John Wigfall & Company
This firm was established in Grimesthorpe in 1843 by John Wigfall (1819-1897), a maker of butchers’ knives. He was apparently the son of John, a grinder, and Elizabeth. By the early 1850s, Wigfall had moved to Howard Street and begun the manufacture of table knives. The business expanded: the eighteen workers in 1851 had increased to 59 by 1861; and to 72 in 1871. By the end of the 1870s – when the firm occupied Auckland Works in Eldon Street – shoe, bread, glaziers....
