Gone...but not forgotten

This is me being sentimental! I know this isn't a very beautiful photo, but in view of the way they have suddenly started digging up the local playground, I thought I'd put the 'before' picture on my blog. It doesn't look much, but this picture says 'Home' to me. Being painted white, this gable end beside the playground is visible from quite a long way away - you can see it from the train passing Salts Mill, so when I am coming home from travelling I am always glad to see the landmark. (I can also see it from my office window in winter when there are no leaves on the trees.)

The picture also has another significance for me. There is a local artist called Stuart Hirst, who has become well-known for his watercolour paintings of Saltaire and other towns and villages in this area. I have loved his work since I was a student in Bradford and have a couple of prints of his. He has a wonderful way of painting rainy streets - very effective. He has one painting, called "Rain stopped play" and, although it is not attributed, I am pretty sure it is a picture of this playground. (The end terrace did have two chimneys until recently, when the houseowner demolished one.) I have often wondered whether to buy the print - perhaps I will now! See what you think - you can see his profile and some of his work by clicking the links.