Of all the photographs in the Country Life archive, none are more poignant or intriguing than these images of houses that have been lost. In a great number of cases, the photographs taken by the magazine for their weekly feature on country houses are also the only record of many of the most important houses and interiors that were destroyed. This text puts the demolition of country houses in its historical context and explains why so many were destroyed. These pictures have been gathered together to provide a powerful impression of the richness and variety of the English country house and of the treasures that were destroyed through demolition or fire in the 20th century.