I am trying to research the life of Benjamin Huntsman (the inventor of Crucible Steel) and would appreciate any information or facts that anyone can provide.

Is there a statue of Huntsman in Sheffield?

Take a look on Google theres loads of stuff.

i used to drink in the Huntsman up Lane Top. presume that's named after him

Try this:-

http://www.tilthammer.com/bio/hunt.html

Originally posted by Killian
[B]i used to drink in the Huntsman up Lane Top. presume that's named after him


Doubt it very much. Benjy moved to Handsworth and then to Attercliffe when they were but tiny villages over a mile or more away from a 'bigish' village called Sheffield. Lane Top is miles away.

some of his earliest furnaces can still be seen down in town near the Riverside flats, just next to the old Brewery opposite the police station. Sheffield Archaeologists dug them up a couple of years ago, and they're still waiting to be preserved. They showed them on the TimeTeam special last week.

Originally posted by superCol
Doubt it very much. Benjy moved to Handsworth and then to Attercliffe when they were but tiny villages over a mile or more away from a 'bigish' village called Sheffield. Lane Top is miles away.

i meant did they name it after him or one of his furnaces. what does the sign on the Huntsman depict? can't say i remember. it's probably John bloody Peel!!!

Here's an interesting source of information:

http://www.rowlinson-sheffield.org.uk/hunttext.htm

I believe he lived in the Britannia Inn on Worksop Road, across the road from the Don Valley Stadium. There was a commemerative (sp?) plaque about him on the wall, but it was removed before the Inn was boarded up a few months ago.

He's buried just a few hundred metres further up Attercliffe Road (or is it Attercliffe Common?) in Hilltop Cemetery.

Originally posted by Mo
Take a look on Google theres loads of stuff.

I have looked on Google and it is mostly the same stuff recycled by different sites. I am hoping to find unusual facts abut him. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Originally posted by Abdul
Here's an interesting source of information:

http://www.rowlinson-sheffield.org.uk/hunttext.htm

I believe he lived in the Britannia Inn on Worksop Road, across the road from the Don Valley Stadium. There was a commemerative (sp?) plaque about him on the wall, but it was removed before the Inn was boarded up a few months ago.

He's buried just a few hundred metres further up Attercliffe Road (or is it Attercliffe Common?) in Hilltop Cemetery.

Thanks for the info. You have confirmed my belief that his house had been turned into a pub.

Something in the star today opinion page today from one of his ancestors. Says he thought the method of heating up metal on that timeteam special was awful.

The Britannia is open again which was where he was born (apparently) I think the plaque is back. Also the date on the side of the building is still there stating 1774 i think.

Originally posted by Geezer
The Britannia is open again which was where he was born (apparently) I think the plaque is back. Also the date on the side of the building is still there stating 1774 i think.

Thanks for the update Geezer.

According to most websites I've seen, Huntsman was born in Lincolnshire in 1704...well before the Britannia Inn was built :)

Here's a good picture of the Britannia Inn (http://www.swineherd.free-online.co.uk/lostpubs/setthree/britannia.jpg)

And here's another one (http://www.sheffieldpubs.fsnet.co.uk/SMLogo/britannia.jpg)

Abdul,

Thanks for the phto's, they are great. You are right to say that Huntsman was born in Lincolnshire in 1704- a place called Barton-upon-Humber I believe.

Ah I found what the connection was, the date is actually 1772 and its reputed that Huntsman made the actual numbers that are still on the pub whilst he lived in the house.

As an apprentice joiner at Hadfield's East Hecla works in the 1970's, we did have access to all the offices. In the corner of the board room was a clock with a plate stating that it was made by Benjamin Huntsman and contained the part of the first ever crucible steel ever produced. I often wondered what happened to the clock when the works were demolished to make way for Meadowhell Shopping Centre. But a few years ago this came to light when visiting Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet. There was a photo of the same clock with a note that it is in the possession of a Mr. Tiny Rowlands! LonRho did own Hadfield's when it was shut down but this piece of Sheffield heritage should be in a Museum.

try http://www.tilthammer.com/bio/hunt.html

Ralgersmith,

Thank you very much for that piece of information. It fits well with what I already know and possibly that the clock still survives in Sheffield. I am told that there may be a Huntsman clock in a Sheffield Museum that is closed for renovation until 2005 but unfortunately I cannot obtain any further info. Thanks again.

oooh we did all about him when i was at school, we were led to believe he was born in Lincolnshire in 1704, his parents were both germans. He started his working life as a clock and tool maker at doncaster. He then produced a cast steel after many experiments, but the Sheffield cutlery manufacturers refused to buy it because it was to hard so as i remember he went to france where it was a success. Then the uk started to buy it after some dispute. He kept secret over his foundry and his steel making until a guy called Samuel Walker found it out, he made a profit over this ,but was never the great amount that Huntsman made. Huntsman died in 1776 (i think) and had a son called william huntsman who died in 1809. Benjaman was buried at Attercliffe where i think his grave still can be seen. long time since i went so not sure.
Hope this helps a lil

goodluck ;)

jeeez i just typed that and seen that the post was put up 3 years ago duh! me lol

hi all
my name is Jim huntsman, some where down the family tree i'm a part of Benjamin Huntsman family. years ago someone send us a family tree and part of it was Benjamin small world eh!
thanks guys

hi all
my name is Jim huntsman, some where down the family tree i'm a part of Benjamin Huntsman family. years ago someone send us a family tree and part of it was Benjamin small world eh!
thanks guys

Hi Jim,

did you realise there was once a bus named after your relative?

shown here with the crucible urn (behind the Arena)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/andyrad/Buses/27693001.jpg

and here at Hilltop Chapel (where Benjamin is buried)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/andyrad/Buses/27693.jpg

this bus is still around too and will one day be restored

Andy

Wow, i wish I had a bus named after me. Would be an honor haha.

I'm not completely joking either it'd be pretty damn cool...

my ex-father in law used to be the Caretaker or Benjamin Huntsmans on Coleridge Road, Darnall. Have you been to Kelham Island/Weston Park Museum, there could be lots of info - or even Magna Rotherham

A house on handsworth rd has the blue plaque showing where he was born and a similar one in attercliffe showing his factory site. Handsworth historical society will no doubt have info. also the local studies library in the central library sheffield.