From Euston Arch and the Coal Exchange to Birmingham Central Library and Sunderland Town Hall, some of the most stunning buildings of the Victorian era were torn down after the Second World War.
As recently highlighted in a recent thread on the hugely popular ‘Cultural Tutor’ Twitter account, many were demolished for no good reason, amid a craze for ‘modern’ architecture, including the notorious Brutalist style.
Although for others, such as Newcastle Town Hall or Manchester’s Assize Courts, destruction was a preferred option because German bomb damage and decades of disrepair had left them in a sorry state.
Below, MailOnline delves into the some of the once-treasured buildings that have been replaced by largely concrete structures.
Euston Arch and Great Hall
Euston Arch, the original entrance to Euston station in Central London, had stood since 1837.
Officially known as the Doric Arch, it was demolished in 1962 – along with Euston’s original Great Hall – so that the station could be redeveloped.
The move – which was insisted on by Conservative transport minister Ernest Marples – was made despite fierce protests from ordinary Londoners and campaigners from the Victorian Society.
An idea to dismantle it and re-build it after Euston’s redevelopment was dismissed as being too costly and time consuming.
Writer, poet and broadcaster Sir John Betjeman was among the famous Britons who had wanted the arch to stay.
After the Second World War, dozens of Victorian and Georgian buildings were demolished in the capital. The buildings that were pulled down included the famous Euston Arch, which had stood since 1837 and had been the original entrance to Euston station. Above: The Arch in 1954, and the site today
Euston’s original Great Hall was demolished in 1962 so that the station could be redeveloped. With its staircases leading down on to a grand concourse, it had formed the template for other imposing station ticket halls – as evidenced by New York’s Grand Central Station
A group of students even climbed scaffolding around the arch as demolition of the 4,500-ton structure was due to take place and unfurled a banner pleading for it to be saved.
Its architect, Philip Hardwick, built it at a cost of £35,000 (£2.5million in today’s money) after being inspired by classical buildings in Rome.
However, the arch had not been popular in all quarters. Since its construction, some had denounced it as an eyesore.
The Daily Mail’s report in 1961 that the Euston Arch was to be demolished
Euston station itself, which opened on July 20, 1837, a year before the arch was finished, was the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway constructed by Robert Stephenson.
Around the same time that the Arch was pulled down, the station’s Great Hall was targeted too.
With its staircases leading down on to a grand concourse, it had formed the template for other imposing station ticket halls – as evidenced by New York’s Grand Central Station.
Coal Exchange
London’s Coal Exchange, near the Old Billingsgate Market, had existed in three separate buildings since 1770.
The first structure was torn down in the early 19th Century, before its replacement made way for a third headquarters that opened in 1849.
The building was one of the first to be largely built with a cast iron frame and was described by one academic as the ‘prime city monument of the early Victorian period.’
However, it was demolished in 1962 so that the nearby Lower Thames Street could be widened.
Other buildings that were victims of voracious post-war planners included the London Coal Exchange (seen left in 1911) in Thames Street. It was demolished to allow for the widening of Lower Thames Street (shown right)
Birmingham Central Library
The original Birmingham Central Library opened in 1865 but stood for just 14 years before a major fire destroyed much of the structure and its stock.
A new library was built on the same site in a renaissance style and opened in June 1882.
However, despite its striking interior, Birmingham’s authorities had decided that it was too small by the late 1930s.
But because of the Second World War, it was not until the 1960s that its redevelopment was agreed.
The original Birmingham Central Library opened in 1865 but stood for just 14 years before a major fire destroyed much of the structure and its stock. A new library (above) was built on the same site in a renaissance style and opened in June 1882
However, despite its striking interior, Birmingham’s authorities had decided that it was too small by the late 1930s
The 19th Century library was demolished in 1974 and replaced with a structure built in the then popular Brutalist style (above). It was criticised for its appearance, with King Charles saying in his 1989 book A Vision of Britain that it resembled a ‘place where books are incinerated, not kept’. The library closed in 2013 and was demolished three years later
The library was finally demolished in 1974 to make way for a new version, which was an emblem of the then popular Brutalist style.
