This enterprise was one of the first in the Britannia metal trade.  According to one source, it was established in 1789 at Bank Street (Leader, 1876¹).  The founders were Quakers.  They included Samuel Broadhead (1766-1823), Edmund Gurney (1765-1821), and Robert Sporle (1755-1818).   The Gurney and Sporle families were from Norfolk.  In 1789, Edmund Gurney had married Sarah Broadhead, who was the sister of Samuel.   

A silver mark was registered in 1792 by Robert Sporle and Edward [sic?] Gurney, plate workers, Paradise Street.  In 1797, Broadhead, Gurney & Sporle was listed at Workhouse Croft as a fine scissors maker (trade mark ‘+PNO); and a manufacturer of silver hafted table knives (trade mark ‘GURNEY’).   In 1811, Robert Sporle withdrew and became insolvent.  In 1813.  Broadhead & Gurney was also bankrupt.  Samuel Broadhead continued as a Britannia metal manufacturer at Angel Street (1816) and Bank Street (1818).  By 1821, he was a Britannia metal, fine scissors, and spoon manufacturer at Queen Street.   Edmund Gurney later partnered John Achard as an ivory merchant.  But this was ended by Edmund’s death on 4 October 1821, aged 57.   He was buried in Sheffield and described as a ‘factor’ in the Quaker burial register.  Samuel died on 9 June 1823, aged about 57, and was buried in the Friends’ Burial Ground in Sheffield.  Samuel’s son, by his wife Elizabeth, was Rogers Broadhead (see Broadhead & Atkin)

^1. Leader, Robert E, Reminiscences of Old Sheffield (Sheffield, 2nd edn 1876)