1) The company of the cutlers of Sheffield, with functions to enrol apprentices, admit freemen, make orders and act on behalf of its members.
The manorial control of the cutlery trades in Sheffield came to an end in 1616, two years after the cutlers had purchased a book in which to enter 182 of their individual marks. They were soon joined by cutlers from outside the manor, some from Derbyshire, and a new company was effectively formed. In 1621, a bill was presented to Parliament and three years later an Act was passed which made provision for the appointment of officers
that is one Master, two Wardens, six Searchers and twenty-four Assistants. It was an institution for which there were the medieval precedents of the Companies of Cutlers in London and York and its main functions were to enrol apprentices, admit freemen, make orders and act on behalf of the members, individually and collectively. The Cutlers’ Hall is the headquarters of the Company and it has served the cutlers in Hallamshire from 1638, although the present building dates only from 1832. It is the venue for many of the grandest events in the city’s civic and commercial life, and the annual Cutlers’ Feast has been held there since 1648, with occasional short breaks.