter..................................1626
William Webster.................................1627
Robert Sorsby....................................1628
John Webster.....................................1629
William Creswicke..............................1630
Robert Stacie....................................1631
James Creswicke................................1632
George Valliance................................1633
William Walker...................................1634
Thomas Creswicke..............................1635
Richard Wilkinson..............................1636
John Crooke......................................1637
James Creswicke..............................1638
Robert Carr......................................1639
Robert Scargell..................................1640
Thomas Milward................................1641
Richard Slack....................................1642
Richard Base.....................................1643
William Pell......................................1644
William Warter...................................1645
Thomas Ludlam.................................1646
Malin Sorsbie.....................................1647
Robert Brelsforth...............................1648
Richard Jackson................................1649
George Barnesley...............................1650
William Birley...................................1651
Thomas Bate.....................................1652
Edward Barlowe................................1653
William Crashawe..............................1654
Thomas Pearson...............................1655
John Webster....................................1656
Malin Sorsbie.....................................1657
John Rawson.....................................1658
William Creswicke.............................1659
Stephen Carr.....................................1660
Robert Allin........................................1661
James Staniforth................................1662
James Newton...................................1663
John Pearson....................................1664
Thomas Jeninges..............................1665
Nathaniel Robbinson.........................1666
George Creswicke.............................1667
John Webstarr...................................1668
Robert Soresbie.................................1669
Edward Barlow..................................1670
Richard Parramour............................1671
Mathew Arnold...................................1672
John Sutton.......................................1673
Castle Shemield................................1674
William Crashaw...............................1675
James Newton..................................1676
John Pearson....................................1677
Thomas Jenings, sen........................1678
Joshua Baies....................................1679
Jonathan Webster.............................1680
Robert Nicholls.................................1681
John Winter.......................................1682
Edward Badger.................................1683
William Ellis.......................................1684
Thomas Tucker.................................1685
Benjamin Kerkbie..............................1686
John Webster....................................1687
Robert Breilsforth..............................1688
James Webster.................................1689
Joseph Downes................................1690
John Webster....................................1691
Thomas Johnson..............................1692
John King..........................................1693
John Trippett.....................................1694
Robert Spooner................................1695
Chris Brumhead................................1696
Richard Downes...............................1697
Andrew Wade...................................1698
Benjamin Pearson.............................1699
Robert Savage..................................1700
Richard Marsh..................................1701
Ephraim Nicholls...............................1702
John Pearson....................................1703
Edward Sanderson..............................1704
Joseph Nutt.......................................1705
Ezra Cawton.....................................1706
George Cartwright.............................1707
John Downes....................................1708
James Hoole.....................................1709
John Morton......................................1710
Samuel Smith...................................1711
Samuel Twible..................................1712
Thomas Tooker.................................1713
Jonathan Birks..................................1714
William Moor.....................................1715
Thomas Broadhead..............................1716
John Guest.......................................1717
Tobias Ellis.......................................1718
Peter Symon.....................................1719
James Longden..................................1720
James Crawshaw..............................1721
John Smith........................................1722
Jonathan Moor..................................1723
Jeremy Beet......................................1724
Thomas Redforth...............................1725
John Tooker.......................................1726
Andrew Wade.................................1727-8
Thomas Cotton..................................1729
Samuel Wainwright............................1730
Thomas Wilson..................................1731
John Ward.........................................1732
Cotton Watkin....................................1733
John Osborne....................................1734
Joseph Turner...................................1735
Joshua Cawton..................................1736
Joseph Shepherd..............................1737
Joseph Kenyon..................................1738
Jonathan Dixon, jun...........................1739
Jonathan Dixon, sen..........................1740
Richard Kent......................................1741
Thomas Rose....................................1742
George Marriott.................................1743
John Spooner....................................1744
Joseph Leathly..................................1745
Robert Dent.......................................1746
Edward Windle..................................1747
Leonard Webster...............................1748
