It is thought that the first phase of building took place in the late 1850s or the early 1860s, the buildings were initially known as the Milton Works with B. Mathewman and Sons being the first known occupants. The Works expanded quickly during the 1880s and 1890s with the addition of more grinding wheels and forges, the steam power plant was also enlarged to drive this extra machinery. By 1888 the Atkinson Brothers had taken over the works as manufacturers of steel, cutlery, files and electro plate products. The Atkinsons had considerable success as a company using the trade mark "In Mind". They exhibited at the 1894 Antwerp World's fair, becoming a registered company on the stock exchange in 1897.