Thomas Staniforth & Co

Thomas Staniforth & Co. was a sickle, scythe and tool smiths based in Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, England. The company was founded by Thomas Staniforth in 1743 and operated out of workshops located on Main Street, Hackenthorpe until it was closed during the 1980s and its assets incorporated into Spear & Jackson. The company was known for its Severquick brand of gardening tools.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the brooks around Hackenthorpe and the neighboring villages of Eckington, Mosborough, Ridgeway, Ford contained a number of grinding wheels used for the sharpening of Sickles and scythes. In fact there is even documented evidence showing the Staniforth family itself was involved in sickle smithing in the 17th century in Ford. The family then split with a William Staniforth moving to Hackenthorpe and other family members staying in the Eckington area to form other lines of Sickle smithing lines. Thomas Staniforth (1721–1776), the son of Samuel Staniforth operated a number of wheels along the Shire Brook. One notable wheel can still be found in the Shire Brook Valley Local Nature Reserve and is known as the Nether Wheel.

In 1743 Thomas Staniforth along with brothers John (1723–1795) and William (1706–1773) decided to set up a purpose-built workshop on Main Street, Hackenthorpe. Building began in 1740 with the workshops coming into full operation in 1743. Although the family was actively selling tools under their unique makers mark, it wasn't until the 1870s that the name Thomas Staniforth & Co. came into use. The company passed down through the generations, first to Thomas' son Thomas Staniforth II (1756–1808), then to Thomas Staniforth III (1785–1847), then Thomas Staniforth IV (1810–1873) before finally going to Thomas' son William Staniforth (1840–1900). The company successfully had contracts to sell their tools in various countries including Russia, Ireland and other mainlane European countries. The only competition the business faced in the area was the Hutton & Co. works which operated in nearby Ridgeway, Derbyshire.

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