William Bickford (1774–1834) was an English inventor, who, formerly a currier, invented the safety fuse for use in mining.

He is best known as the inventor of the safety fuse, which was inspired by watching a friend, James Bray making rope.

With his son-in-law George Smith, he established a factory in Tuckingmill for the production of his invention, and in its first year it produced 45 miles of fuse.

On the south side of the main street, at the bottom of Tuckingmill, set in a wall, was (certainly prior to 1990) an inscribed stone which amongst other things credited his daughter with the inspiration/possible invention of the safety fuse.

This article about an engineer, inventor or industrial designer from England is a stub.