Scipio
As you said earlier the old wharf after falling out of use as a canal wharf it became a public works department. Sometime in the 80's or 90's it closed and it wasn't long before the old wharf buildings became a warren of studio workshops an antique dealers. The wife and myself visited there several times and it was always good afternoon out even if I got out of there without buying anything. I thought it was like a smaller version of Gloucester docks and couldn't understand why it had to close, but then along came the developers and explained that..
Phil I have good memories of the PWD , as kids we used to chat to some of the workers who used to sweep the streets , plus collect the snow in winter . One day one of the men was working in Granville St I had just come out of Box's the general store with some sweets, he mentioned something about the sweets , I offered him one and for months after whenever our paths crossed which wasn't often on a Friday afternoon , he'd take a half crown out of his pocket and pass the coin to me , with a little rendition of Any Old Iron . Most of the kids thought he was mad but I used to like the banter we had , I don't think he had any family so he may have enjoyed someone just taking the time to chat to him , Happy days