Sharrow Mills

Sharrow Mills are a collection of industrial buildings in Sheffield, England, which have been used for the production of snuff by the firm of Wilsons of Sharrow since the mid 18th century. The mills stands on the Porter Brook in the Sharrow Vale area of the city, just off Ecclesall Road.

It is thought that a cutlers wheel, owned by the Duke of Norfolk existed on the site in 1581, with the tenant being Thomas Greenwood. Norfolk rental records mention “the wheel at Sharrow head” in paperwork dating from 1588-9. The wheel was certainly in full operation by 1604 when the tenants were the Bamforth family, John Bamforth paid the rent until 1654 and succeeding members of his family continued as tenants until 1718, during this time the site was also known as Bamforth Wheel and Sharrow Moor Wheel. John Hale, who was a relative of the Bamforths, became tenant in 1719 and he was followed by a number of occupants including John Hall in 1731, before Thomas Wilson started renting the mill in 1737.

Thomas Wilson was a manufacturer of blade shears who was a notable individual within Sheffield industry who had been Master Cutler in 1731. He was succeeded by his son Joseph in the mid 1740s. Joseph Wilson was a highly successful entrepreneur who broadened the business, introducing the production of Sheffield plate through his acquaintance with Thomas Boulsover as well as saw making. He also had an interest and some knowledge in snuff making, this may have been brought on by the manufacture of snuff boxes from Sheffield plate, and at some time in the 1740s the manufacture of snuff began at the mill along with the other activities. In February 1757 a series of extensions and alterations were undertaken by Joseph Wilson, even though he was still only the tenant. He paid the Duke of Norfolk to widen and improve the leats, giving the mill a unique tail goit system which crossed under the meandering Porter Brook in a culvert.

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