George Smith....................................1749
William Hides.....................................1750
Thomas Newbold...............................1751
Joseph Parkin....................................1752
Thomas Law......................................1753
Joseph Owen.....................................1754
William Webster.................................1755
Benjamin Withers..............................1756
John Wilson.......................................1757
Jonathan Moore.................................1758
Joseph Ibberson................................1759
William Webster.................................1760
William Parker...................................1761
George Greaves................................1762
Joseph Hancock................................1763
Samuel Bates....................................1764
Joseph Bower....................................1765
William Birks......................................1766
John Turner.......................................1767
Thomas Beely....................................1768
Jeremiah Ward..................................1769
Joshua Cawton..................................1770
William Trickett..................................1771
Robert Owen.....................................1772
George Brittain..................................1773
Joseph Kenyon..................................1774
John Winter.......................................1775
John Green.......................................1776
Samuel Norris...................................1777
William Linley....................................1778
Josephus Parkin ..............................1779
John Rowbotham..............................1780
Peter Spurr.......................................1781
Joseph Hawksley..............................1782
William Fowler..................................1783
Benjamin Broomhead.......................1784
Thomas Settle...................................1785
Samuel Wilson..................................1786
Jonathan Watkinson.........................1787
Thomas Nowell.................................1788
Thomas Tillotson..............................1789
Joseph Ward.....................................1790
George Wood...................................1791
John Henfrey....................................1792
Thomas Warris.................................1793
Benjamin Withers..............................1794
William Birks.....................................1795
J Fletcher Smith................................1796
John Linley........................................1797
Samuel Boomhead Ward..................1798
Benjamin Vickers..............................1799
Samuel Newbould.............................1800
Joseph Bailey...................................1801
Joseph Withers.................................1802
James Makin.....................................1803
William Nicholson..............................1804
John Eyre..........................................1805
John Sorby........................................1806
Peter Brownell..................................1807
Ebenezer Rhodes.............................1808
Robert Brightmore.............................1809
John Tillotson....................................1810
John Eadon.......................................1811
James Smith.....................................1812
John Hoult.........................................1813
Joseph Parkin...................................1814
James Makin.....................................1815
George Tillotson...............................1817
John Fox...........................................1818
John Hounsfield................................1819
J Dixon Skelton.................................1820
William Colley...................................1821
Thomas Champion............................1822
Thomas Dewsnap.............................1823
Peter Spurr.......................................1824
Henry Moorhouse.............................1825
William Sansom................................1826
Samuel Hadfield...............................1827
James Crawshaw..............................1828
Philip Law..........................................1829
Enoch Barber.....................................1830
John Blake.........................................1831
Thomas Dunn....................................1832
Thomas Ellin, sen..............................1833
John Sansom.....................................1834
John Spencer....................................1835
Thomas Blake....................................1836
John Greaves....................................1837
Samuel Hadfield................................1838
Samuel Smith....................................1839
James Moorhouse.............................1840
Thomas Ellin, jun...............................1841
William Broadhurst............................1842
Thomas Wilkinson.............................1843
Francis Newton..................................1844
William Butcher..................................1845
Thomas Burdett Turton......................1846
Henry Mort.........................................1847
Frederick Fenny.................................1848
Henry Atkin........................................1849
Samuel Scott Deakin.........................1850
William Webster.................................1851
Michael Hunter..................................1852
William A Matthews...........................1853
Thomas Moulson...............................1854
Frederick Thorpe Mappin..................1855
George Wostenholm..........................1856
William Hutchinson............................1857
Robert Jackson...............................1858-9
Michael Hunter, jun............................1860
George Wilkinson..............................1861
Henry Harrison..................................1862
Thomas Jessop.................................1863
Charles Atkinson...............................1864
Sir John Brown...............................1865-6
Thomas Asline Ward.........................1866
Mark Firth.......................................1867-9
William Bragge..................................1870
Thomas Turner..................................1871
Thomas E Vickers.............................1872
Samuel Osborn..................................1873
George Wilson...................................1874
