Faded glory at the Adelphi

I went out this morning to get a few sculpture images for the summer public art project, concentrating on Sheffield's partly ex-industrial East End. There are several nice pieces there, and there's also a wealth of interesting old buildings.  Some are works buildings from various stages of the steel industry, others are the grand shops, cinemas and pubs that used to feed and entertain local communities. Much of the local terraced housing has now disappeared, to be replaced by blocks of flats and edge-of-town developments.   Working my way around the East End was a good excuse for some brisk walking in the sunshine.

This cinema is a favourite. It opened in 1920 and closed again in 1967. It seems that it stayed open during most of WW2 - astonishing, since it's right in the heart of the Don Valley: an area of steel works and railway lines that was a major bombing target for the Nazis.

I read online that its current owner has obtained planning permission for redevelopment.  I think that the once-lovely interior was probably gutted a long time ago, as the building's been used for storage for years. But it is Grade II listed, so perhaps there will be some protection for what remains - if the hoped-for redevelopment ever takes shape.