When Google launched its new Street View mapping facility last week, it expected users to enjoy its new “innovative street-level imagery” of 25 British cities, while relishing the “new tourism, education, property and business benefits” offered by the service.It didn’t expect people to be getting into a virtual lather over photos of a drunk man throwing up into a glass outside a pub in Shoreditch.
That Hackney-born gem swept across the net like wildfire, but the Hackney Post has scoured Street View for other Google oddities captured in the borough. Here are the Hackney sights not to be missed.
1) Sick as a moose
Google’s all-seeing cameras caught this man vomiting into his pint glass outside a Shoreditch pub. A friend (adorned with comedy antlers) appears to be patting him on the head.
However, it was only a matter of hours before the image was blacked out, disappearing from the service. Google says it takes privacy very seriously but, when pressed by the Hackney Post, conceded that taste can also result in the removal of a stretch of London street.
“If someone feels an image is inappropriate, or distasteful, then we will remove it,” a spokeswoman told us.
2) Woolies returns
At the turn of 2009, a high street stalwart, Woolworths, may tragically have disappeared from our local shopping streets , but thanks to Google Street View, you can re-live your pick ‘n’ mix memories.
Because the pictures for the service were taken last summer, Woolies still stands proudly on Stoke Newington High Street and at Hackney Central (above).
3) Moleman woz ‘ere
William Lyttle’s network of burrows has bestowed a legendary status on the former De Beavoir resident.
Check out his former abode at 121 Mortimer Road (or what’s left of it).
4) Before Banksy
Dalston’s Gillett Square didn’t exist before February 2007. But its history is sure to be defined by a certain guerilla artist.
A Banksy original was removed by zealous street cleaners before the square even opened. Banksy then decided to strike twice, painting a boy with a stereo on the very same wall earlier this month.
Picture courtesy of Hackneye
The council stated they would remove it – but that was before it was defaced by some less artistic graffiti. Take a look at this Google pic, capturing Banksy’s (then) blank canvas.
5) Squashed by Google
People have made many allegations against the search engine superpower, but “Google squashed me” has never been one of them.
This unsuspecting man was the victim of some kind of Google malfunction near Shoreditch High Street.
6) Papped by Google
Meanwhile, one man has not discovered his home on the maps, but himself.
Reflecting on the experience of being captured alongside his other half by one of Google’s cars near Broadway market, he exclaims: “We’ve been Google-papped.”
“Lucky it was my wife I was out with that day”.
All pictures courtesy of Google
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