Edward Tozer.................................1875-6
David Ward........................................1877
Wm H Brittain....................................1878
Joseph Burdekin Jackson..................1879
William Chesterman..........................1880
John Edward Bingham......................1881
Albert A Jowitt....................................1882
George Barnsley...............................1883
John Edward Bingham......................1884
Charles Belk.....................................1885
George F Lockwood..........................1886
James Dixon.....................................1887
Samuel E Howell..............................1888
Samuel G Richardson.......................1889
Robert Colver....................................1890
Robert Belfitt.....................................1891
John F Atkinson................................1892
George Howson................................1893
Charles Henry Bingham....................1894
Henry Herbert Andrew......................1895
Alexander Wilson (later Sir Alex Wilson, Bt)..1896
Maurice G Rodgers...........................1897
Frederick Charles Wild......................1898
Robert Abbott Hadfield......................1899
Richard Groves Holland....................1900
Arthur Robert Ellin.............................1901
Albert John Hobson..........................1902
Michael J Hunter...............................1903
George Hall.......................................1904
Sydney J Robinson...........................1905
William Fawcett Osborn....................1906
Henry H Bedford...............................1907
Douglas Vickers................................1908
Herbert Barber..................................1909
George Senior..................................1910
Arthur Balfour....................................1911
J Rossiter Hoyle................................1912
Thomas W Ward...............................1913
William H Ellis..............................1914-16
Sir William H Ellis, GBE....................1917
Col Sir A E Bingham Bt, OBE................1918
Lt Col H K Stephenson DSO, MP.............1919
William Clark..................................1920
Marmaduke Wardlow........................1921
Ronald W Matthews..........................1922
James Neill.......................................1923
Wm W Wood, jun..............................1924
Thos R Ellin......................................1925
David Flather....................................1926
Percy W Lee.....................................1927
Thomas G Sorby...............................1928
A K Wilson........................................1929
Peter B Brown...................................1930
Joseph Ward.....................................1931
Lt Col A N Lee, DSO, OBE, TD................1932
Charles J Walsh................................1933
Alexander Williamson.......................1934
Sir Samuel Roberts, Bt......................1935
Col William Tozer, TD........................1936
Col F A Neill, DSO, TD......................1937
Allan John Grant................................1938
Ashley S Ward...................................1939
W W Wood...................................1940-44
S E Osborn........................................1945
Hon R A Balfour.................................1946
E W Senior........................................1947
Lt Col J P Hunt, TD............................1948
W R Stephenson...............................1949
G Wilton Lee......................................1950
G M Flather........................................1951
Sir Harold West.................................1952
R L Walsh..........................................1953
W G Ibberson....................................1954
R P Phillips........................................1955
Sir Peter Roberts, Bt, MP..................1956
Sir Frederick Pickworth......................1957
J Hugh Neill, TD................................1958
P J C Bovill........................................1959
Charles Henry Trelease Williams......1960
Gerard Young....................................1961
Stephen Martin de Bartolomé............1962
Howard Poulson Forder.....................1963
James Reginald Ashworth Bull..........1964
Sir Eric Mensforth, CBE.....................1965
Anthony Barmore Hampton, TD, DL..1966
John Basil Peile, JP, DL....................1967
Gilbert Slater Willis, OBE, TD, JP......1968
The Hon Mark Robin Balfour.............1969
Thomas Haydon Burleigh, CBE.........1970
Arnold Carr........................................1971
Richard Toby Doncaster....................1972
Kenneth Henry Lewis, OBE...............1973
Charles Graham Murray, MBE, JP, DL....1974
Norman Hanlon.................................1975
David Stanley Witton Lee..................1976
Stanley Lester Speight, OBE.............1977
Michael John Mallett..........................1978
Bernard Edward Cotton, CBE............1979
Herbert Edward McGee.....................1980
James Edward Eardley, JP...............1981
Kenneth George Thomas Clephane......1982
Denys Carr........................................1983
Ian S Porter.......................................1984
Peter W Lee.......................................1985
Derek Bray.........................................1986
Rowland Walker................................1987
George Alan Jowitt............................1988
John McGee.....................................1989
Hugh Sykes (later Sir Hugh).............1990
Dr John Harvey.................................1991
Raymond Douglas............................1992
Derrick Willingham............................1993
Christopher Jewitt.............................1994
David Stone......................................1995
Richard Field.....................................1996
Paul Tear..........................................1997
Doug Liversidge................................1998
Stuart Johnson..................................1999
Vernon Smith....................................2000
Richard Prest....................................2001
John Bramah....................................2002
Neil Turner........................................2003
John Tissiman...................................2004
Timothy Reed...................................2005
Alan David Bedford Reid...................2006
Gordon Bridge..................................2007

