The Shambles West development was damaged by the 1996 bomb and was subsequently taken down. In its place arose the prestigious apartment building No1 Deansgate. On this site stood the magnificent Victoria Buildings, torn down in the 1940s following war damage and - according to one EWM reader - arson. To find out what the Victoria Buildings looked like, go to images.manchester.gov.uk and search for 'Victoria Street, Victoria Buildings'. From my childhood I remember the empty triangular site covered in grass until construction started in the late 60s.