Stunning images of the world's historic attractions in 2020

History captured

Ron Tear

These shortlisted and winning images from the 2020 Historic Photographer of the Year awards feature everything from spooky shipwrecks and abandoned buildings to awe-inspiring places of worship and modern architecture showcased in a different light. See what inspiring photos judges picked as winners this year.

Restormel Castle, Cornwall, England, UK

Adam Burton

An aerial vista of Restormel Castle on a misty autumn morning. Restormel is one of the four chief Norman castles of Cornwall and is particularly notable for its perfectly circular shape.

Heddal Stave Church, Notodden, Norway

Bjørn Andre Hagen

Constructed at the beginning of the 13th century, Heddal Stave Church is Norway's largest stave church – a medieval wooden Christian place of worship.

Badbury Rings, Dorset, England, UK

David Abram

An Iron Age hill fort in east Dorset, no one is really clear on why such formidable defences were erected by the Durotriges tribe in the first century BC. Shot at dawn, using a drone, this image reveals the site in the context of its landscape.

Ripon Cathedral, Ripon, England, UK

David Oxtaby

Founded as a monastery by Scottish monks in the 660s, the present church is the fourth on this site and was built between 13th and 16th centuries. The cathedral is especially notable for its Gothic west front in the Early English style and, here, the interior is captured with one of the three Harold Gosney statues in the foreground.

St Catherine's Oratory, Isle of Wight, England, UK

David Oxtaby

Captured in sunset, this is St Catherine's Oratory, the UK's oldest medieval lighthouse. Located on the south side of the Isle of Wight, it was originally built in the 1300s but sadly was never of much use as it was often covered in sea fogs.

The ruins of Hadleigh Castle, Essex, England, UK

Diana Buzoianu

Once an economic and defensive stronghold during the reign of Henry III, the castle was built in the 13th century. But the estate was broken up in the 16th century and the castle slowly turned to ruin. Here, it's at the centre of attention once more as a drone passes by, capturing it under the bright stars in the night sky.

Happisburgh Lighthouse, North Norfolk, England, UK

Diana Buzoianu

The oldest working lighthouse in East Anglia, Happisburgh Lighthouse was constructed in 1790 as one of the two candle-powered lighthouses. In use since then, it's also the only independently operated lighthouse in Great Britain.

St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

Dmitry Bogdanov

One of the world's most beautiful cathedrals, the Orthodox church located in Moscow's Red Square is a monument of Russian architecture. The photo shows cadets of one of the Moscow military universities participating in the reconstruction of the October Revolution Parade on 7 November 1941, before the decisive battles for Moscow.

Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Elena Pakhalyuk

A small Anglican church, the Church of the Good Shepherd was built in 1935 on the shores of Lake Tekapo as a memorial to commemorate early settlers. It's one of the most photographed locations in New Zealand. Here, it's captured under the incredibly beautiful night sky that New Zealand's South Island is famous for.

Vicar's Close, Wells, England, UK

Esmond Holden

Claimed to be the oldest residential street that's survived intact in Europe, Vicar's Close was built in the 14th century for those who worked in the Wells Cathedral next door. This HDR picture was taken in August 2020, on a particularly rainy and wet day, so the picturesque street is nearly empty.

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Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Farhan Khan

Dedicated to his late wife, Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal is beautiful not only for its mesmerising marble façade. Their love story is one of bittersweet tragedy: Mumtaz Mahal (the “Jewel of the Palace”) died while giving birth to their 14th child, and so the emperor vowed never to marry again and promised he would build her the finest mausoleum ever seen.

Douaumont Ossuary, Douaumont, France

Francis Meslet

A memorial located where the Battle of Verdun took place between February and December of 1916, Douaumont Ossuary contains remains of the soldiers who died in the battle. It's estimated 26 million shells were fired by the artillery and around 300,000 French and German soldiers were reported missing.

Downhill House, Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK

Glenn Miles

An 18th-century mansion, Downhill House was built for Frederick Hervey the 4th Earl of Bristol. Destroyed by fire in 1851 and rebuilt in 1870, the mansion fell into disrepair after the Second World War. In the picture, if you look to the right, you can see Comet NEOWISE shining over the ruins.

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Deserted farmhouse, Wales, UK

Ian M Hazeldine

Captured here is a deserted farmhouse in Wales. Although the ceilings are caving in already, it's still filled with family history and everyday items, from clothing to a vacuum cleaner.

