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Durham Duplex was honoured to welcome the Master Cutler, Philip Rodrigo, to officially open the new Rodgers Wostenholm Group knife-making workshops at Kelham Island Museum on Friday 20th June 2025.
This significant development marks the latest chapter in Sheffield Museums’ ongoing mission to preserve and promote the city’s industrial and craft heritage. The new workshop space, situated on Little Mester Lane within the museum, brings traditional knife-making back into public view—offering visitors a rare glimpse into the centuries-old skills of the “Little Mesters”.
By relocating the heritage pocket knife production to this dedicated, working display, the museum and Durham Duplex are not only celebrating Sheffield’s famed past but also securing its future. The craftsmen and women now focus on the continued manufacture of the Star and Cross-marked knives of Joseph Rodgers, as well as the iconic IXL*-marked Bowie and pocket knives of George Wostenholm—a continuous line of Sheffield cutlery dating back to 1682.
This innovative blend of live workshop and public engagement ensures that Sheffield’s legendary reputation for fine cutlery remains alive, relevant, and accessible for generations to come.
To discover more, visit Little Mester Lane at Kelham Island Museum or contact the team directly at sales@sheffieldcollectableknives.com.
For more information on New Heritage Knife Workshops Open at Kelham Island Museum talk to Durham-Duplex