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The Cutlers' Company of Hallamshire is a very ancient corporation, infinitely more so than the borough of Sheffield itself. In this respect, therefore, the Master Cutler is a more dignified individual than the Mayor. Moreover the Master Cutler must necessarily be a rich man, which the Mayor need not be. The exercise of hospitality, which to outsiders constitutes the principal part of his functions, must cost a lot of money. The Cutlers' feast, where Government big-wigs hold forth on weighty matters of State, is perhaps the best known affair of this kind to people at a distance. It is certainly a very grand affair, but for thorough enjoyableness I fancy a good many Sheffielders would give the palm to those numerous " At Homes " which have marked the present Master Cutler's tenure of office.

What will probably be the last of these re-unions until Lent is over took place on Friday, the 1st of March, and was attended by between 800 and 900 persons. Although the company was so large, the suite of rooms at the Cutlers' Hall afforded ample accommodation, and the arrangement of Mr. and Mrs. Howell for entertaining their guests left nothing to be desired. What with flowers and music, and beautiful pictures, the scene was about as brilliant as could be conceived. The dancing was kept up till between two and three o'clock in the morning.


Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st April 1889

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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A List of the Officers of the Company of Cutlers, for the year ending September 1824:


MASTER CUTLER

Thomas Dewsnap


WARDENS

Peter Spurr
John Rowbottom


SEARCHERS

Joseph Hobson
George Deakin
James Crawshaw
Robert Fisher
James Hall
Henry Moorhouse


ASSISTANTS

Thomas Champion
Benjamin Marples
William Colley
John Morton
Thomas Ellin
John Woollen
Charles Styring
Samuel Saynor
William Sansom
Samuel Naylor
Enoch Barber
Edmund Wilson
William Broadhurst
John Barber
Samuel Barlow
George Naylor
Thomas Jackson
John Sorby, jun.
Aaron Hadfield
John Staniland
John Hawksworth
William Jessop
George Marriott
William Barker

Source: The Picture of Sheffield; or, An Historical and Descriptive View of the Town of Sheffield - John Holland - 1824

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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THE NEW MASTER CUTLER

Sir Alexander Wilson, Bart., managing director of the Cyclops Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield, is succeeded in the Master Cutlership by Mr. Maurice George Rodgers, managing director of Messrs. Joseph Rodgers & Sons, Ltd., the great cutlery house of Norfolk Street. The firm is over two hundred years old, yet curiously enough, Mr. Rodgers is the first of his family who has filled the high office of Master Cutler. Mr. Rodgers' household have been men of business, and not prone to public work or public speaking, although bearing their fair share in the burdens and responsibilities devolving upon leading citizens of an important city. Mr. Rodgers, who will be formally installed on the first Thursday in September, is to give the Cutlers' Feast early in November.


Source: The British Trade Journal - 1st September 1897

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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NEW MASTER OF SHEFFIELD

Marmaduke Wardlow, steel manufacturer, is the new Master Cutler of Sheffield, having been elected to the office at the annual meeting of the Cutlers’ Company. Mr. Wardlow was elected Master in succession to William Clark.

Image

During the past twelve months, Mr. Wardlow has filled the position of Senior Warden. The duties of Master will be carried out by Mr. Clark until the installation of the new holder of the office, which will take place on October 4th.

