Aerofilms

de James Crawford, Katy Whitaker, Allan Williams

In 1919 a group of entrepreneurs, adventurers and aviation enthusiasts set up a company called 'Aerofilms'. It was a pioneering venture, which hoped to marry the still fledgling technology of flight to the discipline of photography. What followed is a distinctively British tale of derring-do. From developing photographic plates in a hotel bathroom near the London Aerodrome at Hendon, to producing many thousands of aerial images every single year, an untested and eccentric idea became a major commercial operation. 'Aerofilms: A History of Britain From Above' brings together the finest imagery from this unique collection, and tells the fascinating story of the men and women behind the company. Scheduled for release in February 2014? to coincide with a major 'Britain from Above' exhibition programme running across the UK? this lavishly-illustrated new book is a joint publication between English Heritage, RCAHMS and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW).