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Photograph of High Street in Sheffield City Centre. Never seen this before and there's just so much to talk about! I'm assuming we're looking here at what will eventually become the Sheffield Star's old building on the left once it replaces the buildings that are in this photo? Further down there seems to be a statue of some sort? Is that correct? Any other info we can gain from this fantastic photo of Sheffield in times gone by? Ps if anyone wants to check this out it's available on Ebay here - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BR98398-high-street-sheffield-real-photo-uk/332413464018?

Paid for by "Sheffield Workmen", the statue ( said not to be a good likeness) was erected in the Market Place in 1854 and moved to Weston Park in 1875. With that date in mind ,I would suggest the photo is somewhat later than that and therefore could not show a statue of Ebenezer Elliot...Looking at the men's boaters I should have thought early 1900s...which is backed up by the fact that Sheffield's tram system was electrified in 1899 and the tram is clearly running under a catenary.

Thanks syrup, I think you have nailed it there. The urination may have caused a common fungus to appear, which would have a been a hazard for the workers, but not the reason to undertake repairs.

I must admit that I too have heard this story in the past, and have always thought that it was perhaps, just another urban myth, and that someone, somewhere was, if you pardon the expression, taking the wee-wee. However, there might well be some truth in the story after all:- http://www.loosewireblog.com/2004/11/urine_corrosion.html On a serious note, I would suppose that if the reported 'offences' took place during construction, and before all of the steelwork had been treated and painted, then the presence of any corrosive agent could represent a problem, but I would have thought that you would have required one hell of a lot of the stuff.

I have found this article that refers to the Workmen urinating within the Box Sections of the Viaduct. Birmingham Daily Post 05 May 1972