This firm can be traced to Edwin Copley (c.1818-1886), who was a leading steel fork manufacturer.  By the 1840s, he was living and working in Rockingham Street, where (according to a trade directory, 1845) he was making forks and running a beer house.  He soon manufactured forks alone and his trade expanded: he employed over a dozen workers by 1871; and a decade later his workforce was 18 men and five women.  Edwin and his wife, Hannah, died within days in 1886 at Fitzwilliam Street: the latter on 27 May and Edwin on 1 June.  They were both aged 68 and were buried in the General Cemetery.  Edwin left £9,518.  Their son, Alfred Copley (1846-1905), took over the business at 235 Rockingham Street.  The firm continued to manufacture forks and butchers’ and table steels (for sharpening).   A report of a non-fatal grindstone accident at Copley’s shows that grinding was conducted on the premises (Sheffield Independent, 11 March 1890).  Alfred Copley, ‘retired manufacturer’ of Clarke Street, died on 29 January 1905, aged 58.  He was buried in the family grave, leaving £9,115.  

Ownership then passed to (Charles) Herbert Wells (1867-1948).  Herbert was apparently the son of Richard Wells (born c.1843) and his wife, Elizabeth.  Richard was a fork manufacturer in Blagden Street in 1881, employing five men and two women.  Herbert, too, became a steel fork maker and eventually moved to Rockingham Street, where he may have become manager for Alfred Copley.  Herbert Wells operated the company until his death on 8 September 1947.  His burial (unconsecrated) was in the General Cemetery.  He left £37,746.  In 1948, the firm was restyled Copley & Co Ltd, 235 Rockingham Street.  An advertisement invited enquiries for a wide range of cutlery (mostly tableware).  The trade mark was the word ‘DORIC’.   Copley’s apparently ceased trading in the 1950s.