Books on the photographic archives of English Heritage
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England Observed - John Gay 1909-1999
John Gay was one of the most respected photographers of the mid-20th century but, unlike that of some of his contemporaries, his work is now largely overlooked. This important book, which includes 300 evocative photographs from the large collection of his work held by the National Monuments Record, marks the centenary of his birth in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1909 and coincides with two major exhibitions of his work being held in London.
His work is wide ranging yet returns to a number of key themes: animals and children, informal shots of ordinary people, rural life, modern architecture and London, especially his beloved Highgate and Hampstead, and characteristically uses light and shade to great effect. The insignificant object held a strong fascination for him and his gift for being unobtrusive imbues many of his images with a unique poignancy.
Work
The working day for the majority of us in 21st century England usually involves long hours spent in front of a computer screen, or working in service industries. The photographs in this book evoke a time when work for the majority of people in this country meant long hours of hard manual labour, toiling in factories, or working the land. The images are of men breaking stones by hand in a quarry; women working in cotton mills; children packing tea. Industries which have all but disappeared from these shores mining, shipbuilding and fishing are depicted. Many of the photographs show rural life before the impact of mechanisation when ploughs were pulled by horses and the harvest was gathered by hand. The book may make us feel lucky that we no longer have to toil in field and factory. It may also make us proud of the workers who literally built this nation.
Leisure
The wonderfully evocative and poignant photographs in this book show our forebears at their leisure. The introduction of shorter working hours and bank holidays in the late Victorian era meant that for the first time many working people had time on their hands, away from the grind of daily life. This book shows how people, often in their thousands and tens of thousands, made the most of their new found freedom.
Childhood
Childhood seems a separate history for most of us, a simple time before the weight of daily life slows our efforts, a time when the moving hands of the clock had little significance to us. Photographs of childhood – especially those sepia-toned ones from long ago, elicit a particular response – almost a longing for a return to more innocent times. Complementing the photographs are oral testimonies recalling school; work; play and home-life, providing a true picture of The Way We Were.
Stonehenge - History in Photographs
This book is a celebration of Stonehenge, in fascinating and often very human images. The text is written by archaeologist and television presenter Julian Richards, someone with a genuine love of Stonehenge. This is a book for all who share a fascination with this magical monument
Historic Views of London: From the Collection of B E C Howarth-Loomes
Historic Views of London represents a selection of photographs from the collection of one man; it confines itself to the city of London, and scarcely strays beyond the limits of Victoria’s reign. Bernard Howarth-Loomes was an important collector of early photographs and particularly of stereo photography. Throughout his life he was deeply interested in photography and was especially enthralled by the stereoscopic, three-dimensional process; he collected photographs of all sorts, stereo-cards and photographic equipment. Through his collecting years he showed his consideration for others, permitting the National Monument Record (NMR) to make copies of those which were relevant to that collection and generously granting reproduction rights. The topographical range of photographs was spread across the British Isles; those chosen for this volume have been confined to the Greater London area and in particular to the City of London and to Westminster. The NMR copied about 365 shots of the London area; we have selected almost 200 for this book. Ann Saunders has added an authoritative introductory text and captions for each image.
Shot from Above: Aerial Aspects of London
During and after the Second World War the RAF undertook a remarkable aerial survey, mapping the whole of the British Isles. Published here for the first time, a selection of these photographs focusing on London reveals the havoc wreaked by the Luftwaffe. Earlier historic aerial views from the National Monuments Record and the Royal Aeronautical Society – from early balloon photos to images from the 1930s – are also included in the book. Just as remarkable are the contemporary shots, taken from a helicopter by English Heritage’s aerial reconnaissance team led by Damian Grady, who have either recreated these views or produced ones that complement the earlier photographs. The historic shots and their modern equivalents show us a city of constant change. Fascinating commentary is provided by London historian Steven Brindle, who details the remarkable transformation the city has undergone during the last 60 years. Authors: Steven Brindle and Damian Grady
Railways and Rural Life: SWA Newton and the Great Central Railway
This beautiful photography book records the work of Sydney Walter Alfred Newton, a commercial photographer who was based in Leicester in the late 19th and early 20th century. The young Newton recorded the London Extension of the Great Central Railway - the last main line - between Nottingham and London, travelling the route with his camera. Significantly, in addition to photographing the railway and its associated features, Newton also recorded the navvy community and the rural life in the villages along the course of the line. Railway interest, local and social history intertwine to provide a unique picture of life in Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire around the turn of the 20th century. This book draws on the extensive archive holdings of English Heritage and the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland and offers a fascinating insight into our railway and rural heritage.
Delamottes' Crystal Palace: A Victorian pleasure dome revealed
In July 2004 English Heritage was alerted to the forthcoming sale by auction of 47 photographic prints by Philip Henry Delamotte entitled The Crystal Palace at Sydenham. This set, unique in Britain, was purchased with the aid of the Crystal Palace Foundation and teh London Development Agency. These images, published here for the first time, are the first set to show one of the most important buildings in England at the height of its fame in the late 1850s. All 47 images are reproduced in this book, together with beautiful colour and black-and-white views that tell the story of this amazing building, truly a Victorian pleasure dome.
The Thames Through Time: Heritage Postcards
The beautiful images in this book of 24 detachable postcards all feature the River Thames. From its source in rural Gloucestershire to Gravesend in Essex, the photographs paint a unique portrait of this iconic river. The photographs capture the river during a critical century, from about 1860 to 1960, as it made the transition from an idyllic seeming past into the modern world. Here we see the Thames as a major transport route and a holiday destination a place for both work and recreation. The photographs feature the work of many photographers, including Henry Taunt and the book is published to accompany a touring exhibition which is launched in Henley-on-Thames in September 2007.
Views of Old London: Heritage Postcards
This evocative book of 24 postcards give a brief glimpse of how our forebears lived, worked and played. From Victorian flower sellers in front of the Royal Exchange, to Leicester Square crowded with horse-drawn carriages, they present a snapshot of an England now long gone.
Seaside Holidays: Heritage Postcards
This evocative book 0f 24 postcards gives a brief glimpse of how our forebears lived, worked and played. From Edwardian holidaymakers on Margate Pier, to Punch and Judy shows and donkey rides on the beach, they present a snapshot of an England now long gone.
Stonehenge: Heritage Postcards (OUT OF STOCK)
Stonehenge is the world's most famous pre-historic monument and, since the middle of the 19th cnetury, probably the most photographed. Using images from English Heritage's unique photographic archive, the NMR, this evocative book of 24 postcards charts the last 150 years in the life of this extraordinary and iconic site.
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