Mr John Hobson Scissor Manufacturer 38 Taptonville Road

[tozzin]

Mr John Hobson Scissor Manufacturer
38 Taptonville Road

 

The finely worked initials of J H can be seen over the entrance to what was John Hobson’s  front door at 38 Taptonville Road, the following pre-amble is from the great work done by the Broomhill Social History Group.
In 1850 Sheffield was entering a period of major expansion and Broomhill was a favoured location for the homes of successful manufacturers and professional classes. In the 18th century the fields now occupied by Taptonville Rd were owned by Samuel Shore Esq., a local gentleman who lived in Tapton Grove, situated on Shore Lane where Tapton Hall (the Masonic Hall) now stands. A comparison of the 1851 map of the area with the present day illustrates how the pattern of the modern streets closely follows the pre-development field boundaries and lanes. Typically, the streets run through the centres of the original fields and the field boundaries are along the back garden walls of the houses. In 1850, Scissor manufacturer John Hobson purchased the fields that would become Taptonville Road and planned the development of the road, placing his own family home, Tapton Elms, in prime position on the highest ground at the head of the road. The gentility of the neighbourhood was assured by laying out the street with sizeable plots that were developed during the 1850s and 1860s with large, elegant houses of individual design standing in spacious gardens. Many of the successful industrialists in Sheffield were investing in property during this period.
• No.1: was built in 1853 by Joseph Wright Bishop, one of a pair with 246 Fulwood Rd. • No’s 2, 4 and 6 were all built in 1855 by Robert Booth (originally a tailor, then property developer). • No’s 3, 5 and 7: were built in 1852 by William Greenwood, (property investor), who lived for a time in no.3 and then later in no. 5. • No.8 Built in 1861 by Charles Fleming (an engraver) as his own family home • No.10 Built in 1870 by J F Littlewood (a cooper) as his own family home • No’s 9 to 19: Built 1852 by George Deakin (originally a silversmith, then property developer) who lived for a while in no.17.
The Hobson’s originated from Bradfield, the founder of the scissor empire, Joseph married a certain Miss Hinchcliffe who’s father was already making a good living producing scissors, Joseph Hobson is listed in the 1787 directory of the town, he was still in Bradfield at that time along with his son George, sometime before 1825 he had moved to Sheffield as he’s listed as a fine scissor maker, producing scissors from his works at 8 New Church Street, the yard where he made is scissors was named Hobson’s Yard after him, this street along with the yard was demolished and the present town hall was built over it, Josephs house was at 3 Surrey Street, it’s a strong possibility that he had access to the rear of his works from the rear of his house, by 1845, Joseph died on the 14th of September 1847 aged 75, the production was moved to 71 Arundel Street, his son John also moved house to 18 Surrey Street. I don’t know the circumstances but in 1879 John is working at 95 Arundel Street which probably stood near to where the Cossack stood, his old premises at 71 Arundel Street became the Talbot public house, which was run by two women, Miss Mary Norris and Miss Agnes Parsons in 1878ish. 

John Hobson’s family house was started in 1851 and completed in 1853. The gardens of Tapton Elms dominate the vistas north and south along Taptonville road. The ornamental garden to the south of the house’s principal façade has been lost under the two L-shaped disused student residence blocks now standing within this area. Further south, the half-acre walled kitchen garden of Tapton Elms has a highly decorative entrance gateway facing the street; all four boundary walls and gateways of this garden are still intact. Tapton Elms was the home for more than 70 years of the Hobson family. They were an old Sheffield family with a long history in the scissor manufacturing industry dating back to the 17th century .The Hobson’s’ business enterprises linked them to several of Sheffield’s best-known companies through a series of alliances and mergers, as well as trading under their own name for many years. For nearly half a century John Hobson drove the family business, it was known for its fine tailors shears and scissors, in the census of 1871 the firm employed 120 people half of which were women.
John the driving force of the firm retired in 1882 and he died unexpectedly at Tapton Elms  on the 20th of February 1889, after visiting his friend Frederick Mappin ( Mappin & Webb / Mappin's Brewery) at Thornbury, now Thornbury Hospital, as Tony Morton now knows after brilliant surgery there. The business was passed on to one of his sons, Albert, when John retired, who was just 21, this young man was severely crippled and could not walk without two strong walking sticks, when his father died he sold the business and order book to Joseph Rodgers, Albert along with his brother Wilfred joined the board of directors. Albert suffered great loss in the WW I his two sons, Leslie aged 19 was killed on 12th of July 1915 and his other son Alan lost his life on 28th of August 1916 age 23, for what? Tapton Elms is now being turned into flats by the look of it a sad end to a great house. 
I must point out that the history of Hobson & Son was gleaned from Geoff Tweeddale’s Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers , thanks Geoff.