Book excerpt: For more than 250 years the name Sheffield was synonymous with the cutlery industry, although archaeological evidence shows that the industry goes back as far as the 12th century. With many of the buildings rapidly disappearing or being redeveloped, aside from those that have already been destroyed, this type of publication forms a vital record of an important part of industrial England. The contributors to this volume look at the development of the industry in the 18th century, the production of cutlery and flatware, forks and spoons, the organisation of the labour and working practices, and the geographical and structural development of workshops and other buildings associated with the industry.