Information and news for and from the Freemen and Friends of the Company.
Please be aware that during the Covid-19 crisis, the Company Office will be on minimum manning.
New Freemen
On Thursday 24 June, a group of new Freemen received their Freedom Certificates from the Master Cutler. The occasion was low key, with social distancing, in the Drawing Room. The Master handed out the certificates and individual photographs were taken, as well as a group photo on the Main Stair. A light lunch was served.
See the June edition of The Freeman
The talks will take place amongst contemporary steel installations which form part of ‘The Foundry’ exhibition being hosted by Sheffield Cathedral this summer.
Sheffield Cathedral has a fascinating collection of silver dating back hundreds of years. Reverend Keith Farrow is Vice Dean and Canon Missioner of Sheffield Cathedral. He is also Canon Treasurer with the responsibility to ensure the safe keeping and care of the art and silver bestowed on the Cathedral. He has always had a passion for silver and loves to get up close to some of the amazing items in the cathedral collection. In his talk titled ‘Reflections in Silver’, Canon Keith will introduce you to some of the remarkable pieces of silver found in the in the cathedral collection and regale stories of the characters and people associated with them from the dim and distant past through to the 21st Century.
Dr Joan Unwin has been the Archivist to the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire since 2003. Descended from generations of Sheffielders, she is proud that an ancestor was recorded in the Freedoms’ register at the Hall in 1746. In her talk ‘What’s in your knife drawer?’ Joan will share her interest in cutlery with you and talk about the history of the cutlery trade in Sheffield and the stylistic change of the knives and forks we use through the years.
Our third speaker is Emma Paragreen. She is the Curator, Librarian and Archivist with the Sheffield Assay Office and gives regular lectures and talks on the work of assay offices’, hallmarking and the law. Emma will talk about the history and work of Sheffield Assay Office and its connections with the city’s metalworking history and Sheffield Cathedral. Emma will also be showing off a few items in the Assay Office collection which you will be able to handle.
Refreshments will be available throughout the evening.
£15 per person.
Following the disrupti
on to his year in office, the present Master is serving a second year and he is attending more meeting – both virtual and in the Hall. The Company was saddened by the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who was an honorary Member of the Company. He had made several visits to the Hall, the first being in 1954, with her Majesty the Queen. The Master was interviewed on ITV Calendar to comment on the Duke’s involvement with the Company. The Master stands in front of an unfinished portrait of Prince Philip. The national situatiois improving and the Company’s work will begin to return to normal. During the
shut- down of the Hall, the Company took the opportunity 
to undertake major redecorations. The Entrance mosaic floor shows one half after cleaning. The Drawing Room and Reception Room have both had new window dressings.
The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
The Cutlers' Hall
Church Street
Sheffield
S1 1HG
Email: admin@cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 114 272 8456
