Sharrow Mills

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Sharrow Mills seen from Sharrow Vale Road. Sharrow Mills from Sharrow Vale Road 2.jpg
Sharrow Mills seen from Sharrow Vale Road.

Sharrow Mills are a collection of industrial buildings in Sheffield, England, which have been used for the production of snuff by the firm of Wilsons of Sharrow since the mid 18th century. The mills stands on the Porter Brook in the Sharrow Vale area of the city, just off Ecclesall Road.

Sheffield City and Metropolitan borough in England

Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. With some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely industrial roots to encompass a wider economic base. The population of the City of Sheffield is 582,506 (mid-2018 est.) and it is one of the eight largest regional English cities that make up the Core Cities Group. Sheffield is the third-largest English district by population. The metropolitan population of Sheffield is 1,569,000.

Snuff (tobacco) smokeless tobacco

Snuff is a smokeless tobacco made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is inhaled or "snuffed" into the nasal cavity, delivering a swift hit of nicotine and a lasting flavoured scent. Traditionally, it is sniffed or inhaled lightly after a pinch of snuff is either placed onto the back surface of the hand, held pinched between thumb and index finger, or held by a specially made "snuffing" device.

Wilsons of Sharrow

Wilsons of Sharrow, now named Wilsons & Company (Sharrow) Ltd, based at Sharrow Mills in the Sharrow district of Sheffield, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer of snuff tobacco since 1737. Since 1982 Wilsons now also manufactures the renowned Fribourg & Treyer snuff blends who were producing snuff since 1720.

Contents

History

Early history

It is thought that a cutlers wheel, owned by the Duke of Norfolk existed on the site in 1581, with the tenant being Thomas Greenwood. [1] Norfolk rental records mention "the wheel at Sharrow head" in paperwork dating from 1588-9. The wheel was certainly in full operation by 1604 when the tenants were the Bamforth family, John Bamforth paid the rent until 1654 and succeeding members of his family continued as tenants until 1718, during this time the site was also known as Bamforth Wheel and Sharrow Moor Wheel. John Hale, who was a relative of the Bamforths, became tenant in 1719 and he was followed by a number of occupants including John Hall in 1731, before Thomas Wilson started renting the mill in 1737. [2]

A blade mill was a variety of water mill used for sharpening newly fabricated blades, including scythes, swords, sickles, and knives.

Duke of Norfolk Dukedom in the Peerage of England

The Duke of Norfolk is the premier duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the county of Norfolk. The current duke is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. The dukes have historically been Catholic, a state of affairs known as recusancy in England.

The Wilsons

The buildings seen from Frog Walk. Sharrow Mills from Frog Walk.jpg
The buildings seen from Frog Walk.

Thomas Wilson was a manufacturer of blade shears who was a notable individual within Sheffield industry who had been Master Cutler in 1731. [3] He was succeeded by his son Joseph in the mid 1740s. Joseph Wilson was a highly successful entrepreneur who broadened the business, introducing the production of Sheffield plate through his acquaintance with Thomas Boulsover as well as saw making. He also had an interest and some knowledge in snuff making, this may have been brought on by the manufacture of snuff boxes from Sheffield plate, and at some time in the 1740s the manufacture of snuff began at the mill along with the other activities. In February 1757 a series of extensions and alterations were undertaken by Joseph Wilson, even though he was still only the tenant. He paid the Duke of Norfolk to widen and improve the leats, giving the mill a unique tail goit system which crossed under the meandering Porter Brook in a culvert. [4]

The Master Cutler is the head of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire established in 1624. Their role is to act as an ambassador of industry in Sheffield, England. The Master Cutler is elected by the freemen of the company on the first Monday of September of each year and the position taken in the first Tuesday of October. Despite the title, the Master Cutler does not have to be involved in the cutlery business, or even the steel industry, to be elected.

Sheffield plate is a layered combination of silver and copper that was used for many years to produce a wide range of household articles. Almost every article made in sterling silver was also crafted by Sheffield makers, who used this manufacturing process to produce nearly identical wares at far less cost. The process and material are sometimes compared to the Japanese mokume-gane.

Thomas Boulsover English cutler and inventor

Thomas Boulsover, was a Sheffield cutler who is best remembered as the inventor of Sheffield Plate. He made his fortune manufacturing various items, but especially buttons using the process, he later diversified into making cast steel and saws.

On 20 January 1763 a fire destroyed large areas of the mill [5] and a national collection was organised to compensate Joseph Wilson because his business was so important to tax revenue. The building was reconstructed as a purpose built snuff mill with drawings from 1764 showing the mill much larger than previously with no sign of the cutlers wheel. The brick built managers house was added at this time. In 1774 the building was rated as a snuff mill only. By 1794 the mill had a 21-foot fall of water with Joseph, Thomas and William Wilson named as the tenants of Sharrow Moor snuff mill “heretofore a cutlers grinding wheel”. Steam power was introduced in 1797 with a sketch plan of 1803 showing a chimney for the steam engine. In 1798 the Wilsons purchased the mill outright from the Duke of Norfolk’s estate. Detailed valuation records from the first half of the 19th century itemise an overshot water wheel developing 10.25 HP, steam engine, drying house, warehouses and packing rooms. [2]

Steam engine Heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid

A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force is transformed, by a connecting rod and flywheel, into rotational force for work. The term "steam engine" is generally applied only to reciprocating engines as just described, not to the steam turbine.

Horsepower Unit of power

Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions being used today are the mechanical horsepower, which is about 745.7 watts, and the metric horsepower, which is approximately 735.5 watts.

The mill today

Today the mill is still capable of producing snuff by water power although electricity is often used to drive the machinery. A new snuff mill was built in 1880 to complement the existing one and this is arranged around a courtyard with various other 19th century buildings, including the counting house, warehouse and stable block. [6] The mill dam is fed through a culvert from a weir on the Porter Brook. The water wheel is 19 feet in diameter and four foot 10 inches wide, the wheel powers the snuff grinding mills through a vertical main shaft which are situated two floors above. [7]

Listed building status

There are seven listed structures within the Sharrow Mills complex, the original 1763 snuff mill is listed as Grade II*. Grade II listed structures include the 1880 snuff mill, two bridges, stables, workshops and the dam walls of the mill pond.

Listed building Protected historic structure in the United Kingdom

A listed building, or listed structure, is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, Cadw in Wales, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in Northern Ireland.

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References

  1. River Sheaf - A gazetteer of the Sheaf and its tributaries from source to the River Don Gives early history.
  2. 1 2 "Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers", David Crossley (Editor), Sheffied Trades Historical Society, ISBN   0-9506601-2-4, Page 36 Gives early and general history.
  3. Sheffield Indexers Gives list of Master Cutlers.
  4. Sharrow Mills Online Gives general history of mill.
  5. Sharrow Mills Online Gives dates of fire and alterations.
  6. Images of England Gives details of 1880 snuff mill.
  7. "A History Of Sheffield", David Hey, Carnegie Publishing Ltd, ISBN   1 85936 110 2, Page 166/167 Gives details of courtyard & snuff box production.

Coordinates: 53°22′07″N1°29′34″W / 53.368518°N 1.492869°W / 53.368518; -1.492869