Ahove - Sheffield Central Library. Can you see the art deco frieze on the corner parapet? This splendid civic building was opened in 1934 by the then Duchess of York - mother of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II. Sadly, there have been rumours that the library might be sold to Chinese hotel developers - causing much public outrage.
It was the day I went to see the Leonardo exhibition. After leaving The Millennium Galleries I walked through The Winter Gardens and took several pictures of the steel balls below. One ball appears to be larger than the other ball which, I understand, is not uncommon:-
And then it was onward to Pinstone Street where I snapped this picture of Sheffield's magnificent Victorian town hall which was opened by Queen Victoria herself in 1897. The interior is even more magnificent. The entire building speaks of civic pride and of Britain's wealth and self-belief at the height of its powers in the Victorian era:-
Just round the corner in Barker's Pool you find Sheffield's equally magnificent City Hall, opened in 1932. It holds a special place in my heart because in 1972 I visited Sheffield for the first time in my life to attend a concert in the city hall. I was there with a school friend to see Buffy St Marie and Loudon Wainwright III. Little did I know that night that six years later I would find myself living in the city.I have been here for over forty years.
As I enjoyed a pub lunch in "The Frog and Parrot", I noticed the David Bowie mural on the corner of Division Street and Trafalgar Street. To be frank, I think that the image looks nothing like Bowie but sometimes in life and indeed street art, it's the thought that counts
My snapshots give a glimpse of Sheffield's city centre. Back in 2005 I blogged about my home city for the first time and received comments from Free Thinker, Stony and Tara. These occasional visitors disappeared long ago so I thought it might be a good time to tell current Yorkshire Pudding visitors something about this great northern city.
A great city indeed. I hope that if the library is intended to become a hotel the developers are made to at least retain the original facade. The town hall is truly magnificent. It reminds me of the one in Manchester which we visited several years ago. Very impressive inside and out. Sadly they don't make them like that any more.
ReplyDeleteModern, functional architecture says a lot about the kind of society w live in now. So different from Victorian public buildings.
DeleteWonderful! Thank you for showing these pictures and for jogging my memories of Buffy St. Marie.
ReplyDeleteShe was a musical genius in my humble opinion...and also a very talented artist. She is 78 years old now.
DeleteI used to volunteer in the children's section of the library on a Saturday morning as a teenager whilst my Dad spent happy hours reading and choosing books for the week in the adult section. I will be horrified if this building is no longer a library!
ReplyDeleteI have spent many a happy hour in there but I must admit that I don't use it any more. Times change. I am glad to have stirred some happy memories for you MAC.
DeleteLovely photos. I've been to Sheffield twice and loved it from the moment I stepped out of the station and saw my first glimpse of the city with its stainless steel fountain. Kay almost studied there (pity she didn't), but we did go back to the Crucible to see a ballet there. You are a lucky man to live there and have so many beautiful country walks within spitting distance.
ReplyDeleteIn my case, spitting distance is a helluva long way ADDY. I wish it was an Olympic event.
DeleteIt's been a while since my last visit to Sheffield, well documented on my blog. Do you know what the presumably allegoric figures on the library's corner parapet represent? I can tell the man in the middle holds a snake in one hand and an ankh (at least that's what it looks like) in the other. Also, there Ppears to be a strap around his chest and upper arms.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what it means Meike. There seems to be a strong Egyptian influence. By the way, I am writing this on a sunny but breezy afternoon. The weather seems to be improving ready for your next visit to this earthy paradise.
DeleteI notice that you said that the library might be developed by Chinese hotel developers causing much public outrage. It made me wonder whether the same outrage would be there whatever the description of the developer's origin. Presumably. Therefore why is it thought appropriate to describe the developer as Chinese? I ask this simply because there seems to be a move (or perhaps it's just more noticeable in the times in which we live) to add an adjective ascribing race or gender which adds nothing to the narrative.
ReplyDeleteI only mentioned this because there has already been significant investment by Chinese developers in Sheffield and our Chinese community has never been larger. The city welcomes hundreds of Chinese students each year. If I said a car was red would the colour reference be meaningless?
