Hadfields Limited
Encyclopedia
Hadfield's Limited was a British Steel manufacturer. Previously named Hadfields Steel Foundry Co. Ltd., by leading metallugist Robert Abbott Hadfield
in 1888 following the death of his father, Robert Hadfield, who had founded the works in 1872. The works were known as Hecla Works.
business on a site close by the River Don, off Newhall Road, Attercliffe
. Success was assured when he became able to produce materials and castings which had previously to be imported from France.
By the mid-1890s, with work at high levels the company needed to expand from their restrictive site and bought 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) of land in Tinsley. On this they built a new works, known as East Hecla Works which opened in 1897.
This site is now mainly covered by the Meadowhall Shopping Centre, the old factory being flattened in the early 1980s as part of the regeneration of the East end of Sheffield following the closure of many of the local factories in the 1970s
, Jessop Saville & Company
and Edgar Allen and Company
.
The intention was to merge the foundry interests of the four companies to form one large steel foundry with the capability of making castings from a few ounces to 40 tons, with only English Steel Corporation
's Grimesthorpe foundry in the city able to make larger. As negotiations were taking place the deal fell through leaving Osborn's and Hadfield's to merge, with the foundry being located on Hadfield's East Hecla (Vulcan Road) site. Edgar Allen's purchased Jessop's, relocating Jessop's special alloy (medium frequency) melting on Edgar's Sheffield Road site and the 3-ton electric furnace at their Imperial Steel Works melting shop.
Robert Hadfield
Sir Robert Abbott Hadfield, 1st Baronet FRS was an English metallurgist, noted for his 1882 discovery of manganese steel, one of the first steel alloys...
in 1888 following the death of his father, Robert Hadfield, who had founded the works in 1872. The works were known as Hecla Works.
History
In 1872, Robert Hadfield (Snr), who had been involved in local government work, began his own steel castingSteel casting
Steel casting is a specialized form of casting involving various types of steel. Steel castings are used when cast irons cannot deliver enough strength or shock resistance....
business on a site close by the River Don, off Newhall Road, Attercliffe
Attercliffe
Attercliffe is an industrial suburb of northeast Sheffield, England on the south bank of the River Don.-History:The name Attercliffe can be traced back as far as an entry in the Domesday book -Ateclive- meaning at the cliffe, a small escarpment that lay alongside the River Don...
. Success was assured when he became able to produce materials and castings which had previously to be imported from France.
By the mid-1890s, with work at high levels the company needed to expand from their restrictive site and bought 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) of land in Tinsley. On this they built a new works, known as East Hecla Works which opened in 1897.
This site is now mainly covered by the Meadowhall Shopping Centre, the old factory being flattened in the early 1980s as part of the regeneration of the East end of Sheffield following the closure of many of the local factories in the 1970s
1960s Rationalisation
It was seen in the mid-1960s that some rationalisation was needed within the Sheffield steel industry, particularly steel founding. With respect to this Hadfields Limited split into separate divisions, forging, casting and other works. Similar moves were taking place at Samuel Osborn & CompanySamuel Osborn & Company
Samuel Osborn and Company was a steelmaker and engineering tool manufacturer situated in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.- Early life :Samuel Osborn junior was born in Sheffield in 1826, his father, also named Samuel, was a partner in the firm of Clark and Osborn, makers of pocket knives, razors,...
, Jessop Saville & Company
Jessop Saville & Company
Jessop Saville and Company, the Sheffield-based special steel makers, was founded in 1929 following a merger of J.J.Saville and Co., Limited and William Jessop and Company, both of these being long established in the trade and in the city....
and Edgar Allen and Company
Edgar Allen and Company
Edgar Allen and Company was a steel maker and engineer, which from the late 19th century was based at Imperial Steel Works, Tinsley, Sheffield, South Yorkshire...
.
The intention was to merge the foundry interests of the four companies to form one large steel foundry with the capability of making castings from a few ounces to 40 tons, with only English Steel Corporation
English Steel Corporation
The English Steel Corporation Ltd was a United Kingdom steel producer. the company was jointly owned by Firth Brown and Vickers and was formed to bring together their basic steel making interests, principally in the Sheffield area....
's Grimesthorpe foundry in the city able to make larger. As negotiations were taking place the deal fell through leaving Osborn's and Hadfield's to merge, with the foundry being located on Hadfield's East Hecla (Vulcan Road) site. Edgar Allen's purchased Jessop's, relocating Jessop's special alloy (medium frequency) melting on Edgar's Sheffield Road site and the 3-ton electric furnace at their Imperial Steel Works melting shop.