A spring knife manufacturer, John Etchells (1828-1874) was born at Nether Hallam.  His father was Benjamin Etchels (1792-1849), a spring knife maker listed in directories at Tapton Hill; his mother was Mary Ann.   After Benjamin’s death on 28 January 1849, aged 56, his son’s name appeared in directories as a spring knife maker at Tapton Hill.  In the early 1860s, he worked as a clerk, though in 1868 he was again listed as a cutler.  The Census (1871) shows that he was combining cutlery with a job as landlord of the King’s Head Tavern on the Manchester Road.  He died on 31 October 1874, aged 46, and left under £300 to his widow, Sarah Ann.  John and his father were buried at All Saints Parish Church, Ecclesall.