Braich Goch slate mine, Wales, UK

James

Wagons, rails and winches are illuminated and captured deep inside an abandoned Victorian-era slate mine. Located in Wales, Braich Goch worked continuously from 1787 until closure in 1970.

Whitby Abbey, Whitby, England, UK

James Smith

A 7th-century Christian monastery that later became a Benedictine abbey, Whitby Abbey's most attractive feature is its location on the East Cliff, overlooking the North Sea.

West Pier, Whitby, England, UK

James Smith

One of the two Whitby piers that have been existence in some shape or form since the 1500s, the West Pier is photographed here deserted in the early hours of the morning. "I had to wait for two workmen who had just been replacing one of the old rotten boards with a chainsaw, hence the covering of sawdust on the floor. It got me thinking about how many thousands of people have walked across these rickety boards to see the views, go fishing and to help people in need," photographer James Smith said.

Tilla-Kari Medressa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Jean-Claude Thelen

Located in one of the most storied cities on the Silk Road, Samarkand, the Tilla-Kari Medressa was completed in 1660. Once both a residential college and a mosque, it's now one of the city's main attractions, charming visitors with its intricate mosaic façade.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Gillian McDonald

Captured here from the back, Taj Mahal is photographed at sunrise when the building takes on a pink hue due to the rays of the first light.

Dovercourt Lighthouse, Essex, England, UK

Jo Sowden

A pair of lighthouses have helped vessels into Harwich port for centuries. The final cast iron lights were decommissioned in 1917, but they've been restored and remain to this day. Here, one of the two lighthouses is captured.

Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Jo Sowden

One of the great English abbeys until it was seized under Henry VIII in 1538 during the dissolution of the monasteries, Rievaulx Abbey impresses with its grandeur. The photographer Jo Sowden said she wanted to convey the awe people experience when they visit the abbey.

Cube Houses, Rotterdam, Netherlands

John White

History doesn't necessarily have to be hundreds of years old and the Cube Houses in Rotterdam are a pioneering example of modern historic architecture and incorporate what were, at the time (in the 1970s and 80s), some incredibly ambitious design elements.

Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Barcelona, Spain

Juliet Evans

Here, one of the chimneys on Antoni Gaudí's iconic La Pedrera is captured differently, reminiscent of a face. The building was commissioned in 1906 and built between 1906 and 1912.

Old School House, Tyneham, England, UK

Juliet Evans

Captured here is a bookshelf in the old School House in Tyneham in Dorset. The village was requisitioned in December 1943 by the then War Office (now MoD) for use as a firing range for training troops. Around 225 people were displaced believing that they would be allowed to return one day, but that day never came. Now open to the public at certain times, only the School House and the church are preserved as museums.

The wreck of SS Denham, North Wirral, England, UK

Mali Davies

A small survey vessel based in Liverpool, SS Denham struck a mine and sunk in 1946 with only one crew member surviving.

Strasbourg Cathedral, France

Marc-Olivier Giguere

An impressive structure looming over the French city of Strasbourg, the Strasbourg Cathedral is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture. The night when it was photographed, a heavy fog had descended upon the city, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

Wheal Betsy, Dartmoor, England, UK

Mark Edwards

The old engine house of a once prosperous tin mine Wheal Betsy, it's photographed here at night.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Markus Korenjak

Another spectacular shot of Taj Mahal, here photographer Markus Korenjak has captured the crowds taking photos of the famous sight.

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Abandoned fisherman's hut, Northumberland, England, UK

Martin Chamberlain

Once home to dozens of herring fishermen, the tiny village of Beadnell is almost abandoned as the fish stocks have declined and only a handful of fishermen remain. Located along the rugged Northumberland coast, the crumbling huts are a reminder of a once thriving local industry.

Avebury, Wiltshire, England, UK

Mathew Browne

One of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain, the vast and rich henge monument of Avebury contains three stone circles, one of which is the largest in all of Europe. Low-lying mist adds to the mystical scene photographed here at dawn.

St Thomas Becket Church, Fairfield, England, UK

Michael Marsh

Built sometime around 1200, a simple temporary timber structure was erected to provide local farmers with a place of worship. Temporary became permanent, and the 13th century building survived intact until the 18th century, when the entire timber building was encased within brick walls, and the roof covered with heavy red tiles.

