SHEFFIELD, a town in the west riding of Yorkshire, about 162 miles from London, is a large, thriving town on the borders of Derbyshire, with a population of 31,314 souls; has a fine stone bridge over the Don, and another over the Sheaf, and a church built in the reign of Henry I. It had a castle built in the reign of Henry III. in which, or else in the manor-house of the Park, Mary queen of Scots was prisoner 16 or 17 years; but after the death of Charles I. it was with several others, by order of parliament demolished. In 1673 an hospital was erected here, and endowed with 2001. a year. There is a charity-school for 30 boys, and another for 30 girls. This town has been noted several hundred years for cutlers and smiths manufactures, which were encouraged and advanced by the neighbouring mines of iron, particularly for files, and knives or whittles; for the last of which especially it has been a staple for above 300 years; and it is reputed to excel Birmingham in these wares, as much as it is surpassed by it in locks, hinges, nails, and polished steel. The first mills in England for turning grindstones were also set up here. The houses look black from the continual smoke of the forges. Here are 600 master cutlers, incorporated by the style of the Cutlers of Hallamshire (of which this is reckoned the chief town), who employ no less than 40,000 persons in the iron manufactures; and each of the masters gives a particular stamp to his wares. There is a large market on Tuesday for many commodities, but especially for corn, which is bought up here for the whole west riding, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. It has fairs on Tuesday after Trinity-Sunday, and November 28. In the new market-place, erected by the duke of Norfolk, the stables are built upon a most excellent plan, and strongly inclosed. There are several other new good buildings, such as a large and elegant octagon chapel belonging to the hospital or almshouses; likewise a good assembly-room and theatre. We must not omit the large steam engine, lately finished, for the purpose of polishing and grinding the various sorts of hardware. The parish being very large, as well as populous, Mary I. incorporated 12 of the chief inhabitants, and their successors for ever, by the style of the Twelve Capital Burgesses of Sheffield, empowering them to elect and ordain three priests to assist the vicar, who were to be paid out of certain lands and rents which she gave out of the crown; and since this settlement two more chapels have been built in two hamlets of this parish,
Sheffield. rish, which are served by two of the assistants, while the third, in his turn, helps the vicar in his parish-church. James I. founded a free grammar-school here, and appointed 13 school burghesses to manage the revenue, and appoint the master and usher. A new chapel was built lately by the contributions of the people of the town and of the neighbouring nobility and gentry. Water is conveyed by pipes into Sheffield, whose inhabitants pay but a moderate rent for it. In the neighbourhood there are some mines of alum. The remains of the Roman fortification between this town and Rotheram, which is six miles lower down the river, are still visible; and here also is the famous trench of five miles long, by some called Devil's or Dane's Bank, and by others Kemp Bank and Temple's Bank. West Long. 1. 29. N. Lat. 13. 20.