Coles Corner Conundrum
The precise location the photograph adorning the cover of Richard Hawley's Coles Corner album is causing some degree of consternation over at The Word's fantastic Album Atlas.
The location currently flagged as Coles Corner appears in the Yorkshire countryside to the North-West of Sheffield. We're not sure this is right.
Neither is Charlie. He writes:
Now I could be wrong, but I truly believe that the photo for this album was taken outside the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (aka Sir Alan Aykbourn’s theatre). The building is only minutes from my office and although this style of (former) Odeon Cinema was quite popular once, the dreary view of flats/shops/offices seen over Richard’s left shoulder adds to my conviction.
Or Chris. He quotes from Wikipedia:
Coles Corner is the name given to the corner of Fargate and Church Street in Sheffield, England in sight of the cathedral. It was the site of the old Cole Brothers department store before they moved to Barker's Pool in 1963... The name is still remembered by many Sheffielders of a certain age as the place to meet one's date.
Can anyone confirm the real location of the Coles Corner shoot?
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I think
we need a seperate map for richard Hawley. i think scarborough story is probably true. I think the story goes like this.
Cole's brother was a department store near a number of bus stops in sheff town centre . so people would meet their Cole corner. Thia location is no longer Cole's brother which has moved across town. But there is a plaque on the exisiting site, the picture on the sleeve could well be in scarborough as the letters to cole brother look photoshopped.!
Correct Chris!
Yes they were photoshopped, see my entry!
Coles Corner
I think the correct postcode is S1 2GJ. The actual spot of the old Cole Brothers store is now taken up by HSBC, Greggs bakers, a coffee shop and an Army recruitment office!
As for the photo, I used to think it was on London Road, Sheffield, but I'm now convinced the photo wasn't taken in Sheffield at all!
Sorry
I think it might have been me that started this. I wasn't sure and had doubts as to whether the cover shot was in Sheffield. But the I got the impression that Hawley certainly wanted people to think the front cover shot was of Coles Corner, so that was good enough for me!
when this is
sorted does anyone know where the front cover of "no sleep till Hammersmith" was shot?
This Is The Truth
The album cover was taken outside Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre,it used to be the old Odeon Cinema where I saw my first film Star Trek, The Motion Picture. Hawley's photographer stood on a traffic island to get the best picture. The theatre didn't want to be bothered putting up the letters on the facade, so the name Coles Corner etc was added on afterwards. The couple on the cover are unknown stars too. As mentioned, the Coles Corner site in Sheffield is still there, but is just has a bank and bakers near it. Hawley told me he looked round different sites in Yorkshire and wanted to capture somewhere that had the romance and feel of the old Coles Brothers Department Store on Coles Corner; and finally settled on the Scarborough Stephen Joseph Theatre. When I first saw the album cover I was surprised to see my local theatre had been used for the picture!
Perfect.
Thanks David - I'll update the map.