This is a list of the tallest destroyed buildings and structures in the United Kingdom. The list consists only of free standing structures; the numerous guyed radio masts and towers that have been demolished or destroyed are excluded. In addition, the list includes only those buildings and structures that exceeded a height of 80m (260feet); around 200 largely residential buildings over 50m (160feet) tall have been demolished across the UK since the late 1990s.[1]
An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings.
Rank | Name | Location | Image | Usage | Height | Year completed | Year destroyed | Fate | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Brighton Tower | New Brighton, Merseyside | Observation tower | 173m (568feet) | 1900 | 1921 | Structure was neglected during World War I and become unsafe for public use. It was dismantled between 1919 and 1921. | [2] | ||
2 | Southwark Towers | Southwark, London | Office | 100m (300feet) | 1976 | 2009 | Demolished to make way for The Shard, which at 309.6m (1,015.7feet) became the tallest building in the UK and European Union upon completion in 2012. | [3] | ||
3 | Drapers' Gardens | City of London, London | Office | 99m (325feet) | 1967 | 2007 | Demolished as part of regeneration of the City of London financial district. The replacement office building is 75 m (246 ft) tall. | [4] | ||
4 | Great Wheel | Kensington and Chelsea, London | Ferris wheel | 94m (308feet) | 1895 | 1907 | Built as part of the Empire of India Exhibition at Earls Court, the wheel was eventually demolished due to lack of profits. | [5] | ||
5 | Limebank House | City of London, London | Office | 93m (305feet) | 1969 | 1998 | The building formerly served as headquarters of Barclays. The bank has since relocated to One Churchill Place in Canary Wharf. | [6] | ||
6 | 20 Fenchurch Street | City of London, London | Office | 92m (302feet) | 1968 | 2008 | The new 160m (530feet) 20 Fenchurch Street nicknamed 'The Walkie Talkie' was completed in 2014. | [7] | ||
7 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition Tower | Glasgow, Scotland | Observation tower | 91m (299feet) | 1938 | 1939 | The tower was built as a centrepiece of the Empire Exhibition at Bellahouston Park. In the build up to World War II it was demolished following concerns it would act as a marker for enemy bombers. | [8] | ||
8= | World Trade Centre | Tower Hamlets, London | Office | 89m (292feet) | 1991 | 2004 | The building was heavily damaged by an IRA bombing in 1996. Part of the frame was incorporated into a Hilton hotel which was completed in 2008. | [9] | ||
8= | 21 Birnie Court | Glasgow, Scotland | Residential | 89m (292feet) | 1969 | 2013 | The tallest apartment building demolished in the UK, it formed part of the Red Road housing complex. | [10] | ||
10= | Crystal Palace North Tower | Bromley, London | Observation tower | 86m (282feet) | 1852 | 1939 | Despite surviving the infamous 1936 Crystal Palace fire which destroyed the majority of the main structure, the two towers were demolished in 1939 due to concerns they would act as markers for enemy bombers in World War II. | [11] | ||
10= | Crystal Palace South Tower | Bromley, London | Observation tower | 86m (282feet) | 1852 | 1939 | Despite surviving the infamous 1936 Crystal Palace fire which destroyed the majority of the main structure, the two towers were demolished in 1939 due to concerns they would act as markers for enemy bombers in World War II. | [12] | ||
12= | Manchester Assize Courts | Manchester, Lancashire | Court | 80m (260feet) | 1864 | 1957 | The building sustained irreparable damage during World War II and was eventually demolished in 1957. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse, it is regarded as one of the UK's finest 'lost' buildings.[13] [14] | [15] | ||
12= | Winchester House | City of London, London | Office | 80m (260feet) | 1968 | 1997 | Fourth-tallest office building demolished in the City of London. | [16] | ||
12= | 153 Petershill Drive | Glasgow, Scotland | Residential | 80m (260feet) | 1969 | 2012 | The second tallest apartment building demolished in the UK, it formed part of the Red Road housing complex. | [17] |