Moorfoot area

[wessie_mick]

I would like to find photos of Moorfoot area round Manpower/Ellin Street 1960/70s

[SteveHB]

I would like to find photos of moorfoot area round manpower/ellin street 1960/70s

Hi wessie_mick,

the best I can get at the moment is Stuart0742's

post #9

in this Topic The Moor, Popular shopping centre attractionThere may be more old pictures of Moorfoot on the site somewhere,

It's just finding them that can be a bit of a problem.

Hope this one helps,

Steve

[jiginc]

I would like to find photos of moorfoot area round manpower/ellin street 1960/70s

Ellin Street. Isn't that where the Mass Radiographic Unit was before moving to the Royal Hospital.

[SteveHB]

Ellin Street. Isn't that where the Mass Radiographic Unit was before moving to the Royal Hospital.

Any ideas as to the year please,

and also didn't a building that had with something to do with X-rays

once stand whare the skating rink car park now stands nr Queens Rd?

Ellin St 1952/53

[mickjj]

Do any of the pictures in this thread help?

http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/i...100&hl=moor

[DaveH]

I would like to find photos of Moorfoot area round Manpower/Ellin Street 1960/70s

Taken in 1979, the MSC building under construction causing a permenant road block at the bottom of the Moor.

The picture is taken from St, Mary's Gate over the underpassed traffic Island so looks towards the Moor across Ellin Street

Notice also that last surviving "Norfolk Park Tower Block" which is in the town centre is also pictured

[mike142sl]

It won't be long before Moorfoot, now the DfES building looks like that again. Plan is to demolish it and rebuild?

[DaveH]

It won't be long before Moorfoot, now the DfES building looks like that again. Plan is to demolish it and rebuild?

Sounds about right, "redevelopment" in Sheffield seems to give most buildings about 30 years from building to demolition.

I call as my witness to this, the Town Hall "egg box" extension, Kelvin Flats and the Norfolk Park Tower Blocks.

I must admit of all the "unpopular" buildings in Sheffield the MSC (or DfES), also know to us as "The Aztec Temple" and "The Dalek City" is the one I dislike most.

Not only was it originally staffed by wealthy, relocated southerners rather than local people which had an adverse effect on local house prices it was also built across one of the major arteries through the City (The Moor itself). What a stupid place to put it! everybody knowns that blocked arteries are usually fatal!

So if they're going to knock it down for once that's alright by me, - good riddance to the place.

Perhaps they could unblock the bottom of The Moor while they are at it.

[Guest Gramps]

I must admit of all the "unpopular" buildings in Sheffield the MSC (or DfES), also know to us as "The Aztec Temple" and "The Dalek City" is the one I dislike most.

Not only was it originally staffed by wealthy, relocated southerners rather than local people which had an adverse effect on local house prices it was also built across one of the major arteries through the City (The Moor itself). What a stupid place to put it! everybody knowns that blocked arteries are usually fatal!

So if they're going to knock it down for once that's alright by me, - good riddance to the place.

Perhaps they could unblock the bottom of The Moor while they are at it.

Have to agree. Taking public transport off the Moor is what killed it. Wasn't the original plan to allow buses to run underneath that wretched Ziggurat ?

[Stuart0742]

Have to agree. Taking public transport off the Moor is what killed it. Wasn't the original plan to allow buses to run underneath that wretched Ziggurat ?

As well as losing it status as a through route, I see 2 issues that have effected The Moor:

1. The layout of of Sheffield City Centre itself, ie long and thin, not compact.

2. Meadowhall.

I am not convinced the Moor would have been any different if the MSC had not been built, Sheffield City Council would have ruined it anyway and pedestrianised it

[DaveH]

As well as losing it status as a through route, I see 2 issues that have effected The Moor:

1. The layout of of Sheffield City Centre itself, ie long and thin, not compact.

2. Meadowhall.

I am not convinced the Moor would have been any different if the MSC had not been built, Sheffield City Council would have ruined it anyway and pedestrianised it

I thought that Stuart would have tried to turn my 1979 picture into a "then & now" before putting his first reply in this thread.

[Stuart0742]

I thought that Stuart would have tried to turn my 1979 picture into a "then & now" before putting his first reply in this thread.

