Wostenholm (2021)

Online lecture about George Wostenholm and his company's famous IXL brand originally given by Nick Duggan on 26 October 2021. Wostenholm, originally Wolstenholme, developed his business in the 19th century selling especially to the US market. Like many the brand went into decline towards the end of the 20th century, albeit the brand continues via another Sheffield company to this day. George Wostenholm was a character and the success of the brand had much to do with his personal drive and energy as a salesman. However knives were not the only mark he left on the city and his legacy as a property owner and developer can still be seen in the Nether Edge/Kenwood area of the city to this day The lecture highlights the huge product range the company developed and reveals the personality of George Wostenholm who was behind the name. The film was developed as part of the Name on the Knife Blade Project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The website developed by the project giving detail of the huge array of table knife manufacturers in Sheffield over the last 200 years can be found at https://hawleysheffieldknives.com/ To find out more about the Hawley Collection and to donate, visit our main website: https://www.hawleytoolcollection.com/