Michael Liversidge, Sheffield Public Houses (1999), has a photo of Travellers Inn, Attercliffe Road.  He noted that it was run by the Miller family, ‘who kept their trade of pocket and pen knife makers running in parallel with the licensed premises’.  The Census and trade directories tell part of the story.  Thomas Miller was born on 4 April 1834 in Attercliffe, the son of John and Mary Miller.  His father was a spring knife cutler, who had been born in Middlesex, London, in about 1806.   By 1861, Thomas was living in Swallow Row (off Worksop Road) and working as a spring knife cutler.  

In 1868, he advertised in the Sheffield directory as a manufacturer of spring and table knives, razors, and millers’ chisels.  He had two ornate trade marks.  In the printed section of the directory, he was listed as a spring knife manufacturer and victualler at Cutlers’ Arms, Church Street, Attercliffe.  Cutlers’ Arms had previously been operated by George Miller – another cutler/victualler, who may have been Thomas’s uncle.  George died on 9 February 1866 (aged 66) and was buried at Christ Church graveyard, Attercliffe.  Thomas’s father, meanwhile, was landlord of the Travellers’ Inn, High Street.   

In 1868, however, Thomas Miller was declared bankrupt.  In the 1871 Census, he was enumerated as a spring knife cutler and grocer.  John Miller died on 15 August 1871, aged 65, and was buried in Christ churchyard, Attercliffe.  His son took his place at the Travellers’ and in subsequent Census enumerations (1881, 1891) was listed as its landlord.  In 1901, he was residing at Clipstone Road as a ‘retired publican’.   In the Census (1911), he was a ’pensioner, formerly cutler’ at Shrewsbury Hospital Almhouses in Sheffield, with his sister, Jane.  He died on 28 March 1918, aged 84, and was buried at Attercliffe Cemetery.