Henry Ecroyd was born in Bradford on 2 October 1834, the son of Quakers Benjamin (a conveyancer) and Hannah Ecroyd.  Henry was educated at Bootham, a Quaker School.   After a failing as a Liverpool shipping agent – McTear & Ecroyd, dissolved in 1859 – and as a Co-operative store retailer in London (bankrupt in 1868), Henry joined Deakin, Sons & Co.  He then partnered Henry William Fry selling chimneys, petroleum lamps, and stoves in London and Dublin (described as late Strange & Co).   By 1874, Fry & Ecroyd occupied Bellefield Works in Bellefield Lane / Fawcett Street in Netherthorpe.  The business sold lamps and steel, files, tools, and cutlery, especially to Mediterranean countries and South America.  

In 1875, Ecroyd was bankrupt with debts over £6,000, and he and Fry split.  The firm was resurrected, with Alfred Russell Ecroyd (1844-1922) – Henry’s brother, who operated tilting and forging operations in Sheffield – as the managing director.  In 1877, Bellefield Works was auctioned.   Henry Ecroyd & Co Ltd (capital £10,000) was  formed and by the early 1880s it was listed as a table knife (and petroleum lamp) manufacturer at Bridge Street Works, Bridge Street.  It employed only one woman, two boys, and a girl.  In 1885, it was liquidated.  Henry Ecroyd’s llama’s head trade mark was bought for £60 by Michael Hunter (and later used by Needham, Veall & Tyzack).   Henry Ecroyd, of Scotby, near Carlisle, died on 7 October 1894, leaving £1,029.  Alfred R. Ecroyd continued as an electro-plate manufacturer at Cyprus Works, Fawcett Street.  In 1890, Alfred announced that he was leaving Sheffield to devote himself full-time to temperance work in Liverpool (he was also a Quaker).  His assets were acquired by Bramwell, Brownhill & Co (see Bramwell & Co).  These included a trade mark shield emblazoned with the word ‘RELIABLE’.   Alfred later moved to Torquay and died there on 20 May 1922, leaving £1,950.