The Oakes family manufactured scissors in Attercliffe.  This was an area apparently favoured by Dutch and French refugees, some of whom were skilled scissor men (Leader 1905-6¹).  The family was descended from Matthew Oakes (born c.1625), who launched a scissor-making dynasty, which had a penchant for using Scriptural names.  The Oakes’ family history can be traced in its mark – a heart, the letter ‘I’, and a Maltese Cross – which was granted first to Titus Oakes in 1737.  The mark then passed to his son Jonathan Oakes (1737-1810) in 1759; and then to his son Jonathan Oakes (1768-1836), a maker of fine scissors who was probably granted his Freedom in 1789.  The latter was married to Hannah (1782-1866).  In 1819, Jonathan rented the so-called Elizabeth Rhodes House at Washford Bridge (built in 1671), together with a workshop, orchard, and garden.   It has been suggested (Vine, 1932, Pt. 2²) that the grinding may have been done at nearby Royds Mill.

Jonathan Oakes, scissors manufacturer of Attercliffe Bridge, died on 9 May 1836, aged 68.  He was buried in Zion Congregational Church, Attercliffe (where Hannah was also interred after her death on 2 April 1866, aged 84).  Their son, Edwin Millwood Oakes, had been born in 1813.  In 1839, Edwin and Alfred Oakes were listed as making scissors, trimming shears, and razors at Attercliffe Bridge.  However, in the early 1800s, some of the Oakes’ family moved closer to Sheffield town centre.  Matthew Oakes, a scissors manufacturer, was active in the Nursery Street area between about 1822 and 1837.   He died in Harvest Lane on 26 December 1846, aged 67.  John Oakes, scissors manufacturer of Harvest Lane, died on 6 November 1859, leaving effects under £3,000.  By 1841, Edwin himself had started a workshop in Workhouse Lane, off Westbar.  He soon moved to Solly Street.  In 1861, Oakes employed 25 workers in a firm that was described as ‘the oldest business in the town that has descended from father to son’ (Sheffield Independent, 13 January 1876).   Edwin Millwood Oakes, ‘gentleman’ of Wilkinson Street, died on 1 June 1900, aged 87.  His obituarist recalled a man, who had an ‘insatiable appetite for information’, especially on churches and church bells (Sheffield Independent, 4 June 1900).  A Churchman, Oakes was buried in the General Cemetery.   His wife had predeceased him on 12 October 1870, aged 58.  

E. M. Oakes & Co was taken over by Collison Willey (c.1860-1938) and Arthur Willey (1863-1929), who were the sons of George C. Willey, a linen draper, and his wife Mary Ann.  They continued to run the firm in Solly Street, until about 1927.  Arthur Willey, Southgrove Road, died on 17 December 1929.   He left £563.  Collison Willey, Dalveen, Clarkehouse Road, died on 26 March 1938, aged 78.  His estate was £3,871.

^1. Leader, R E, History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in the County of York (Sheffield, 1905-6)  
^2. Vine, G R, The Story of Old Attercliffe (Sheffield, 1932)