The junction of Cross Street and Market Street

“Euan took this photo at what felt like a major milestone in Manchester’s recovery following the 15 June 1996 bomb.”

Standing at the junction of Cross Street and Market Street in April 1997, Euan took this photo at what felt like a major milestone in Manchester’s recovery following the 15 June 1996 bomb.

For months after the blast, huge parts of the city centre had been hidden behind hoardings. Gradually, over several months, areas reopened and became accessible again.

By the time of this photo, most of the former Marks and Spencer building had been demolished. The last of the Shambles Square retail and office block (just visible behind the hoardings) would remain until its demolition in 1999.

To the left, the The Royal Exchange Manchester had also suffered severe damage. The Royal Exchange Theatre temporarily relocated to Upper Campfield Market and did not return to the Royal Exchange until 1999.

📸 The bottom photo, taken in September 2025, shows the transformation that followed between 1996 and 2003.

No. 1 Deansgate (completed in 2002, designed by SimpsonHaugh) became a landmark of the masterplan for regeneration. At the time, it felt enormous compared to what stood before!

New Cathedral Street opened in 1999, linking Exchange Square with St Ann’s Square.

Shambles West—home to Reiss, HUGO BOSS, and ZARA — opened in 2002, followed by Harvey Nichols in 2003.

Marks and Spencer unveiled its new 250,000 sq ft store in 1999, with Selfridges arriving in 2002 (120,000 sq ft).