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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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PHOTOGRAPHY

Historic England: Snapshots of history from on high

Explore your neighbourhood’s past through an aerial archive

Manchester’s Central Library was a new feature of the city centre when this photograph was taken in 1934. The new library, designed by E Vincent Harris after a competition, was opened that summer by King George V, who used a key made from Welsh gold to perform the ceremony
Manchester’s Central Library was a new feature of the city centre when this photograph was taken in 1934. The new library, designed by E Vincent Harris after a competition, was opened that summer by King George V, who used a key made from Welsh gold to perform the ceremony
BFA/MJW
The Times

Historic England’s aerial photograpy explorer is an interactive, searchable online map that lets the public see a vast collection of 400,000 aerial photographs documenting the development of the country from the air over the past 100 years at www.historicengland.org.uk

Hampton Court Palace, which dates from the 16th century, is seen from the air in a photograph taken during the Second World War in 1941
Hampton Court Palace, which dates from the 16th century, is seen from the air in a photograph taken during the Second World War in 1941
NOT KNOWN REFER TO COPYRIGHT HOLDER
Cotton mills dominated the economy and landscape of many parts of northwest England from the industrial revolution until the 20th century, as seen here at Small Brook, Shaw, near Oldham, Lancashire, in 1926
Cotton mills dominated the economy and landscape of many parts of northwest England from the industrial revolution until the 20th century, as seen here at Small Brook, Shaw, near Oldham, Lancashire, in 1926
BFA/MJW
While cotton reigned in the northwest, potteries were the foundation of prosperity in Stoke-on-Trent, seen here in 1935 in a picture from the Historic England archive
While cotton reigned in the northwest, potteries were the foundation of prosperity in Stoke-on-Trent, seen here in 1935 in a picture from the Historic England archive
BFA/PM
From 1925, ships coming and going from the Humber and Prince’s docks in Hull
From 1925, ships coming and going from the Humber and Prince’s docks in Hull
BFA/PM
A century ago, an aerial view of Derby city centre
A century ago, an aerial view of Derby city centre
NOT KNOWN REFER TO COPYRIGHT HOLDER
The R101 flying over Bedford in 1929, close to its hangar at Cardington. The British airship was at the time the largest in the world. The following year, on its maiden flight to India, the R101 crashed in bad weather at Beauvais, France, killing 48 people on board
The R101 flying over Bedford in 1929, close to its hangar at Cardington. The British airship was at the time the largest in the world. The following year, on its maiden flight to India, the R101 crashed in bad weather at Beauvais, France, killing 48 people on board
BFA/PM
The Tees Newport Bridge under construction in 1933 upriver from the famous Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough. It was opened the following year. The 55m-high twin towers allowed the bridge span to be lifted to allow ships to pass through. It was raised for the final time in 1990
The Tees Newport Bridge under construction in 1933 upriver from the famous Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough. It was opened the following year. The 55m-high twin towers allowed the bridge span to be lifted to allow ships to pass through. It was raised for the final time in 1990
BFA/RT
The iron bridge, the first of its kind in the world, had already been standing across the River Severn at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, for more than 150 years when this photograph was taken in 1934
The iron bridge, the first of its kind in the world, had already been standing across the River Severn at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, for more than 150 years when this photograph was taken in 1934
BFA/PM
Few of the locations featured in the Historic England collection will have seen such changes as Gatwick airport since this photograph was taken in 1941. It was requisitioned as a base for RAF night-fighters during the Second World War before the current airport, the first to have a direct rail link, was opened by the Queen in 1958
Few of the locations featured in the Historic England collection will have seen such changes as Gatwick airport since this photograph was taken in 1941. It was requisitioned as a base for RAF night-fighters during the Second World War before the current airport, the first to have a direct rail link, was opened by the Queen in 1958
NOT KNOWN REFER TO COPYRIGHT HOLDER