This table knife manufacturer was founded by William Bradshaw (c.1780-1844). He apparently worked as a grocer and then became a grinder. He had several children by his wife, Mary (c.1775-1837), including William Bradshaw Jun. (1805-1883).  In 1821 and 1822, William Bradshaw was listed as a table knife manufacturer at Garden Street. In 1825, William’s name appeared at Townhead Street as a manufacturer of table and dessert knives and forks, butchers’ knives, shoe knives, and steels. In the following year, he was bankrupt and offered for sale his stock of table knives and forks, hearths, and grinders’ tools (Sheffield Independent, 18 November 1826). The business was revived and in 1833 it was again listed – this time as William Bradshaw & Sons – at Townhead Street. By 1841, it was styled ‘& Son’, with William Sen. and Jun. as partners.  In 1849, father and son relocated to Orchard Street, where they continued to manufacture table, shoe, butchers’, oyster, and palette knives. 

William Bradshaw Sen. died at his residence at Western Bank on 1 February 1844, aged 64. His wife, Mary, had predeceased him on 9 July 1837, aged 62, ‘after a lingering and painful illness’ (Sheffield Independent, 15 July 1837).  They were buried at the parish church (St Peter & St Paul). William Jun. continued to trade at Orchard Street. His residence was at Broomspring Lane, where he lived with his wife, Elizabeth nee Crossland (whom he had married in 1840).  In the late 1870s, Bradshaw retired, and he died at his home on 2 February 1883, aged 77.  He left an estate of £905 to Elizabeth (who died in 1884, aged 72). Their grave is at City Road Cemetery. Maleham & Yeomans acquired the Bradshaw mark: a Maltese Cross and the letters V and M (placed horizontally), which had been granted in 1780.