Built Heritage

To see a larger version of any image in this gallery, please click on its thumbnail.

The heritage of Britain reflects a national story that began deep in prehistory and progressed through waves of settlement from northern Europe, civil strife and overseas wars, Empire building and the world’s first industrial revolution.

It is told in the shattered castles of the English civil war; the abbeys ruined by the Dissolution of the Monasteries; the great houses and palaces of the aristocracy, and the quaint country cottages – once humble dwellings, now gentrified and impeccable.

The rising spires of rural churches and the great stained glass windows of medieval cathedrals, speak volumes about Britain’s history - as do the sturdy Roman walls, redundantly standing against a long forgotten threat from hostile tribes.

And great triumphs of engineering, peaceful canals and once thunderous cotton mills, are testament to the former industrial age we are so successfully moving beyond.

For those of us who live in the U.K. this rich inheritance is all around us – and we should all thank organisations such as the National Trust, English Heritage and CADW for their role in protecting and preserving it.

In this gallery are just a few examples of the remnants of the past, which still play a part in enhancing our lives – I hope you enjoy looking at the images and are able to find the time to visit some of these places for yourself.


Many images featured here are available for sale for personal or editorial uses. (Those taken on National Trust, CADW or English Heritage properties are featured for the interest of visitors to this site only and unfortunately cannot be purchased).

You can use the PayPal Shopping Cart feature next to each image to buy standard sized prints – or see the Image Sales section for further print options, information on purchasing digital files or for sales outside the U.K.


All images are copyright © Joe Wainwright. No unauthorised use is permitted.