Ernest Bierton (1899-1971) was the son of John Bierton.  The latter was a publican at Falcon and City Arms, where he was assisted by his wife, Annie Elizabeth.  They were well-known and colourful characters.  Annie was killed in a tramcar accident in the Moor on 1 November 1913; John collapsed and died from ‘rupture of the aorta’ in Eyre Street the day after the funeral at Burngreave (Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 6 November 1913).  John left £889. 

In 1926, Ernest Bierton married Dorothy Dodgson and the couple had two sons: Roy (1929-2016) and John (1935-1973).  Ernest became a table knife buffer and mirror polisher.  By the start of the 1950s, he had launched Ernest Bierton & Son, knife polishers at Central Works, Bailey Lane.  His son, Roy, left to start his own company as a knife polisher during the 1950s.  He was later joined by his younger brother, John, and the latter’s friend, Sidney Staniforth.  They formed Bierton Bros & Staniforth.  In 1960, John left to assume control of Ernest Bierton & Sons; while Roy and Sid continued to trade as Bierton & Staniforth, cutlery manufacturers at Well Meadow Street.  Later the firm moved to Holland Street.

Ernest Bierton & Son was liquidated in 1973 (the year that John died on 25 July, leaving £5,629).  Roy Bierton and Sid Staniforth later split and during the 1970s the former started Roy Bierton Ltd in workshops at Well Meadow Street.   During the 1970s and 1980s, he made a range of stainless cutlery, including table, bread, carving, cheese and carving knives, besides sheath and Bowie knives.   He had a wholesale outlet and manufactured cutlery for other firms, such as Herbert Slater.