Google Maps puzzler

Ran into this puzzler today:

Google Maps showing Mansfield on the map, but unable to find it for directions.

I could not persuade Google Maps that it knew where Mansfield is. I mean Mansfield in Nottinghamshire; but even when I typed in “Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK”, Google Maps professed ignorance – although I could easily scroll to the actual location on the map itself by the strategy of searching for another place first. No doubt there are other Mansfields in the world – but why not a disambiguation menu?

Eventuall I tried Mansfield, UK and it worked. Except that the position is miles out:

I guess Google Maps just doesn’t like Mansfield. Microsoft’s local.live.com had no problems.

I’m sure a postcode would have worked; but these are not always conveniently at hand.

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