History of Little Mesters

[jockey]

I'm trying to get hold of a book that was published around 1980's, possibly by the university looking in to the history of the little mesters.

 

My gradad was in this book, I did have a copy but have lost it and would love to get it back.

 

My grandad was George Sadler, worked above the old Saddle pub on West Street, along side Eric Wragg.

 

Can you help ???

[Heeley tyke]

My grandfather and great grandfather were 'Little mesters' They had a small place on Backfields (off the Moor)

They were file-cutters and many of the surrounding places were also either one or two man concerns.

Mostly, the industry was associated with cutlery and there are several photographs in the archives of the Central Library.

[Tuppie]

Hi.

 

Have you tried the archives or local studies....?

 

An excellent book on the subject of Cutlers is Mesters to Masters A History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, published by the Oxford University Press and edited by David Hey (Professor of Local and Family History at the University of Sheffield) and Clyde Binfield (Reader in the Dept of History at the University of Sheffield).

 

This book is available for reference only at the archives. I managed to get a copy from The Oxford University Press.

 

Tuppie

[darra]

For anybody interested there is a book called

MADE IN SHEFFIELD

A photographic survey of little mesters workshops

by Rob Steerwood & Peter Machin

Published by Applebaum

It's full of Photo's of the workshps and write ups about the craftsmen and women who work there.

such people were

Ernest Mills (pen & pocket knife maker)

Brian Colley (pocket knife blade grinder)

Ken Croft ( blade hardener)

Fred & Ivy James (bowie knife makers) Their workshop was on Broom spring lane.

Mrs Wright & Mrs. Grayson. (mirror polishers)

George Sadler (hafter) his workshop was overlooking West Street but at time of writing of book 1986 was derilict)

Jack Cheetham & Cyril long (Silversmith & Fibre handle Maker) Their workshop was on sylvester Street.

Bowers & Burnside (Scissor makers)

There were also some workshops on Milton Street.

hope this helps have got the ISBN if you want it.

[firesmudge]

There was once a documentry made on the little mesters in the 80's it was great to watch very interesting showing the now dead art. It featured male & feamles working in their workshops. Heres a few web sites including the one for the book above.

Can anyone remember the documentry it was on itv or channel 4

http://www.made-in-sheffield.com/people/littlemesters-pt1.htm

http://www.littlemesters.com/little_mesters.htm

http://www.littlemesters.com/sheffield_history.htm

[PopT]

An old colleague of mine Tony Sanderson's picture appeared on the front of one of those books.

 

I often wondered if he was still around and about the Ecclesall area?

 

Has anyone seen him recently?

 

Happy Days!

[lakerman]

Aybody wanting a copy of "Mesters to Masters" can obtain one from The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire at the Cutlers Hall, Church Street ,Sheffield S1 1HG. It will probably cost you a tenner.

[steven85]

There was once a documentry made on the little mesters in the 80's it was great to watch very interesting showing the now dead art. It featured male & feamles working in their workshops. Heres a few web sites including the one for the book above.

Can anyone remember the documentry it was on itv or channel 4

http://www.made-in-sheffield.com/people/littlemesters-pt1.htm

http://www.littlemesters.com/little_mesters.htm

http://www.littlemesters.com/sheffield_history.htm

 

I remember it, it was very good I new the chap who made the scissors in the film, Jim Butler, he was good friends with my dad.

[bullerboY]

Jockey.Eric Wragg was a friend of mine,he worked over Mortons shop on West St and made speciality knives of great quality.