The archway in the picture shared today was the entrance to the ladies public conveniences that formed part of Sheffield Town Hall. In less conscientious times, when the needs of disabled people were perhaps not considered in the same way they are now, access to the toilets was down a flight of steps. While it’s possible that I might have passed through the arch when I was a small boy and needed a toilet escort from my mum, most of my recollections are of standing at the top of the steps waiting for her (or sometimes my nan, and later my wife) to come back out.

A similar set of toilets exists for males around the other side of the building on Surrey Street. While the Gent’s didn’t have the fancy arch of the Ladies’ conveniences, if did had two separate entrances / exits, both with the same sets of disabled-unfriendly steps.

Both sets of conveniences closed for public use many years ago, so are now inconvenient for that use. While the Ladies’ are, as far as I know, completely unused, the Gent’s has been converted to an underground bar. I expect they have a customer toilet.

Something good that happened today…

I’ve spend the day with a mixture of lounging around watching TV (this morning) and then helping clean the house and then visit my dad (this afternoon). As one of my sons has gone out for his leaving do from his previous job, we got a takeaway for his twin brother (and me), and the large kebab that I chose is currently filling my belly as I type this. I’ll take that as today’s good thing, although the other stuff (maybe excepting the cleaning) was good too.

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 20 June 2024