Manchester's Spectator Terraces

[cantillon01]

Hi all, I have recently been looking on the Ringway publications website at the photo gallery. Here I came accross the viewing gallery. This has been driving me mad as I am trying to remember what is was like. I went there from around 1987/88 to it's closure. However I don't seem to remember the upper and lower terrace parts. So if anyone can help me piece my memories together my questions are
1. When did it finally close ?
2. looking on google earth or maps and zooming in on the area there only seems to be 1 level (upper) with some newer steps down to the toilets. This is how I remember it. So did it change to just 1 level ?
3. When was this ?
4. The TAS shop, Was this moved at some point along the terrace ?
5. What state is it in today ?
As I say this has been driving me nuts since seeing the pics and not being able to remeber correctly.

Hope Someone can help and jog a few memories for yourselves.

Regards Mike.

[groundhugger]

a couple of photo's showing the terraces in the background , they might jog someones memory .

[groundhugger]

A couple of Photographs from the 'creative commons' on wiki showing the terraces

[crumb]

Those were the days. Unobstructed close up access to the planes.