Beehive Works

It is thought that the first phase of building took place in the late 1850s or the early 1860s. The buildings were initially known as the Milton Works, with B. Mathewman and Sons being the first known occupants. The Works expanded quickly during the 1880s and 1890s with the addition of more grinding wheels and forges; the steam power plant was also enlarged to drive this extra machinery. By 1888 the Atkinson Brothers had taken over the works as manufacturers of steel, cutlery, files and electro plate products. The Atkinsons had considerable success as a company using the trade mark "In Mind". They exhibited at the 1894 Antwerp World's fair, becoming a registered company on the stock…

The works frontage stretching along Milton Street is eighteen bays long and three storeys high with some cellars beneath street level. The building is constructed from red brick with ashlars dressing and a slate roof. The windows are mostly 12-pane sash. There is a painted sign reading "Beehive brand / Gregory Fenton Ltd. / knives and tools" between the first and second floors. This continues round the corner onto Headford Street and read "Gregory Fenton Ltd. / Beehive Works". An arched doubled door cart entrance with the words "Beehive Works" above leads off Milton Street into the internal courtyards. The courtyards include four- and three-storey workshop ranges with large casement windows…