BlueSky Acquires Historic Aerial Photo Collection

22 November 2007, 10:33am

Aerial survey specialist, BlueSky, has acquired a unique collection of over 100,000 oblique aerial photographs tracking Britain’s development throughout the late twentieth century. The historically important photographs dating back to the 1960s include major construction projects such as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Gatwick Airport and the development of the London Docklands including the Millennium Dome site. Covering most major UK cities and towns, transport and utility infrastructure and commercial property developments, the images form an invaluable and fascinating record of the UK’s development and will appeal to both a professional and amateur audience.

“This is an important acquisition for BlueSky,” said Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of BlueSky. “Not only can we secure the future of this important archive, but we also can release these images into the public domain, offering both professional users and private individuals and groups a rare insight into the past.” She continued, “This collection perfectly complements archives we already hold or have access to, including some of the UK’s first commercial vertical aerial survey images, and we are working to make the images available in a variety of formats including online”.

The Chorley Handford collection of aerial photographs was started in the 1960s by Tom Samson, a WWII reconnaissance photographer and founder member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP). Working after the war for Handford Photography, based in Croydon, Samson mainly captured client commissioned images of London and the Home Counties. In the early 1980s Handford Photography merged with Chorley, Hyman and Rose Ltd and became Chorley Handford. Paul Proctor, a director of the company and also a member of the BIPP, took over the role of aerial photographer and continued to expand the collection nationwide until his retirement in 2004. Chorley Handford subsequently became Realistic Photo Graphics Ltd specialists in the production of large format digital images.

Paul Proctor, who is currently cataloguing the archive, said, “It was imperative that this collection be maintained, as a whole, for future generations. The insight into the past development and changing face of the country’s land and cityscape is irreplaceable and provides a valuable historical record for a variety of applications and interests”.

Myles Grainger, Managing Director of Realistic added, “Due to an evolving business focus we were no longer in a position to manage and maintain this collection. BlueSky, with their experience, expertise and knowledge of historical archives, was a more than suitable candidate for custody of this precious commodity.”

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