WPM150 Lunchtime Talk: Considering Sheffield

Join Dr Julie Banham as she explores how Sheffield has been defined and whether a true depiction of a city can ever be captured. 

How does one convey the smells, taste, noise, sights and experiences of something so complex as a city?  

The timeless quote, ‘The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there’ (from L.P Hartley’s novel The Go-Between, 1953) neatly demonstrates the problems in understanding the past and the ways in which each generation selects evidence from it to suit its own needs and values.  

Equally, contemporary observations are a response to the times in which they were created – the selective use of evidence, the prejudices and assumptions of the writer, the vagaries of memory and the absence or presence of research and context.  

This talk explores just some of the motivations and reactions of visitors, artists and commentators as they tried to define Sheffield over the years. 

Part of a programme of displays, events and activities celebrating 150 years of Weston Park Museum in 2025.