Captain R. W. Matthews was elected Senior Warden, and Mr. James Neill, Junior Warden. There were no new members for admittance. The various committees will be appointed at the installation ceremony.

The Cutlets’ Feast will take place on Thursday, October 27th, but the list of expected guests is not yet complete. It is, however, hoped to have the Duke of York as the principal guest.

Marmaduke Wardlow, the new Master Cutler, is well-known in the steel world as proprietor of the firm of S. & C. Wardlow, of Portobello Steel Works, Sheffield, and Congress Works, Oughtibridge. He is the only son of Charles Wardlow, who, with his brother, Samuel, founded the firm in 1833. Charles Wardlow, who died about ten years ago, and who was for many years well-known in the public work of the city, was Mr. Marmaduke Wardlow’s cousin. The new Master Cutler, who is 57 years old, entered the firm as partner with his cousin, at the age of 21. Since 1892, when Charles Wardlow retired, he has been the sole proprietor of the firm. The business is one of steel making, especially cutlery steel, a line which has been cultivated from the first, and for which the firm has a high reputation.

Mr. Wardlow has been a member of the Cutlers’ Company since 1907, and has taken his share in the work of various committees, besides filling the office of Junior and Senior Warden in turn. He has been a member of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce for a few years. He has had a term of service on the Education Committee, from which he retired in 1911. He has been a magistrate for the city since 1907.

He belongs to an old United Methodist family. and has all his life been connected with Surrey Street Church, of which he is treasurer. His great hobby is reading. He has a wide acquaintance with literature, and there is nothing he enjoys so much as to settle down to the perusal of a good book. Mr. Wardlow resides at West Royd, Manchester Road, Sheffield. His only son. Lieut. Charles Wardlow, of the West Riding Brigade of Artillery, was severely wounded in the war, but is now, to a great extent recovered, and is again serving with his old corps of Territorials.


Source: The American Cutler - September 1921

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The Cutlers' Co. held their annual meeting at Sheffield on the 2nd ult., when Mr. James Dixon, of the well-known firm of Messrs. James Dixon & Sons, was nominated as Master for the ensuing year. Although Mr. Dixon is one of the youngest members of the Company, he is particularly well qualified for the office to which he has been called, having travelled extensively and being generally a well-informed and able man. His firm is the oldest and largest in the trade. The senior warden for the year is Mr. S. E. Howell, and the junior warden Mr. S. G. Richardson. The Cutlers' Feast is to take place on the first Thursday in September, when Mr. Dixon will be installed according to the quaint and picturesque ceremonial of this ancient corporation.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st September 1887

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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THE MASTER CUTLER

Mr Robert Belfill, managing director of George Butler and Co., Limited, was to-day installed Master Cutler of Sheffield.


Source: South Wales Echo - 3rd September 1891

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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DEATH OF THE MASTER CUTLER

Mr Maurice Rodgers, Master Cutler of Sheffield, died on Monday afternoon. The deceased, who was aged 41, was managing director of Joseph Rodgers and Sons, Limited, one of the leading cutlery establishments in Sheffield.


Source: South Wales Echo - 24th May 1898

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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A MASTER CUTLER

Mr. J. Furniss Atkinson, of the firm of Atkinson Bros., cutlery manufacturers, Sheffield, was installed this afternoon as a Master Cutler. The cutlers' feast usually takes place on the evening of the day of instellation , but, in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining prominent politicians as the chief guests, it has been postponed till early in November.


