This exhibition showcases Historic England's photographic collections, which date from the 1850s to the present day. Photographers have taken pictures of England's buildings and landscapes since photography was first invented. These photographs were taken for many reasons – to capture the picturesque, to make a living, to promote or condemn, or to record what is disappearing or is normally hidden. Collectively these images have changed the way we see and understand our environment.
A book of the same title has also been published. It features over 300 striking photographs from the Historic England Archive, an unparalleled collection of 9 million images on England's buildings and landscapes from the 1850s to the present. Viewed collectively, its photographic collections record the changing face of England from the beginning of photography to the present day. They form a remarkable national asset, a huge memory bank that helps us understand and interpret the past, informs the present and assists with future management and appreciation of the historic environment.
With informative essays and captions by the authors, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in photography, architecture, archaeology or social history.
Picturing England: The photographic collections of Historic England by Mike Evans, Gary Winter & Ann Woodward. £45.00, 344pp. ISBN 978-1-84802-099-3. Read more or order here.
Picturing England: The photographic collections of Historic England on show at:
Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square: 2 July 2015 – 21 September 2015
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