But we have now used technology to add a dash colour to these historic pictures of Sheffied, all taken before 1970, to transform images of how the city once looked in the days before colour photography was common.
Earlier this month, we applied a computer program to an initial 15 photographs to bring them into the age of colour. And now we have done the same for 16 more pictures, drawing on artificial intelligence to transform the pictures dating from the early days of the 20th century, up to 1960.
The technology has worked better on some of the pictures than others. But we hope it brings some new life to them and helps today’s audience see Sheffield in colour, hopefully close to how it would have looked to those who saw the places and events in pictures as they happened all those years ago.
9. General Strike
Mounted police at Fitzalan Square, during the General Strike in 1926 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
10. On the buses
Driver Harry Pears and his conductor wife, Lorna, of Fox Lane, Frecheville, in 1956, in their bus uniforms Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
11. Star Walk
Les Radford leads James Flannery in The Star walk, in 1950s, now in colour Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
12. Fitzalan Square
This colourised picture shows Fitzalan Square, with the Barclay's Bank, New Theatre and Bell Hotel, as well as an old style tram Photo: Sheffield Newspapers