Source: Evening Express - 1st September 1892

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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THE CUTLERS' FEAST AT SHEFFIELD

This festival, which is now looked upon as an event of almost national interest, was held on Thursday, and passed off with a brilliancy that has never been exceeded. About eleven o'clock the newly-elected master cutler, Mr. George Wostenholm, of the Washington Works, and the other members of the company, assembled at the Cutlers' Hall, where they partook of a handsome dejeuner. At noon, they proceeded in procession to the Town Hall, where the master cutler, the wardens, the searchers, and the assistants, took the oaths of office. Afterwards they went to the parish church, where an excellent sermon was preached by the chaplain, the Rev. W. Wilkinson. During the whole of the day the front of the Cutlers' Hall was decorated with banners, including the stars and stripes of the United States, in honour of the presence in Sheffield of the representative in this country of the American Republic. About two hundred gentlemen sat down to dinner. The Master Cutler presided. On his right was seated the Duke of Newcastle, and on his left the Hon. Mr. Dallas, the American minister. There were present also several of the nobility and local gentry. Dinner having been concluded, the Master Cutler proposed the usual loyal toasts. He then proposed the "Army and Navy," to which Col. Hodge responded. The health of the Emperor of the French was then proposed. Baron Gudin, of the French navy, responded. Mr. Mappin proposed the health of the Duke of Norfolk, to which Lord G. Manners responded. Mr. I. Greaves proposed the health of the Duke of Newcastle. The duke returned thanks. He paid a high compliment to Mr. Dallas, and said as long as we have such a representative of the United States, the probability of any rupture with that country will be remote. He believed at this moment the export of unwrought steel from this town to the United States amounts to something like 6,000 tons a year. He spoke not of other manufactured articles, but of one which alone might form, he did not say a golden, but an iron link between the two countries. (Cheers.) He congratulated them upon the present state of prosperity in this town, which prosperity had been brought about and is attributable to a greatly improved feeling between the masters and the workmen. His grace touched upon the most salient social questions of the day for the amelioration of the condition of the people. If they succeeded in rendering the situation of the labouring classes of a country prosperous and happy, they would to that - ay, and even to a still greater-extent eradicate and prevent crime, Let them not forget that it is not the wealth or the patriotism of an aristocracy -that it is not the industry, the riches, or the virtues of a middle class, that constitute the strength of a nation, but that it is, combined with these, the prosperity, the content, and the instruction of the labouring community which must form the power of a nation. With these we may hope to continue happy and prosperous in peace - with these we may be assured of strength in war. (Cheers.) The Master Cutler then proposed the health of the American minister, the Hon. Mr. Dallas, to which he responded. The healths of Earl Fitzwilliam, Lord Wharncliffe, and Lord George Manners were then proposed. Mr. R. N. Philips, of the Park, proposed the health of Lord Denman. The remaining toasts were the Master Cutler; the members for the West Riding; the members for Sheffield, to which Mr. Roebuck responded; the magistrates; the Mayor; Mr. Mappin, and the past master cutlers and the ladies. The company broke up shortly after eleven o'clock.


Source: The Usk Observer - 13th September 1856

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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NEW MASTER CUTLER

Mr. Marmaduke Wardlow, head of the firm of S. & C. Warlow, steelmakers, of Sheffield and Oughtibridge, has been elected Master of the Cutlers' Company of Hallamshire in succession to Mr. William Clark. Captain R. W. Matthews was appointed Senior Warden and Mr. James Neil Junior Warden of the Company.


Source: The Times - 1st September 1921

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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Mr. J. E. Bingham, of the firm of Messrs. Walker and Hall, silver and electro platers, was on Tuesday elected the Master Cutler at Sheffield.

Source: The Illustrated London News - 6th August 1881

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The Master Cutler of Sheffield is always elected in the first week of August, and formally installed, with the accustomed quaint formalities, on the first Thursday of September, when the Cutlers’ Feast is held. This year the office is again held by a cutlery manufacturer. Mr. Robert Belfitt—of Messrs. George Butler and Co., Trinity Cutlery Works—is succeeded by Mr. J. Furness Atkinson, head of the firm of Messrs, Atkinson Brothers, Milton Works, Milton-street. Mr. Atkinson, who is well known locally, has done much excellent work in the Sheffield district, and has always been an enterprising and successful business man. His firm have had a great deal of Government cutlery to make for the army, and it has been thoroughly satisfactory. Mr. Atkinson, who is an accomplished linguist, has travelled all over the Continent in the ordinary course of his business, which is one of the best in the town. Some years ago he took a determined stand on behalf of the public in regard to a right of way through Rycroft Glen, a charming walk in our immediate neighbourhood. Mr, Atkinson fought the case at Leeds Assizes in the public interest and won it. The Master Cutler elect will not be the last of the Masters in the cutlery craft. Mr. George Howson, who is senior warden, will be the master for the following year, and he is a member of the house of Messrs. Harrison Brothers and Howson, cutlers and silver platers ; while the junior warden—Mr. C. H. Bingham—is a principal in the firm of Messrs. Walker and Hall, silversmiths and cutlers, Electro Works, Howard-street. The Cutlers’ Company will thus have four Master Cutlers, who are cutlers, in succession.

