Latest News & Press

Copper was the first metal to be worked by people and was used mainly in production of coins, along with silver and gold, but nowadays the most common use is in electrical equipment such as wiring and motors. Find out more...

Friday 16th October 2020 saw history being made at Sheffield Assay Office with the Annual General Meeting of the Guardians of Wrought Plate Within the Town of Sheffield being held part in person and part video-conference.

The team here at Sheffield Assay Office are delighted to announce that we have retained our International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for another year, in recognition of our continued efforts to improve the quality of our services.

The Silver Society is proud to announce, for the fifth consecutive year, the launch of its annual prize to be awarded to a young silversmith.

Thanks are made to the De Beers Group for their initiative during lockdown to offer free places on their Diamond Foundation Course. Ten members of staff from the Sheffield Assay Office all undertook the online training course as part of their continued professional development.

The Bradbury’s Book of Hallmarks was originally compiled by Frederick Bradbury - who also happened to be a descendant of Daniel Bradbury, the very first Sheffield Assay Master back in 1773. The connection between Sheffield Assay Office and Bradbury’s is a long and particularly strong one, read on to find out more...

A lady called Mary Parsons, who died on September 30, 1815 aged 68, left a bequest in her will for the amount of £1,500 to benefit old, infirm and poor silversmiths in Sheffield. Over two centuries later, a charity in her honour continues to help silversmiths in need.

Following the successful showing of Don Porritt’s retrospective exhibition 'Silver: light, texture and form' in Sheffield last year, there is now another opportunity to see some of the exquisite work online and instore from the 6th October 2020.