Halifax Bus Station May 2018 and a Ghostly Tale.

The first bus station to be opened in Halifax was to be found at Ward's End, opposite the Victoria Theatre. Opened in the 1940s, it was nothing like a modern-designed bus station, offering only limited stops. This was soon obsolete due to increasing bus travel, and in 1954 Halifax was to gain its first (proper) bus station at Cross Fields, an area of slums recently cleared known as the City.

In the 1980's, Halifax's bus station at Cross Fields had outgrown the site it occupied, with many buses now stopping in the town centre with their passengers never visiting the station. The local authority targeted a site nearby to develop between Northgate and Winding Road, and in October 1989, at a cost of £2 million, the new bus station was opened, with the former Sion Sunday School, Congregation Church, and Jubilee Hall being incorporated into its development.

This bus station was recently demolished to allow for the development of a new bus station on the site. At a cost of £17.7 million, a new bus station serving Halifax will open in 2023.

A couple of recent stories to feature the bus station include the discovery of bones during its recent redevelopment and an interesting ghostly tale from a waiting passenger; this can be read at the bottom of the pictures.

These pictures were taken in May 2018 using a Nikon d3300 SLR camera. They can be seen below and on Clickasnap in full size, resolution, and unwatermarked.

The frontage and remains of the Sion Congregational Church, Jubilee Memorial Hall. The hall was opened in 1866 and offers an impressive eastern entrance top the bus station.

The former Sion Congregational Church Building, it is part of the bus station and used to have a burial ground nearby. The church was closed in 1959.

Sion Sunday School opened in 1846, the frontage was moved and incorporated in to the bus station when it was developed in 1989.

As I alluded to earlier, there is a story about the bus station being the subject of ghostly happenings. A man waiting for his bus to depart saw two women approaching the bus weighed down with shopping. Upon them preparing to embark, he looked away for a moment, and when he looked back, they had disappeared completely from view on the bus and the surrounding station.

These pictures were taken on May 27, 2018. I'm not sure how much of this bus station still exists as the redevelopment works are still ongoing, with a plan to open the new bus station sometime in 2023.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Drifting Down the Grand Canal: A Venetian Symphony in Stone and Water

I'm thrilled to share my latest video, a 9-minute and 29-second journey along the shimmering spine of Venice – the Grand Canal. Captured from the unique vantage point of the vaporetto, that quintessential Venetian water bus, this clip offers a captivating perspective as we glide from the Casino S. Marcuola stop towards the majestic Rialto Bridge.

For centuries, the Grand Canal has served as the city's main thoroughfare, a liquid stage upon which the drama of Venetian life unfolds. As our vaporetto gently cuts through the jade-green water, you'll be treated to a living tapestry of architectural splender. Each palazzo that lines the canal tells a story, whispering tales of powerful families, artistic patronage, and the enduring legacy of this extraordinary city.

From the ornate facades adorned with intricate carvings to the subtle reflections dancing on the water's surface, the visual feast is simply breath taking. Imagine the generations who have gazed upon these same stones, witnessed the same play of light and shadow. This short journey offers a glimpse into that timeless beauty.

To further enhance the experience, I've overlaid the video with the timeless elegance of Johann Strauss II's "The Blue Danube." Its waltz-like rhythm perfectly complements the gentle sway of the boat and the graceful unfolding of the cityscape. It's a pairing I hope you'll find both soothing and evocative.

Whether you've strolled the calli of Venice before or dream of visiting one day, I invite you to take a moment to immerse yourself in this aquatic ballet of architecture and music. Allow yourself to be transported along the Grand Canal, to soak in the atmosphere, and to appreciate the sheer artistry etched into every building.

If you enjoy this virtual voyage, please consider giving the video a thumbs up, sharing it with fellow travel enthusiasts, and subscribing to my channel for more glimpses into the beauty and wonder our world has to offer. Your support means the world!