The Wilkinsons manufactured shears (and knives) in Grimesthorpe.  The foundation date was commonly given as 1750; though 1730 was occasionally cited in the firm’s advertisements.  Paul Wilkinson (1729-1813), shear maker in Grimesthorpe, appeared in the local directory (1787).  He used his full name as a trade mark.  His father was John Wilkinson (1688-1772), who was a nailor.  It is possible that the family was descended from a branch of the Wilkinson family at Ecclesfield.  Leader (1905-6)¹ listed a Grimesthorpe shear smith, Paul Wilkinson – son of the late John – who was granted his Freedom in 1805.  But Kate Hodgson (personal communication to author, 2021) believes that Leader was mistaken, because Paul Wilkinson was granted his Freedom in 1752.  He was certainly buried in Attercliffe on 19 April 1813.

The family line (and the firm) descended through William Wilkinson (1777-1839), who died on 15 August 1839, aged 62 (and was also buried in Attercliffe).   He had three sons: John (1798-1861), Joseph (1800-1865), and Paul (1819-1883).   John and Joseph took over the business in the 1840s.  In the Census (1851), they both told the enumerators that they employed 30 men and 14 boys.  The firm had a worldwide trade and its patent sheep shears were much in demand in Australia by the late 1830s.   It won a Prize Medal at the Great Exhibition in 1851.  Wilkinson’s also manufactured shoe, butcher, cook, palette, and bread knives.  Bowie knives were exported to America.  So, too, were butcher-style knives marked with their name and with ‘US Navy’ on the wooden handles and the Alexander ‘NY’ mark on the blades.  Possibly, they were contract knives made in the 1860s.

John died on 11 January 1861, aged 62.  He was buried in Attercliffe.  Joseph died on 26 August 1865, aged 65.  It is not known if their brother, Paul, was involved in the business (he died in Talbot, in Victoria, Australia in 1883, aged 64).  The firm was next directed by Joseph Wilkinson’s sons: William (1826-1883) and Edward (1828-1885).  By 1868, the firm’s address was Spring Works, Grimesthorpe, where by 1871 it employed 15 men and 6 boys.  

William Wilkinson, Spring House, Grimesthorpe, died on 5 May 1883, aged 57.  He was buried at St Thomas’, Brightside, leaving £6,607.   Edward retired and William Wilkinson (c.1853-?), the son of William took over.  Edward Wilkinson, Fitzwalter House, Norfolk Road, died on 9 June 1885, aged 56.  He was buried in City Road Cemetery, leaving £5,725.  After the death of William’s widow, Sarah Ellen, in 1888 the firm became a private limited company  with £5,000 capital (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 6 February 1888).  The directors were J. Needham (cutlery manufacturer), J. Greaves (merchant), and Walter Tyzack (of Needham, Veall & Tyzack).  In 1896, Wilkinson’s was restyled Burgon & Wilkinson, after its acquisition by Harry Burgon of rival maker Burgon & Ball.  In 1899, bankruptcy forced this firm’s sale to Burgon & Ball, which then closed Spring Works. 

^1. Leader, R E, History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in the County of York (Sheffield, 1905-6)