This company supplied cutlery materials.  In 1841, Matthew Dodworth (1813-1886) was a journeyman cutler, living with his wife Elizabeth (a dressmaker) in Paradise Square.  His early life is obscure, but he may have been the son of John Dodworth and his wife, Lydia.  In the 1851 Census, he was a spring-knife blade forger living with his family in Fitzwilliam Street.   The Sheffield directory (1852) described him as ‘Jun.’, perhaps to avoid confusion with Matthew Dodworth in Division Street.   The directory described Jun. as a dancing master.  According to the 1861 Census, Matthew Dodworth was both a ‘pen blade forger and teacher of dancing’ in Princess Street, Broomhall.   By 1868, he had launched Matthew Dodworth & Sons in Charles Street, as a forger of scales, springs, and blades.  The sons were Henry Hague Dodworth (1845-1914) and Maurice John Dodworth (1847-1908).  Intriguingly, Matthew continued to describe himself in local directories as both a manufacturer and professor of dancing.  He operated Steam Fly Works in Chester Street and also worked from Select Works in Rockingham Street.   In 1871, the company employed three men and five boys.  In 1879, the firm was described as a manufacturer of table, butchers’, and bread blades by ‘steam flys and eccentric rollers’ in Trafalgar Street and cutlery materials in Chester Street.   According to The Ironmonger (15 May 1880), it installed machinery to compete with the Americans.  In 1881, Matthew Dodworth employed five men and two boys.  He died in Broomspring Lane, aged 73, on 4 December 1886, leaving £4,439.  

The firm continued to trade at home and abroad under Henry and Maurice.   The latter died at The Beeches in Bamford, Derbyshire, on 20 August 1908, after ‘long and painful suffering’.  He was aged 61.  The Sheffield Independent, 21 August 1908, devoted a column to his life.  This was less due to his industrial abilities (which seem to have been limited), than to his sporting prowess (he was the president of Yorkshire County Cricket Club).  One journalist noted that he was ‘essentially a sportsman, and a sportsman of the best type.  He played the game for the game’s sake’.   Another stated that he was ‘possessed of considerable oratorical ability’ and that he was ‘never happier than when dilating on his favourite themes, the advancement of cricket, the glories of Bramall Lane ground, and the advantages of membership of the Sheffield United Cricket & Football Club Ltd’ (Derry, 1902¹).  He was a Conservative, a Freemason, and Churchman.  He was buried in Fulwood, leaving £8,368 net.  He was the son-in-law of George Newbould.  By 1910, Matthew Dodworth’s had ceased trading.  Maurice’s brother, Henry, had retired.  He lived in Brincliffe Edge Road and died on 22 March 1914, leaving £812.  He was the brother-in-law of Frederick Grayson (Benjamin Grayson & Son).

^1. Derry, John, ‘Who’s Who in Sheffield’, bound volume of newspaper cuttings, SCLLS, 1902