A later start than usual catching the 10.47 from Kirk Sandall station to head for Sheffield. Intensions had been to visit the Kelham Island Museum as we had heard reports that it had reopened after the floods of 2007. We alighted at Meadow Hall to catch the tram to Park Grange Croft. For those familiar with the system the photograph below does not show that tram stop. We had got off at Granville Road/Sheffield College that's a stop too soon. Never mind with our passes at the ready we boarded the next tram only a few minutes behind and duly then alighted at the correct tram stop. Then it was time negotiate the complex of pedestrian crossings so that we could head towards the museum. Many of the derelict side streets are beginning to reveal the original cobbles.     

As soon as you have negotiated the very busy complex roundabout with the pedestrian crossings you start to enter a delightful selection of industrial and pub architecture. The first is the "Ship Inn". I would question that such ships ever sailed near to the pub as depicted in these wonderful glazed tiles. The River Don is not too far away and has been responsible for flooding in the area. There is a very interesting sign on the wall "The Ship Inn During the Sheffield Food 11th March 1864 two seamen were drowned beneath the Inn in the secret tunnels beneath the inn. These tunnels led to the river and the sightings of a ghost is believed to be that of one of these men"   So if you do visit this pub look out for the ghost!

Walking along some of the narrow back streets where there was once thriving industries, it has to believe that some of the local pubs can survive both the declining industries and present day financial crisis, but the Kelham Island Tavern stands out with its colourful paintwork.
The sign is mounted to the wall above the entrance depicting the industries and the many chimneys that have long been demolished. 

The Fat Cat is yet another pub well worth a photograph although like the people that like "Real Ale" the pub sign is not a "Real Hand-painted Sign" I suspect there was some modern day plastic stick on lettering and a plastic cut out of the cat here. Again this was another pub that suffered from flooding. On the corner facing us there is a sign showing the flood water heights of 1864 and 2007. 
If you wish discover more about this area including Kelham Island Brewery (or have a pub crawl of the Kelham Island pubs), Click Here

If its rivets, sockets and screws that you want then I am afraid William Brothers of Sheffield are not going to be able to supply you certainly not from these premises that are due to be demolished to make way for flats. The building (once?) owned by Alfred Becket and Sons Ltd seems to be a little more secure. I tried to trace this company on the internet without a great deal of success. They may have been manufactures of silverware ware, however I did find a useful website showing many of the other industrial buildings in the Kelham Island area click here.

Almost reaching our intended destination of Kelham Island Museum we were confronted by the form Globe Steel Works now home to Gorilla Glue. Pat says she has heard of it, so I typed their name into the Google search engine and came up with their website which is well worth a look at. Click Here Finally we reached the entrance to the Kelham Island museum only to find it closed. My fault I should have remembered to check the Internet first. Here is their website with opening hours so you do not make the same mistake.

Outside the museum are a few exhibits on display, whilst we were seeing for the first time blocks of new flats that were noticeably empty next to the museum . The new meets the old. Probably if the recession does not last for ever more and more of these flats will replace the older derelict and empty buildings.

A building that still shows sign of use, where as the piano has played its last tune just dumped in one of the closed factory yards. The seat has lost its legs and awaits its fait. We wonder how many happy hours people listened to the piano and who was it that once used the now very sad looking chair. 

Time to make our way back to catch a tram back into the city centre not before passing a rather derelict "The Queens Hotel" that once sold Ward's Fine Malt Ales. On the building next door a rather modern looking 60's type there is sign declaring the land is available with planning permission for yet more flats. Being very close to other flats used by university students this project might succeed. Will the Queens Hotel survive and be re-opened and the satellite dish once again receive signals from Sky TV.   

Back to the Sheffield Midland railway station to adopt "Plan B" that swung into action because of the Kelham Island Museum being closed. A journey to Kiverton Park was the most easterly part of the rail system we could use our South Yorkshire passes on, something we had thought about, but with time spare this was now the ideal opportunity to travel on this section of track that goes to Gainsborough and Lincoln. Many contrast between the past, present and future as our train emerges from the tunnel from Adwick and Doncaster with one of the Supertrams above heading towards either Herdings or Half Way.

Our journey was to take us out on the brown line on the schematic diagram. We aimed to travel as far as we could four stations along the line. We are getting very used to travelling on these ex-Metro units now repainted in the Northern Rail livery. Bit bouncy on un-welded track, but a fair turn of speed never the less and after 23 minutes we were disembarking at Kiverton Park.

Arriving at Kiverton Park we had twenty five minutes to have a look around before the hourly return train was due in. Deciding that it would be too long to wait for the second train we had a quick look around the area adjacent to the station. Yet another pub to photograph this being "The Station", plastic lettering again on their signs. 

Just a short walk up the road from the station stands this very unusual building. Obviously very old as the carved wooden gable ends suggest. How long it will survive with grapevine ivy rapidly taking over to the extent we could no longer see the chimney is up to nature and the owner. 

Next to the railway is the Chesterfield Canal which has under gone a restoration scheme. We are hoping to return here with a packed lunch and follow the canal path as far as you can before this section ends near Kiverton.

Kiverton Park Station was once an important station on the line serving the nearby colliery until it closed in 1994. The booking office, waiting room have now all closed and the station building was sold for commercial use. It is now for sale if anyone is interested, but beware it has no garden.

Time now to say a farewell to Kiverton Park as the Nodding Donkey train (British Rail "Pacer") pulled into the platform. On the return journey we had our first view of the Stagecoach Supertram depot at Nunnery Park from the railway. We did not have to change at Sheffield as the train Destination was Adwick calling at Doncaster. With minutes to spare due to a delay outside Doncaster station we changed to the train to take us back to Kirk Sandall station where our rail journey ended for the day.