Photographs

One of the largest photographic archives in the country, Historic England holds over 9 million photographs of the historic environment. Our photos also show many other aspects of life, from education and employment to leisure and transport.

The photos in the Archive date from the 1850s onwards. Some of the highlights include:

Country house photo albums by anonymous amateurs
Famous photographers, including work by Bill Brandt and Roger Fenton
Pioneering architectural photographers like Bedford Lemere and Company
Commercial photographers, such as Millar and Harris, John Gay and Eric de Mare
Thames Valley views by Henry Taunt
Survey photography going back 90 years, recording places from tiny cottages and workers’ houses to power stations and tower blocks

Specialist collections explore specific topics and themes from windmills and stationary steam engines to postcards of public parks. The pages below are a window on to the treasure trove of extraordinary images you can explore online.

National collections

England's Places
Discover photos of English cities, towns and villages from the Architectural Red Box Collection.
USAAF Collection
Over 20,000 photographic prints taken by US Army Air Forces reconnaissance aircraft in England between 1943 and 1944.
Sir John Pennycuick Collection
Street scene photography created by High Court judge and Wimbledon tennis star Sir John Pennycuick.
The Shadbolt Collection
The earliest surviving aerial images of England taken by photographer and balloonist Cecil Shadbolt between 1882-1892.
Topical Press Agency Medical Collection
4,000 quirky and emotive images of 1930s and 1940s British health care before the NHS.
W J Day Collection
Photographs taken by the garden historian between 1890 and 1911
Andor Gomme Collection
The Andor Gomme Collection shows England's towns and villages during the 1950s – a period of rapid change.
Small Collections
A variety of small but interesting collections from the 1860s.

Stories from the archive

Picturing High Streets Collection
A national collection of photographs documenting England’s high streets, taken by artists and members of the public in the early 2020s.
The Great Stink - How the Victorians Transformed London to Solve the Problem of Waste
In 1858 the stench of the Thames overwhelmed London. The ‘Great Stink’ brought the city to its knees. The solution changed its landscape forever.
Spending a Penny: A Photographic Exploration of England's Public Toilets
Discover England’s public conveniences and their history. Uncover some surprising discrimination; and browse galleries of opulence and dilapidation.
Crosses to Flying Machines
Some quirky and interesting images discovered in the Historic England Archive
Picturing Lockdown Collection
A unique collection including photos from members of the public documenting their experiences of one week in lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Women Photographers
Discover the women photographers whose work enriches the collections of the Historic England Archive.
Early Photographic Prints
A diverse collection of 22,000 prints showing architecture, people, industry and landscapes from the 1850s to the latter part of the 20th century.
A Century of Historic Photographic Types
From calotype to autochrome, the Historic England Archive reveals 15 historic photographic processes to explore in its extensive collections.

Regional and local collections

Harold Wingham Collection
Described as “one of the unsung heroes” of aerial photography, Harold Wingham created photographs of outstanding quality and interest.
Julian Joseph Samuels Ltd
A collection of photographs of early 20th century London used for postcards.
Lichfield in Colour 1869
Rediscovered - the earliest colour photos in the Historic England Archive.
The Maurice Barley Collection
Photographs of vernacular architecture in the East Midlands taken by the expert on the subject.

Architecture

John Laing Photographic Collection
The John Laing collection provides a unique insight into the origins of iconic British buildings and the human effort that went into building them.
The Rise of the Shopping Centre
This exploration looks at five shopping centres built by the Laing company, back when they were a favourite leisure destination for many people.
Back to School in the Mid-20th Century: Modernist Student Accommodation
The Historic England Archive holds collections of photographs that document 20th century architecture, including the innovative Modernist style.
Marshall Keene and Co
Photos of 1920s and 1930s schools, hospitals and religious buildings from a collection that we've just finished cataloguing.
London Midland and Scottish Railway Collection
Historic England Archive has conserved, digitised and catalogued 1,600 glass plate negatives of the London Midland and Scottish Railway Collection.
Building the Barbican
The Historic England Archive holds images of the Barbican re-development, which has become an important part of England’s architectural history.

Search the Archive

Find Photos
Search over 1.6 million photographs and drawings held in the Historic England Archive.
Aerial Photo Explorer
Explore England's changing landscapes through historic aerial photography, showcasing the growth and transformations of urban and rural areas.
Plans, Drawings and Documents
Drawings, plans, documents and non-photographic collections within the public Historic England Archive.

Archive Customer Services

Email
[email protected]

Address

The Engine House,
Fire Fly Avenue,
Swindon,
SN2 2EH

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Phone number
01793 414600