Friday 29 October 2010

Sheffield

So on Tuesday we had a rainy day, so thought we would just pop into Sheffield. We walked through the Peace Gardens,

into the Winter Gardens,





as our destination was the Millenium Galleries. There are three Galleries open at the moment, and they are all free. My favourite is the one that shows what we used to make in Sheffield. Whilst cutlery is not made as much as it was in the city these days, knifes - surgical blades etc are still produced here. We have several very big succesful companies making surgical blades that go around the world.
This display cabinet used to hang in the foyer of Thomas Turner and Co (no longer around) showing some of the work that they used to do.


We also used to make a lot of silver ware too and the Sheffield Assay Office is still one of the busiest in the country. This was a new piece commisioned for the millenium.

And here are a few of the older pieces.


Because we have been out and about this week, Ive really noticed the Autumn colours - even in the heart of the city.


Apparantly the wheel is due to come down next week - after Fright Night which is on Sunday.





After a quick breeze around TK Maxx and John Lewis (or Cole Brothers as I still call it!!), we went to the cinema - well we are on holiday! I love the Showroom Cinema in town, it is an independant one - a rarity these days.
I love everything about the Showroom Cinema. The building is great, the bar and food are great, and the seats are comfy.

11 comments:

diane b said...

What did you see there?
We have a square in town that has similar balls lying around like the ones in your first pic. I wonder if it was done by the same artist.

Diane said...

I never got to go on the big wheel. Will the put it up again in the spring, do you know?

I really enjoyed the Showroom. I met Val McDermid there 2 or 3 weeks ago as part of the Sheffield literary festival.

Kathy said...

We still haven't been on the Liverpool wheel ... life got in the way this year. Maybe we'll aim for a family ride over Christmas ... but we don't make plans any more. We don't have any independent cinemas near home, but there are two really good ones over in Liverpool. I love the seats!!!
Must get to Sheffield one day. My husband went to college there, but never goes back.
Love Kathy xxx

Gilly said...

Diane - I can't keep up with you! No sooner have I struggled to finish reading about Whitby, but there is another set of brilliant photos and fascinating information!!

I want to go back to Whitby - we went once, some years ago, but couldn't explore the town much as we had our dog with us. But I loved the abbey!

Diane said...

My parents used to have cutlery from Sheffield. I must check their set that I have in France on my return, that could well be from Sheffield. Fantastic photos. Diane

Sue said...

Great photos, the cinema looks very 30's. What did you see?

harmony and rosie said...

My parents have their Sheffield silver and stainless steel cutlery but it's a shame it's not made so much there now. Nice balls Diane!!

Rebecca said...

Great photos and a fab little tour of out city centre! I work for Museums Sheffield and was in the Millennium Gallery on Tuesday so you probably saw me! hehe :D Did you visit Restless Times? What an amazing exhibition! We're currently busy beavers working on Christmas Crackers which opens on the 5th, you must visit!

oh and i'm so pleased the wheel is going, it is so ugly!
x

Rosie said...

Great photos! I think I bought my wedding dress from Cole Brothers way back in 1979 it was from one of the department stores anyway. We have a small cinema attached to the University here - we are hopefully going to see 'Made in Dagenham' there next week:)

A garden just outside Venice said...

I'm desperately trying to catch up with your posts..how much fast do you blog?!
xxx

cieldequimper said...

Now I'm going to have Sheffield on my list of to-go places!