What Britain used to look like from the air

From sprawling factory complexes to newly built suburban streets - by way of some of the UK's top sporting venues and seaside resorts. More than 10,000 images from one of the earliest collections of aerial photography are being made freely available on the web.

The Aerofilms Collection is being conserved and digitised by English Heritage and the Royal Commissions on the Ancient and Historical Monuments for Scotland and Wales.

Many of the images are instantly recognisable - but the public are also being asked for their help to identify some other locations, and paint a picture of life in the UK between 1919 and 1953. Take a look at some of the photographs with Katy Whitaker from English Heritage.

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All images subject to copyright. Images courtesy English Heritage (Aerofilms collection) and Crown Copyright RCAHMS (Scotland) and RCAHMW (Wales).

Downton Abbey theme performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London. Other music courtesy KPM Music. Additional material from BBC Sound Archives.

Slideshow production by Paul Kerley. Publication date 25 June 2012.

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Britain from Above

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