Source: The Engineer - 5th August 1892

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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J. H. Thomas, the retiring Colonial Secretary, was the chief guest this week at the 296th annual Cutlers’ Feast at Sheffield. The tables sparkled with the beautiful silverware that Sheffield is so proud of and which is made by the silversmiths of that city. Mr. Thomas told the silverware and cutlery men that the recent verdict at the polls must be taken as the wish of the people. He said he deplored the talk of “direct action” already going around on the part of disgruntled People, and appealed for a cessation of the “damnable talk of class warfare,” and a halt called in “this bitter class hatred.” In spite of any particular party being in power, he said, there are distinct signs of improving trade, but, he said, industrial differences if persisted in, will wreck this forward movement. Thomas goes back from Parliament to his duties as a trade union executive, being formerly head of the Railwaymen’s Union.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 26th November 1924

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

Post by dognose »

The usual annual meeting of the Cutlers' Company for the purpose of electing the Master Cutler and of constituting the company for the ensuing year has just been held. As a result Mr. Samuel Gray Richardson, of the firm of Southern and Richardson, was unanimously elected Master Cutler. The Cutlers' Feast will be given on the first Thursday in September.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd September 1889

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

Post by dognose »

The Master Cutlers' Forfeit Feast — which must not be confounded with the big feast later on — has this year come off with exceptional eclat. The presence of the whole of the borough members in town, in consequence of the General Election, has rendered it possible for all of them to be present. As is customary, the distribution of Hanbey's Charity, which is administered by the Cutlers' Company, took place in the earlier part of the day, and was accompanied by its usual picturesque accessories — the procession of ancient-looking men and women and bright young boys to the parish church over the way. In the evening, according to ancient custom, the Forfeit Feast was given by the Master Cutler in the old banqueting-room of the Cutlers' Hall. The Master Cutler (Mr. Robert Belfitt) presided, and the company was unusually numerous. According to a quaint old custom, six Hanbey boys from the Charity School took up a collection at the close, each shaking hands with the Master Cutler.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1892

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The year of office of the Present Master Cutler, now fast drawing to a close, has not been behind any of its predecessors in the enjoyableness of the series of festivities which usually relieve the discharge of the duties more properly appertaining to it. At a recent " At Home," given by Mr. and Mrs. Belfitt, the guests numbered nearly seven hundred, and the whole of the rooms in the Cutlers' Hall were brought into requisition. The walls were hung with pictures by the leading artists of the day, while plants and flowers, from the nurseries of Messrs. Fisher, Son, and Sybray, contributed in no small degree to the attractiveness of the rooms. Art workmanship was represented by some charming Worcester ware, which came in for a good deal of attention, and also by the epergnes for the supper-table, lent by Messrs. Walker and Hall. When it is added that Mr. Peek's band furnished the music it is not surprising to hear the gathering described as one of the most successful ever held within the four corners of the Cutlers' Hall.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1892

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

Post by dognose »

The present political situation will affect the Cutlers' Feast, which will, in consequence of the Parliamentary hive being in full working order, be postponed until November. It may also militate against its success in one important respect. The anxiety on the part of each succeeding Master Cutler to bag a Cabinet Minister is well known ; but as this year the political party will be in office which, so far as Sheffield is concerned, can scarcely be called the popular party, the Master Cutler may possibly have some difficulty as to his specially-invited guests. Notwithstanding the well-known hospitality of the men of Hallamshire a member of a Gladstonian Administration will scarcely find himself in congenial company at the Cutlers' Feast.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st September 1892