DeleteIt depends on the context.
DeleteMmmm. Epididymal cyst?
ReplyDeleteFor a moment I thought you were calling me that Tasker but then I remembered the two balls!
DeleteI have never been to Sheffield so it is interesting for me to see these snapshots.
ReplyDeleteOften Lincolnshire folk come to Sheffield to visit one of our theatres - not just for the snooker!
DeletePoke around on the Internet a little bit and you discover things:
ReplyDelete"The Tory twins, Alfred and William, were well known for accepting a large range of commissions both big and small. They are probably best known for the sculpture work on Sheffield City Hall which opened in 1932 and included an understated dentil corniche and narrow frieze on the central block as well as decorative carving to the tops of the Corinthian capitals. Their work on Sheffield Central Library (1934) includes medallions carved around the main entrance representing Literature, Music, Drama, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Mathematics, Chemistry and Astronomy. High up on the south-west corner of the library is an Egyptian type figure representing Knowledge and holding the ankh and asp to represent the choice between good and evil." [emphasis mine]
P.S. - I love the photos, by the way -- sharp and crisp and clear.
ReplyDeleteThat's great Bob. Thanks very much for solving that question. If you look in the comments above you can see that our German friend Meike was also interested in the carved frieze. I don't know whether to pick the ankh or the asp.
DeleteThank you, Bob! I am pleased that I was not mistaken in recognising the ankh. What is definitely NOT Egyptian about the man holding it are his "trousers". There were no trousers in ancient Egypt. (Sorry, but I'm a stickler when it comes to authenticity.)
DeleteI love both Buffy St. Marie AND Loudon Wainwright III. I've been a dedicated fan of his since about 1971. I, too, saw him in concert but much later. Did you know he has a book out? I haven't read it but want to and will. It's entitled "Liner Notes."
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos, Mr. P.
Sounds like his children - Rufus and Martha - had a very difficult relationship with him. Thanks for the heads up about the book.
DeleteAs you can imagine, I hear that he is quite candid about all of that.
DeleteYou made some great photos during your time at the Leonardo exhibition. I believe those two singers are Canadian.
ReplyDeleteYou Canadians cannot claim ALL singer-songwriters as your own. Loudon Wainwright was born in North Carolina but Buffy St Marie was indeed born like you in Saskatchewan.
DeleteI stand chastised and corrected.
DeleteAnd rightly so there should be uproar over the Chinese hotel development rumour turns out to be correct...become reality.
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese are buying up property and land here in Australia, left, right and centre...and the majority of Aussies aren't happy about it...me included.
For us, it is almost insignificant that the potential developers are Chinese. It's the possible loss of the library that really hurts.
DeleteFor us who care about our own country...we don't like to see foreign ownership...one would prefer Aussie property, businesses etc., as being Aussie-owned.
DeleteI understand that.
DeleteMoney talks and the Chinese have lots of it. They are buying up our dairy farms.
ReplyDeleteMy first job was in Sheffield Central Library in the Reference Library (late 1960's).
Shhhh! I am pleased that this post brought back some memories for you Margaret. Shhhh!
DeleteYour blog has gone very green these days!
ReplyDeleteIt was an accident Margaret.
DeleteIs the library still functioning as a library? Maybe repurposing the building as a hotel wouldn't be so terrible, provided the library can then move to a space more suitable to modern library needs. (I say this having no idea what the plans are, obviously.) Thanks for the tour!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I meant to say that Buffy Ste Marie recently published an autobiography, if I'm not mistaken. I'm curious to read it!
DeleteThe library is much loved and in daily use with The Graves Art Gallery on the top floor; reference, borrowing, children's and local studies libraries on lower floors and a nice coffee shop too. Its future is about public values and priorities.
DeleteAnd in that case the public really need to make their priorities known. I use my public library weekly even though in all honesty I don’t always need to. But I feel very strongly about it. We have a superb library and mobile library service on the islands.
ReplyDelete