The online maps service has Street View, which can allow you to see places around the world from pedestrian level. There’s also a clever little feature where you can look at the same viewpoint on a timeline stretching back several years. We’ve used images captured from it here to show how some changes have taken place in just a short time.
Heart of the City 2 is a good example, so we’ve looked at that from two points of view to show what a dramatic change the new Grosvenor House complex has made to that whole area. We’ve also captured the Castle Markets demolition in action and demonstrated how the New Era development has made a huge difference to the top of Bramall Lane/St Mary’s Gate.
5. Work in progress
The view from the top of The Mooor in 2017, with work on Grosvenor House under way Photo: Julia Armstrong/Google
6. Ups and downs
By November 2020, the Google Maps view was completely different, with a sleek new building housing shops and a coffee bar as well as the HSBC offices. Sadly, Debenhams on the left would be on the way to closing down only a few months later Photo: Julia Armstrong/Google
7. Going, going...
This Google Maps image from November 2015 shows work well under way to dismantle the old market buildings Photo: Julia Armstrong/Google
8. Market forces
By October 2016, Google Maps shows that Castle Markets had completely disappeared. The view is pretty much the same today Photo: Julia Armstrong/Google