The structure was the largest non-national lending library in Europe but was criticised for its appearance, with King Charles saying in his 1989 book A Vision of Britain that it resembled a ‘place where books are incinerated, not kept.’
The library’s fate was sealed in the late 1990s when the site that it stood on was sold to developers.
A nearby site for a new building was chosen in 2007, leading to the construction of the Library of Birmingham, which opened in September 2013.
The old Central Library closed in June 2013, before the structure was demolished in 2016.
A nearby site for a new building was chosen in 2007, leading to the construction of the Library of Birmingham (above), which opened in September 2013. The old Central Library closed in June 2013, before the structure was demolished in 2016
Sunderland Town Hall
Sunderland’s magnificent old town hall opened in 1890, after being designed by Ipswich architect Brightwen Binyon.
Its most eye-catching exterior feature was its beautiful clocktower, whilst inside it boasted a magnificent staircase.
However, council officials decided that the structure had become unfit for purpose by the 1960s.
Sunderland’s magnificent old town hall opened in 1890, after being designed by Ipswich architect Brightwen Binyon
The Sunderland Civic Centre, its hexagonal red brick replacement, was opened at a site less than half a mile away in 1970.
Whilst there were calls from residents to keep the original town hall, planning permission was granted to demolish it and replace it with a hotel.
The building was torn down in 1970 and then it was not replaced for years because the hotel developers could not find an operator to run the site.
Plans for another hotel fell through in 1974, causing local anger.
Council officials decided that the structure had become unfit for purpose by the 1960s. The Sunderland Civic Centre, its hexagonal red brick replacement, was opened in 1970
The Civic Centre was itself demolished last year and replaced by another town hall just over a mile away
A new building was eventually built on the site. Today it houses Virgin Money and the Post Office.
Meanwhile the Civic Centre was itself demolished last year and replaced by another town hall just over a mile away.
Known as City Hall, the structure was built because of the estimated £5million costs to furbish the old Civic Centre.
Known as City Hall, the structure was built because of the estimated £5million costs to furbish the old Civic Centre
Newcastle Town Hall
Newcastle Town Hall opened in 1863 in the Italian neoclassical style.
However, the structure had to be vacated in the early 1960s because it had not been properly maintained.
After its tower had already been pulled down in the 1930s, the rest of the structure was demolished in 1973.
The council moved to the Newcastle Civic Centre, which was opened by King Olav V of Norway in November 1968.
Newcastle Town Hall (left) opened in 1863 in the Italian neoclassical style. However, the structure had to be vacated in the early 1960s because it had not been properly maintained
The council moved to the Newcastle Civic Centre, which was opened by King Olav V of Norway in November 1968
Manchester Assize Courts
When they were was built in 1864, the Assize Courts in Manchester was the tallest building in Manchester – a title it held for more than a decade.
The 270-foot high structure was built adjoining Manchester’s Strangeway’s Prison.
The building displayed ornate sculptures that depicted famous lawgivers from history.
When it was built in 1864, the Assize Courts in Manchester was the tallest building in Manchester – a title it held for more than a decade
Whilst other bomb-damaged buildings in the city were repaired, the Assize Courts were torn down in 1957 – a year after the assize court system had been abolished. The new Crown Court building opened in the city in the early 1960s. The structure was extended in the brutalist style in the mid-1980s
However, the structure was severely damaged in the Manchester Blitz in 1940 and 1941.
Whilst other bomb-damaged buildings in the city were repaired, the Assize Courts were torn down in 1957 – a year after the assize court system had been abolished.
The new Crown Court building opened in the city in the early 1960s. The structure was extended in the brutalist style in the mid-1980s.
Lewisham Town Hall
The original Town Hall in the south-east London borough of Lewisham was opened in 1875.
The grand Victorian structure, built in a Gothic Revival style, was among the most imposing buildings in the area.
But after being damaged by German bombs in the Second World War, the structure was demolished in 1968.
