From early crucible steel to mass-produced, super, and stainless alloys, these breakthroughs, defined steel’s strength, durability, and usability, just like a Anglo-Saxon warrior. Sheffield later became known as the “Steel City.”

1. Crucible Cast Steel

Benjamin Huntsman developed crucible steel in the 1740s by fully melting blister steel in clay crucibles, producing harder, purer, and more uniform cast steel suitable for precision tools. It was primarily used for cutlery, tools, and other industrial applications, including knives, files, chisels, and machine parts requiring durable, high-quality steel. Although initially rejected by Sheffield cutlers, his secret process revolutionized steelmaking, boosted exports—especially to France—and helped establish Sheffield’s global reputation.

2. Cheap Mass-Produced Steel

Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer Process in 1856, a revolutionary method that enabled the mass production of strong, affordable steel. His process dramatically reduced the cost and time required for steelmaking, fueling rapid industrial growth worldwide. It became fundamental in construction, railways, and manufacturing, marking a pivotal advancement in the steel industry. Over time, Bessemer steel was widely adopted in Sheffield, where local metallurgists adapted the process for the production of tools and engineering applications, helping the city become a leading center of steel manufacturing.

3. Super Steel: Manganese Steel

Sir Robert Abbott Hadfield revolutionized steelmaking with his invention of manganese steel (often called Hadfield steel) in 1882, creating what could be considered the first “super steel.” This alloy, roughly 11–14% manganese, is remarkable because it “work-hardens under repeated impact or abrasion,” giving it a unique combination of high toughness and exceptional wear resistance; it has even been described as “a non-magnetic steel with extreme levels of anti-wear” (West Yorkshire Steel). In its as-supplied condition, the steel has a hardness of about 200 HB, but once in service it can work-harden up to ~500 HB. These properties made Hadfield’s steel ideal for heavy-duty, high-wear applications such as crusher jaws, earth-moving buckets, rail and tram trackwork, and anti-drill security plates. It remains in industrial use today.

4. Stainless Steel

Harry Brearley discovered stainless steel in 1913 while attempting to develop a rust-resistant material for gun barrels. He found that adding chromium to steel created a corrosion-resistant alloy. Brearley’s invention greatly impacted tools, cutlery, architecture, and engineering. Today, stainless steel is widely used in everything from kitchenware to skyscrapers.

5. Most Widely Used Steel

William Herbert Hatfield developed SAE 304 stainless steel in 1924, improving on Harry Brearley’s 1913 discovery of stainless steel. Hatfield created the most widely used type of stainless steel today. As noted by the West Yorkshire Steel website, “Dr. William H. Hatfield is the man who discovered what’s commonly known as 304 stainless, which happens to be the most widely used stainless steel in the world today.”