The Maunsell Forts, Thames Estuary, England, UK

Michael Marsh

Built in the Thames Estuary and operated by the Royal Navy to deter and report German air raids during the Second World War, the Maunsell Forts, photographed here from a helicopter, were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities including pirate radio broadcasting.

Forth Bridge, North Queensferry, Scotland, UK

Pawel Zygmunt

One of three magnificent bridges that cross the Firth of Forth, this russet-hued cantilever railway crossing is one of Scotland’s most beloved landmarks. It was built by Sir John Fowler, Benjamin Baker and over 4,500 more men to link Queensferry and North Queensferry in the late 19th century.

Calanais Standing Stones, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK

Robert Johnston

Jutting out from the earth below the brooding Hebridean sky, the Calanais Standing Stones (also known as the Callanish Stones) are a majestic sight. Set on the west coast of Lewis, the most northerly island in the Outer Hebrides, the prehistoric structure is made from gneiss rock and is more than 5,000 years old.

Kelenföld Power Station, Budapest, Hungary

Roman Robroek

Once Europe's most advanced power station, this semi-abandoned Kelenföld in the Hungarian capital is both an industrial masterpiece and an architectural gem. The control room, pictured here, has been abandoned for quite some time, but most parts of the location are still in use, providing power to the major city nearby.

A wreck on the shore of Loch Linnhe, Scotland, UK

Ron Tear

A sea loch on the west coast of Scotland, Loch Linnhe is especially popular with photographers due to its fantastic scenery and sunsets. Here a shipwreck known as Old Boat of Coal is photographed with Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak, in the background.

The wreck of SS Turkia, Red Sea

Rudolf Gonda

Lost in May 1941 in the Gulf of Suez, the SS Turkia was one of the ships that didn't survive the long route through South Africa to the southern Red Sea as the Strait of the Gibraltar was blocked during the Second World War. Several ships rest at the bottom of the sea and only a few divers visit these wrecks.

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Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Derbyshire, England, UK

Scott Antcliffe

Once spoken in the same breath as Chatsworth House in terms of scale and grandeur, Sutton Scarsdale Hall now stands as a gaunt ruin, and has for 100 years. Once the property of Richard Awkwright Jr, said to be the richest commoner in England, the grand home was auctioned off and stripped of the valuable assets, some of which were shipped to the US.

Great Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, Egypt

Timothy

Here, skydivers are captured in an incredible moment when the shadow of The Great Pyramid creates the shape of Horus, the Egyptian god of kingship and the sky.

Poulnabrone Dolmen, Co. Clare, Ireland

Todor Tilev

The unusually large dolmen (megalithic tomb) is photographed here at sunset. Ireland's most famous and the most photographed dolmen, it's situated on one of the most desolate and highest points of the region and comprises three standing portal stones supporting a heavy horizontal capstone.

Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire, England

David Oxtaby

This evocative photo captures the fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay on the northeast coast of England. It's well-known as a smuggler's haunt back in the day, hence the many narrow passages and secret entrances from the sea.

St Edward’s Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, England, UK

Inna Schutts

This medieval church located in the charming Cotswolds village of Stow-on-the-Wold, looks particularly magical in this photo thanks to the overgrown greenery.

Fluorspar mine, Derbyshire, England, UK

James

A large transport wagon sits abandoned where it was last used deep inside a 20th-century fluorspar mine in Derbyshire, that's long been out of use.

Ladybower Reservoir plug hole, Derbyshire, England, UK

Jo Emery

Officially opened by King George VI on 24 September 1945, the reservoir was constructed due to the heavy demand for water from industrial towns surrounding the Peak District. With its long, deep valley, high average rainfall and low population level, Ladybower was seen as an ideal location for the storage of water. One of its most famous features are the massive plug holes, or shaft spillways, used to regulate the water level in the reservoir.

Everton Library, Liverpool, England, UK

Paul Harris

Constructed in 1896, the library has been derelict since 2006. Named on the Victorian Society's list of the top 10 most endangered buildings in England and Wales, there are plans to transform it into an arts, culture, heritage and enterprise centre.

Tiger's Nest, Bhutan

Christine Matthews

Clinging to the edge of a cliff with panoramic views over the Paro valley in Bhutan, the Buddhist monastery of Paro Taktsang – also known as Tiger’s Nest Temple – is a sight to behold. Built in the 17th century, the sky-high temple rises a perilous 9,843 feet (3,000m) above the valley floor.