The original Town Hall in the south-east London borough of Lewisham was opened in 1875. The grand Victorian structure, built in a Gothic Revival style, was among the most imposing buildings in the area
But after being damaged by German bombs in the Second World War, the structure was demolished in 1968. The Civic Suite was erected in its place and opened by the Queen Mother in 1971
That was despite a campaign launched by 13-year-old boy William Norton to save the structure.
The Civic Suite was erected in its place and opened by the Queen Mother in 1971.
Birkbeck Bank
The old Birkbeck Bank, which stood near Chancery Lane tube station in London, opened in 1902.
It had been built with then new steel frame construction methods that are now common in modern architecture.
It had a beautiful entrance hall that was bigger than the one inside the Bank of England.
Birkbeck Bank, near Chancery Lane tube station, opened in 1902 and had a bigger hall than the Bank of England. Its hall was lined with Doulton terracotta and decorated with tiles and stained glass. The Victorian Society unsuccessfully campaigned to save it in 1964 when it was set to be demolished. The current office building on the site is seen above right
The hall was lined with Doulton terracotta and decorated with tiles and stained glass.
However, the structure was demolished in 1964 for no obvious reason, despite a campaign by the Victorian Society and others to save it.
The structure on the same site today is a nondescript office building.
Imperial Institute
The building that housed the Imperial Institute, on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, opened in 1893.
The building that housed the Imperial Institute, on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, opened in 1893. But the decision was made in the 1960s to partially demolish the structure to allow for the expansion of Imperial College
The Daily Mail’s 1956 report on the potential demolition of the Imperial Institute
Designed by architect T.E. Collcut, it housed a library, conference rooms and exhibition galleries.
The building boasted three towers that rose above their surroundings.
But the decision was made in the 1960s to partially demolish the structure to allow for the expansion of Imperial College.
The demolition came despite the fact that the building was not in poor condition and there was significant opposition from the public and cultural institutions.
The only part of the building that remained was the central Queen’s Tower, which still stands today.
The metal and glass rectangular structure that now occupies most of the site forms the heart of Imperial College.
Buildings that were SAVED
Manchester Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall, which opened in 1877, remains one of the northern city’s most iconic landmarks.
Grade II-listed, It is regarded as one of the greatest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Britain.
Manchester Town Hall (pictured in around 1890), which opened in 1877, remains one of the northern city’s most iconic landmarks
Its 280-ft clock tower boasts a 173-step staircase and also hosts 24 bells, with the largest weighing more than eight tonnes.
However, after the Second World War there were proposals to demolish the Town Hall and replace it with a modern structure.
It was regarded as sooty and dirty and ‘not fit for purpose’.
Fortunately, the plan never made it beyond the drawing board.
Grade II-listed, It is regarded as one of the greatest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Britain
St Pancras Station
St Pancras station in central London is now regarded as a masterpiece of 19th century architecture.
The red brick structure was originally built in the 1860s to connect London to the Midlands.
It fell into disrepair after being damaged by bombs during the Second World War.
Changes to rail routes then meant it was not being used enough to justify keeping it running.
St Pancras station in central London is now regarded as a masterpiece of 19th century architecture. The red brick structure was originally built in the 1860s to connect London to the Midlands. Above: The Midland Hotel and the station are seen in the late 19th Century
By the 1960s, plans were afoot to tear it down. It took a campaign by Poet Laureate John Betjeman to save it from demolition.
In 1967, it was given Grade-I listed status, just days before the wrecking balls were set to move in.
However, the building continued to decline after being saved, with its hotel buildings ending up abandoned and its rail lines infrequently used.
It took nearly 13 years and around £800million to renovate the station, with the redevelopment opening in 2007.
Rather than a dirty, sooty exterior, the building was cleaned to reveal its stunning red-brick detail. And the old Midland Hotel was turned into the exclusive St Pancras Renaissance, which opened in 2011.
To honour his vital role in saving the building, a statue of Betjeman was installed in the station when it was redeveloped.
It took nearly 13 years and around £800million to renovate the station, with the redevelopment opening in 2007. Above: The restored station