Walls

...and after visiting Gaia, the Greek earth goddess, I descended to what was once Granville Street. But in truth that mid-Victorian street disappeared when the Sheffield Supertram Network was constructed in the early 1990s. Granville Street now accommodates tram lines that head to the southern edges of the city.

Several weeks ago, when riding on the tram, I noticed some interesting artwork and graffiti on the wall next to the tramway. With the city centre looming beyond that wall, I foresaw some good photo possibilities so yesterday I scratched that itch as the accompanying images show.

They call that wall "Granville Street Gallery". Whoever envisioned it may have hoped for proper street art by talented muralists. Instead, spotty teenagers with spray cans and zero artistic ability have made their hurried contributions. I noticed that one or two of them could not even spell the name of their home city correctly - forgetting the "i before e" rule.

I wonder what merit their hurried scrawl and tagging  possesses? Maybe it's just sad, socially awkward boys declaring "I am here! I exist!" or "I spoil and degrade my urban environment because I just don't care! I feel alienated". In truth, I find it all hard to understand or forgive. Perhaps I should learn to look both ways...

From Granville Street, I walked alongside The River Sheaf before schlepping up to Abbeydale Road. As I approached Jameson's tea shop, I remembered that a special blue plaque had been affixed to a wall on the side street next to it just last year.

It marks the humble place where England's most famous goalkeeper was born - the great Gordon Banks...