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Calanais Standing Stones, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK

Dawn Louise Farrell

Here the mystical Calanais Standing Stones are photographed during sunrise with morning frost covering the ground just a few days before the Winter Solstice.

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All Saints Church, Saxton, England, UK

Eric Houlder

A central location during the Battle of Towton in 1461, many of the fallen were buried in the churchyard. As the battle was fought in a snowstorm in March, the photographer waited for the perfect conditions to capture it as it was 500 years ago.

Penshaw Monument, Sunderland, England, UK

Goran Erfani

A 19th-century memorial in the style of an ancient Greek temple, the Penshaw Monument was built to commemorate John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham. As photographer Goran Erfani puts it: "For many living near Durham, this temple is the sign of home."

St Anthony's Church, Montserrat, British Overseas Territory

Jacob Ashton

A volcanic eruption on the small Caribbean island of Montserrat in 1995 led to vast swathes of the island being abandoned, including the capital Plymouth. Much of the town was subsequently buried in the volcanic ash, including St Anthony's Church that's been gradually reclaimed by the island's flora.

Whittingham Hospital, Lancashire, England, UK

John Charles Taylor

Opened in 1873 and once regarded as one of the largest mental asylums in Europe, Whittingham was home for around 3,500 patients and pioneered the use of electroencephalograms (EEGs). Improvements in mental health research, plus allegations of cruelty to patients, led to the demise of the mental hospital and it was eventually closed in 1995. Demolished in 2016, the building is captured in its final days here.

Pompeii, Italy

Laura Hodsdon

While most photographers focus on the landscape of Pompeii and its perfectly preserved ruins, photographer Laura Hodsdon has focused on the deep groves of the cobbles. "The roads of Pompeii have these deep groves, worn by carts as they went along the streets of the busy town. I wanted to really show how deeply indented they are as well as the detail of the cobbles," she said.

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Citadel of Alessandria, Sardinia, Italy

Roman Robroek

Built in the 18th century by the Kingdom of Sardinia, today the citadel is one of the best-preserved fortifications of that era. Here, the basement of the abandoned building is photographed. Years ago the river in the city flooded the basement of the complex and the floor is now covered in dried out mud from that flood.

Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France

Ryan Wenham

Famously the one-time residence of Marie Antoinette, the Palace of Versailles (or Château de Versailles) near Paris is well renowned for its opulence and extravagance and none of its features is more famous than the jaw-dropping Hall of Mirrors, captured here in a fleeting moment.

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Bedham Church, West Sussex, England, UK

Margaret Flo McEwan

Once a beautiful little chapel serving the local community in West Sussex, during the week it was used as the local schoolhouse and on Sundays the sound of the harmonium could be heard through the forest as the locals sang their hymns in the chapel. Now the enchanting building has fallen silent and lies abandoned in the woods.

Hashima Island, Nagasaki, Japan

Stefan Lange

Acquired by Mitsubishi in 1887, the small island sat on top of a coal seam and at its peak was home to a community of over 5,000 residents. When the coal seam was exhausted in 1974, the mine closed and the residents left as suddenly as they had arrived. All that remains today is typhoon-battered landscape and crumbling buildings.

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Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

Tony North

A bridge has existed here since at least 966, though Ponte Vecchio in Florence has been devastated by flooding twice in its history. It's not clear what year the present construction dates to, but the charm of it lies in the fact that we see it today almost exactly like it was in medieval times.

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Where History Happened winner: Apamea, Syria

Martin Chamberlain

Captured here before the civil war in Syria, the ancient city of Apamea and its Great Colonnade lie undisturbed in the early hours of the morning. "I felt privileged at the time to have the opportunity to visit Apamea, but even more so since the civil war damaged some of these most impressive monuments," photographer Martin Chamberlain said.

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Historic England winner: St Michael's Church, Somerset, England, UK

Adam Burton

Captured on a misty winter morning, the beautiful ruin of St Michael's Church on Burrow Mump looks especially ethereal and otherworldly.

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Overall winner: Brighton Palace Pier, England, UK

Michael Marsh

This famous pier on England's south coast screams "British seaside holiday" as much as fish and chips. Upon its completion, the impressive pier was 1,772-feet (540m) long, its wooden expanse strung with thousands of lights and jutting into the chilly English Channel. Photographer Michael Marsh said of his winning photograph: "I always strive to capture this lovely historic seaside town with a sense of the atmosphere and cinematic interpretation that it instils in me."

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