Liberty Works Building, Matilda Street Near The Leadmill

[Guest Adamkearan]

Hello, I'm new to Sheffield as a student and I was wondering if anybody could tell me anything about the place i'm living, i've always loved to know the history of my surroundings. I live at Liberty Works which is next to the small Sainsburys on Matilda Street and it looks like a pretty old building, maybe for a factory or mill as it is a pretty big industrial looking place? Any information on this or the surroundings around it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Guest Adamkearan]

In the common room there is a picture where this building or a very similar one is on fire, I wondered if this could help whether it was a normal fire or bombing in the war etc

[syrup]

In the common room there is a picture where this building or a very similar one is on fire, I wondered if this could help whether it was a normal fire or bombing in the war etc

Welcome to Sheffield and Sheffield History. Hope you enjoy your stay..

This is a possibilty.

GREAT FIRE IN SIDNEY STREET

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Saturday, June 20, 1868;

[DaveH]

Hello, I'm new to Sheffield as a student and I was wondering if anybody could tell me anything about the place i'm living, i've always loved to know the history of my surroundings. I live at Liberty Works which is next to the small Sainsburys on Matilda Street and it looks like a pretty old building, maybe for a factory or mill as it is a pretty big industrial looking place? Any information on this or the surroundings around it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Welcome to Sheffield History Adamkearan and thank you for posting your question. I am sure some of our members will be able to help you.

This is an area of Sheffield where both SteveHB and Stuart0742 used to live in the 1960's so perhaps one of them will have some answers.

[RichardB]

I'll need to try this tomorrow on a bigger screen ....

Welcome to Sheffield and Sheffield History. Hope you enjoy your stay..

This is a possibilty.

GREAT FIRE IN SIDNEY STREET

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Saturday, June 20, 1868;

[Guest Adamkearan]

Thankyou for your posts I find the history of certain places so interesting. Thankyou for the nespaper article, I noticed that it says Truro Works on it next to Matilda street and that is actually a sign on the main gateway so I researched this further and seen that, like the article says, it belonged to the Atkin Bros silverware company so that makes it the right fire you mentioned. Thankyou Any more information would also be appreciated if you have it! Thanks

[vox]

Atkin Brothers business traces his origin to Thomas Law, a silversmith active in Sheffield from c. 1750 to 1775. He was one of the only two firms combining the trades of cutlers and general silversmiths.

The business was continued by his sons John and William, and later by Joseph Law (probably the son of John, as in an 1830 directory he is quoted as "Joseph Law, late John Law & Son").

In 1824 was entered the mark of Jos. Law, Jn Oxley & Henry Atkin (oddly the mark was "LL", possibly for Law & Law) and in 1829 Henry Atkin and John Oxley, trading as Atkin, Oxley & Co, succeeded to the original firm. They dissolved their partnership c. 1840.

Henry Atkin continued the trade as Henry Atkin & Co at 32 Howard Street, Sheffield.

He died in 1853, and his sons Harry Wright Atkin, Edward Thomas Atkin and Frank Shaw Atkin continued the trade under the style Atkin Brothers in their Truro Works, Matilda Street, Sheffield.

The firm opened offices in London, managed by Harry Wright Atkin, and in 1925 became a limited liability company as Atkin Brothers (Silversmiths) Ltd.

Atkin Brothers manufactured a wide range of electroplate, Britannia Metal, silver and plated cutlery supplied to Thornhill & Co - London, Barraclough & Sons - Leeds, Ollivant & Botsford - Manchester, James Crichton & Co - Edinburgh, Hall & co - Manchester, Fairfax & Roberts - Sydney and many other firms in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies

Source

[RichardB]

Joseph Cutts, Britannia metal ware & spoon manufacturer, Truro Works, Matilda Street (home 25 Hermitage Street) - White's 1849

Ditto, Britannia Metal & Silverplated Ware & Spoon Manufacturer, Ditto for the addresses - White's 1852

Atkin Brothers business traces his origin to Thomas Law, a silversmith active in Sheffield from c. 1750 to 1775. He was one of the only two firms combining the trades of cutlers and general silversmiths. The business was continued by his sons John and William, and later by Joseph Law (probably the son of John, as in an 1830 directory he is quoted as "Joseph Law, late John Law & Son"). In 1824 was entered the mark of Jos. Law, Jn Oxley & Henry Atkin (oddly the mark was "LL", possibly for Law & Law) and in 1829 Henry Atkin and John Oxley, trading as Atkin, Oxley & Co, succeeded to the original firm. They dissolved their partnership c. 1840. Henry Atkin continued the trade as Henry Atkin & Co at 32 Howard Street, Sheffield. He died in 1853, and his sons Harry Wright Atkin, Edward Thomas Atkin and Frank Shaw Atkin continued the trade under the style Atkin Brothers in their Truro Works, Matilda Street, Sheffield. The firm opened offices in London, managed by Harry Wright Atkin, and in 1925 became a limited liability company as Atkin Brothers (Silversmiths) Ltd. Atkin Brothers manufactured a wide range of electroplate, Britannia Metal, silver and plated cutlery supplied to Thornhill & Co - London, Barraclough & Sons - Leeds, Ollivant & Botsford - Manchester, James Crichton & Co - Edinburgh, Hall & co - Manchester, Fairfax & Roberts - Sydney and many other firms in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies Source