Destroyed Collection (#53)

Deforestation in Rondonia, Brazil, 1992
Deforestation in Rondonia, Brazil. Image 3 of 4. Satellite image of part of the state of Rondonia, Brazil, showing deforested areas (light green)

Slash and burn agriculture. Smoke rising from an area of cleared forest. The trees have been cleared to make way for the cultivation of rice. Photographed in northern Laos

Coral reef rehabilitation. Ceramic structures anchored onto damaged a coral reef. These ceramic modules are designed to mimic branching coral colonies

Deforestation in Rondonia, Brazil, 1986
Deforestation in Rondonia, Brazil. Image 2 of 4. Satellite image of part of the state of Rondonia, Brazil, showing deforested areas (light green)

Lava flow destruction, Hawaii
Lava flow destruction from Kilauea volcano, in Kalapana, on Hawaii, USA. House set alight by a lava flow

End of the world, conceptual artwork

Hot ash from Kilauea volcano, in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, USA

Mouldy grapes on the vine. Ripening bunch of grapes (Vitis vinifera) showing infection by grey mould (Botrytis cinerea). This fungus is pathogenic and widespread and causes a variety of rots

Tycho Brahes celestial sphere, 1584
Tycho Brahes celestial sphere. Artwork from 1584 of the celestial sphere designed and built by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)

World War II, conceptual image
World War II. Conceptual image of an Earth globe with much of the northern hemisphere burnt to a charred metal framework. This represents World War II, which took place from 1939 to 1945

Particle collision, artwork

Locust swarm
Нашествие саранчи. "убовский район. Поселок "орная пролейка. олгоградская область. поле, саранча, земля

Newtons Opticks notes in flames, 1692
Newtons Opticks notes in flames. Coloured historical artwork of the English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton (1642-1727) discovering that his notes on optics are burning

1509 Istanbul earthquake, artwork
1509 Istanbul earthquake. Artwork of the destruction after the earthquake of 10th September 1509 in Istanbul, Turkey. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 and was followed by 45 days of aftershocks

Destruction of Pompeii, artwork
Destruction of Pompeii, 19th century artwork. Artwork from the 1886 ninth edition of Moses and Geology (Samuel Kinns, London). This book was originally published in 1882

Dystopia, conceptual artwork. Computer artwork of a run-down abandoned building with a tree growing through its middle, representing dystopia

Fire destruction. Room of a house that has been destroyed by a fire

Fire destruction, artwork
Fire destruction. Computer image of a room of a house that has been destroyed by a fire

Predators feeding on a hydroid colony
Predators feeding on a hydrozoa colony. Colony of Tubularia larynx hydrozoa that has been destroyed by nudibranchs (Coryphella sp)

Hotel del Monte, California, destroyed by fire on September 28th 1924

Double page spread in a diary for 22-27 November
A double page spread in a young persons diary for 22-27 November. Each day is given a small illustration, relating either to the season, or to the anniversary of an historical event

Large country house gutted by fire, Mid Wales
A large country house gutted by fire, probably in the Mid Wales area. The fire is recent, as smoke is still drifting from the building

Soldier inspecting destroyed train, Iraq
A soldier inspecting the debris of a destroyed train, somewhere in Iraq

Ruins of Old Panama destroyed by Morgan 250 Years ago

Destroyed German field kitchen WWI
German field kitchen destroyed by shell fire near Framerville on the Western Front during World War I

German pillbox WWI
Destroyed German pillbox near Lens in Pas de Calais, France, during World War I

Destroyed German tank WWI
German tank blown up by French artillery north of Perthes in Marne during World War I Date: 2 October 1918

Soissons ruins WWI
Smouldering ruins in Soissons, which was captured by the Germans on the 29 May 1918 during the Battle of Soissons and Rheims at the Third battle of Aisne on the Western Front during World War I