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The Duke of Teck has accepted an invitation to be present at the Cutlers' Feast. This is a feather in the cap of the new Master Cutler who is the first of the long line who has succeeded in bagging a scion of Royalty for his banquet. The personal popularity of the Teck family, however, will be the chief ingredient in the satisfaction felt by the Master Cutler's guests. The duke himself has been in Sheffield before, and has visited several of the large works. It is remembered that on one occasion, while in a file-cutters' shop, he mounted the " horsing "and cut a file, for which initiation into the craft he is said to have paid his " foot-ale." His reflected popularity as being the husband of that most popular of English princesses, the Princess Mary of Cambridge, goes for a good deal ; but besides that he seems to possess that frankness of manner which commends itself so well to Yorkshiremen in general, and to Sheffielders in particular. His presence at the feast is said to be due to the influence of Sir Ashmead Bartlett, the popular member for the Ecclesall division.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweler and Silversmith - 1st October 1892

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Re: The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

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The hazardous step of postponing the Cutlers' Feast from the orthodox date in September to well on in November, has resulted in an unqualified success. The brilliancy of the gathering has never been exceeded by any of the two hundred and ninety odd cutlers' feasts that have gone before it. The speakers were without exception in good form, the Master Cutler downwards. Even the two members of the Government present — to wit, the Lord Chancellor and the President of the Board of Trade — made speeches which were applauded to the echo by an audience nine-tenths of which was probably politically hostile to them. The Gaekwar of Baroda was present, and replied to the toast of his own health. Leading statesmen from the Colonies represented Britain beyond the seas, although the Master Cutler was disappointed in the non-ability of Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the Premier of Cape Colony, to be present. It is safe to say that the prestige and usefulness of the Cutlers' Company will not suffer during Mr. Atkinson's year of office.

The hospitality extended to the guests from a distance did not end at the Cutlers' Feast. On the following day the Duke of Teck and other distinguished personages were " personally conducted " round some of the large works. In the silver trade the works selected were those of Messrs. Walker and Hall, in Howard Street, and Messrs. Mappin and Webb, in Norfolk Street. The former of these firms employs about 900 hands, and the latter not many less. Time only permitted, therefore, special departments in each to be visited. Sufficient was seen, however, to give our visitors a good idea of the enormous proportions to which the silver and electro-plate trade of Sheffield has attained. The east-end of the town was subsequently visited, and the imposing spectacle of the rolling of an armour-plate witnessed at the works of Messrs. Charles Cammell and Co.

The dinner and entertainment to the employes of the Master Cutler for the time being has now become as much a matter of course as the feast itself. It goes without saying, therefore, that Mr. C. F. Atkinson fully acted up to precedent in this respect. The dinner and ball came off on the Saturday following the feast, several of Mr. Atkinson's guests at that function also being present.

The firm of Atkinson Brothers, of which the Master Cutler is head, dates back to the year 1815, when it was started by the father and uncle of the present members. The location of the works at first was in Rockingham Street, where the business grew rapidly, and was subsequently further increased by the acquisition of the late Mr. Ebenezer Parker's business in Carver Street. It ultimately became necessary to move into larger premises, and the present works in Milton Street were specially built. Messrs. Atkinson Brothers also carry on business in Birmingham.

The active discharge of Mr. Alderman Gamble's duties as Mayor has been interfered with by a nasty accident which befell his worship shortly before the expiration of his year of office. Coming from church one Sunday, Mr. Gamble was run down by a bicyclist, and sustained such injuries as necessitated his keeping his bed for a week. As a consequence, the town had to lie represented by the deputy mayor at such public functions as the reception of the Gaekwar of Baroda, and at the Cutlers' Feast. Mr. Gamble, however, is now rapidly recuperating, and will soon be able to resume his public and private work with his old energy.


Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st December 1892

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