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Was Thomas Bryant's Meeting House a "Quaker" Meeting House? No. Thomas Bryant was an itinerant Methodist preacher in 1763. He was popular, though quiet in his manner, but seemed to arouse differences in the Sheffield area, possibly due to his wearing of clerical garb. Wesley was appealed to, and decided to move Bryant to Leeds, but Bryant's friends didn't agree with this and he left the New Connexion movement. He and his friends tried to take over the Mulberry street chapel, which was not firmly linked with the Wesleyan body. This failed and Bryant went to London for a few months. On his return to Sheffield in 1764, he took charge of a congregation, preaching in a private house. The Scotland street (corner with Furnace Hill) chapel was built for him, though the congregation was poor and it was probably not built until around 1776. Under a deed dated 8th November 1767, Bryant leased for nine years from John Taylor (miller of Treeton), a piece of land in Scotland street, with cottage and garden , currently occupied by Joseph Antt. The lease recorded that Bryant wanted to buy the land but didn't have the funds, so a provision was made to sell it for £200 during the period of lease, if funds became available. By the time he raised the funds and bought the land in November 1776, the associated deed states that upon the land was "a chapel or meeting house, lately erected..... and now in possession of the said Thomas Bryant". Part of the land was leasehold from the Duke of Norfolk for 800 years, but the building was the personal property of Mr Bryant. In 1796 Bryant was in failing health and possibly finding the running of the chapel difficult. In December 1796 the preacher Alex Kilham was invited to Sheffield for a few days, and by 1797 the chapel was in the hands of the New Connexion with Kilham as its minister. Bryant died early in 1805 and was buried in his chapel, near the pulpit. In his will he left all his property to his nephew, also called Thomas Bryant. The following year Bryant (2) bought the equity of the land under the Duke of Norfolk's Settled Estates Act, for £35 10s. thus converting it to freehold. After the demolition and rebuilding of the chapel in 1828/9 proper trustees were appointed on behalf of the New Connexion.

At the risk of sounding like a Philistine ( can we say that nowadays since it is the origination of the word Palestine?)I feel, after reading the blurb,that it’s all about “The Kings New Clothes”. Some sections of our society are said to have suffered disproportionally…this may well be true…..some , especially in the medical business worked hard…others felt the lockdown was a waste , some suffered loneliness and isolation, others paid in lost wages and debt and others lost loved ones. How does this sculpture, in any way, commemorate the pandemic and suffering?The Victorian cholera monument makes a solid statement.

Almshouses, Hollis Hospital, junction of Ecclesall Road South and Whirlowdale Road, Whirlow. September 1994.s32290 February 1981.s32294 September 1994 s32293 s32292 s32291 Plaque, Hollis Hospital, Ecclesall Road South. February 1987.s33627