Suspect this may be a difficult one to match given the number of trees/bushes nowadays, in the mean time here is a Google version

Then courtesy of DaveH

Now Courtesy of Google Street View

[Waterside Echo]

Suspect this may be a difficult one to match given the number of trees/bushes nowadays, in the mean time here is a Google version

Then courtesy of DaveH

Now Courtesy of Google Street View

DaveH, in your 1979 photo would that white crescent shaped building be Rippon Brothers? W/A.

[DaveH]

DaveH, in your 1979 photo would that white crescent shaped building be Rippon Brothers? W/A.

Not sure about that Waterside Echo,

I think it is the building that is currently Mothercare and Staples

[DaveH]

Suspect this may be a difficult one to match given the number of trees/bushes nowadays, in the mean time here is a Google version

Then courtesy of DaveH

Now Courtesy of Google Street View

Yes its a difficult one because of the trees on that traffic island at St. Mary's Gate.

Perhaps the viewpoint needs to be further to the right, roughlywhere the google map and man are.

I might give it a try if I remember to take my camera down town with me next time I go.

[Stuart0742]

Yes its a difficult one because of the trees on that traffic island at St. Mary's Gate.

Perhaps the viewpoint needs to be further to the right, roughlywhere the google map and man are.

I might give it a try if I remember to take my camera down town with me next time I go.

You need to be slightly down St Mary's Rd then on to the pavement, dont think you will see much except for the bushes on the island and the central reservation. Worth a try though

[ukelele lady]

Here's Moorfoot today, opposite Atkinsons.

[DaveH]

Taken in 1979, the MSC building under construction causing a permenant road block at the bottom of the Moor.

The picture is taken from St, Mary's Gate over the underpassed traffic Island so looks towards the Moor across Ellin Street

Notice also that last surviving "Norfolk Park Tower Block" which is in the town centre is also pictured

Another one taken in May 1981 when the "Aztec Temple" or "Dalek City" building later known as the Manpower Services Commission was complete.

Taken with a Minox subminiature camera the picture quality isn't great, but it may be easier to "then and now" it as its not quite from the same viewpoint.

[mike142sl]

Another one taken in May 1981 when the "Aztec Temple" or "Dalek City" building later known as the Manpower Services Commission was complete.

Taken with a Minox subminiature camera the picture quality isn't great, but it may be easier to "then and now" it as its not quite from the same viewpoint.

That picture shows the old white ramp to nowhere? which was part of the planning permission. There was a walkway through the building (still is) which was supposed to retain access from the Moor to the end of London Rd. There was going to be a bridge accross Young St but it was never decided what was going to be built on the other side of the road so the bridge was never built/completed. Then the IRA started to target Government Buildings so it was decided never to open the walkway to the public.

The walkway to nowhere was demolished a few years ago as it started to fall down. You can still see the ramp at the Moor end opposite the fountain outside the main door.

[RichardB]

Here's Moorfoot today, opposite Atkinsons.

Are they still intending to build there ? or has it all been credit-crunched ? Maybe we can look forward to a long period of poor quality parking ...

Thank you for the updated photos.

[DaveH]

That picture shows the old white ramp to nowhere? which was part of the planning permission. There was a walkway through the building (still is) which was supposed to retain access from the Moor to the end of London Rd. There was going to be a bridge accross Young St but it was never decided what was going to be built on the other side of the road so the bridge was never built/completed. Then the IRA started to target Government Buildings so it was decided never to open the walkway to the public.

The walkway to nowhere was demolished a few years ago as it started to fall down. You can still see the ramp at the Moor end opposite the fountain outside the main door.

I did wonder what that old white ramp in the picture was, as even in this shot it terminates prematurely like the famous bridge at Avignon.

Thanks for the extra info on it mike.

[RichardB]

I did wonder what that old white ramp in the picture was, as even in this shot it terminates prematurely like the famous bridge at Avignon.

Thanks for the extra info on it mike.

Smaller version of the Salisbury Flyover or the Glasgow Motorway between two sets of tenements - with a set of stairs up one side only.

[DaveH]

Here's Moorfoot today, opposite Atkinsons.

As the 2 last shops on this block, Home Bargains (an everything for a pound shop) and Ethel Austins, are finally demolished the whole of this side of the Moor is now empty.

[RichardB]

As the 2 last shops on this block, Home Bargains (an everything for a pound shop) and Ethel Austins, are finally demolished the whole of this side of the Moor is now empty.

What is that hideous tower in the last picture ?

<Joking> lol

[DaveH]

What is that hideous tower in the last picture ?

Moorfoot, with that hideous MSC Aztec temple in the picture.