Battle of the Scarpe WWI
After a direct hit on a German ammunition wagon in Monchy-le-Preux during the Battle of the Scarpe at the Battle of Arras during World War I

Destroyed German cart WWI
Wrecked German ammunition cart on the Western Front during World War I

Destroyed Tank WWI
German soldier resting on the remains of tank during World War I on the Western Front

Manonviller fort WWI
A small for on the railway east of Luneville, close to the German border. IT had been improved shortly before World War I, when the concrete defences were thickened

Destroyed fortifications WWI
Destroyed fortifications in Belgium during World War I

Fort Loncin, Belgium WWI
Destroyed gun cupola at Fort Loncin near Liege during World War I

Destroyed gun cupola in Belgium WWI
Annihilated gun dome part of the stronghold at Namur in Belgium during World War I

Lieutenant Rex Warneford - WWI Ace Hero
On 7 June 1915 at Ghent, Belgium, Reginald ( Rex ) Alexander John Warneford, VC (1891- 1915), a Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) officer, flying a Morane-Saulnier Type L

Glendurgan, Cornwall, after the 1987 hurricane
Scene at Glendurgan, a National Trust garden in North Falmouth, Cornwall, after the 1987 hurricane. A man stands behind a large tree which has been completely uprooted

Destroyed French tank WWI
Destroyed French tank during World War I

Destroyed train engine WWI
Destroyed railway engine the Peronne in France during World War I

German retreat WWI
German observation post behind the German retreat line in France during World War I

Ablainzeville Church WWI
Destruction of Ablainzville Church, Pas de Calais, in France during World War I

Destroyed bridge over the Marne WWI
Destruction of the bridge over the Marne at Chateau Thierry to impede the enemy passage

Maubeuge fortress WWI
A shot-up gun turret at the fortress of Maubeuge, which capitulated to General von Zwehl on 7 September 1914 and 4 general, 40, 000 men and 400 guns were captured

Destroyed Oise Bridge WWI
The Oise bridge near Villiers Cotterets was blown up by the French in retreat. The 18th Ambulance 6th Division is crossing the river by bridge of boats

Collapsed Bridge, Poland 1914
The wreck of a railway bridge in Poland, destroyed by retreating German forces on the Eastern Front

Destroyed French tank WWII
Destroyed French tank in France during World War II

Destroyed warship WWII
German stukas destroyed the warships they found in Dunkirk harbour during World War II

WWII tanks
Destroyed tanks in France during World War II

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From Hogarth's Gin Lane to the demolished Tinsley cooling towers, destruction has left its mark throughout history. The haunting image of Newcastle Bridge in ruins takes us back to a time long gone, while The Redoutable at Trafalgar reminds us of the fierce battles fought on treacherous seas. As we gaze upon The Sinking of the Bismarck, we witness the power and devastation that war brings. But not all destruction is intentional; sometimes it is necessary for progress. The demolition of the iconic Tinsley cooling towers in Sheffield symbolizes a changing landscape and evolving times. Similarly, when flames engulfed Alexandria Library, centuries worth of knowledge turned into ashes. In contrast, destruction can also be an act of conquest or revenge. The King of Ashantis Palace at Kumasi met its demise in 1874 as colonial powers sought dominance over African territories. Likewise, Canterbury Cathedral Library suffered damage during WW2's Baedeker Blitz—a tragic loss for literature enthusiasts. Yet amidst chaos and ruin, resilience emerges. Just like the rebuilt Eddystone Lighthouse after its collapse in 1698 stood tall once again, humanity finds ways to rise from ashes and rebuild what was lost. And finally, there are those who bear witness to fictional destruction—The War of the Worlds transports us into a world where alien invasion threatens our very existence. Meanwhile, aboard Cutty Sark Clipper shipwrecked dreams lie shattered but serve as a reminder that even broken pieces hold stories within them. Whether caused by nature or human hands, destroyed landmarks carry tales untold—reminders that nothing lasts forever.