24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
English Heritage To Reveal 100-Year-Old Aerial Photos Of Stonehenge
By Graham Spicer
13/07/2006
Image: black and white aerial photo of stonehenge
The first aerial photos of Stonehenge were taken 100 years ago from a tethered balloon. Photo English Heritage
English Heritage is celebrating the centenary of the first aerial photographs of Stonehenge with a touring exhibition opening at the Neolithic site.
Dozens of vintage and modern photographs will tell the story of the first images and explore the world of aerial photography in Victorian, Edwardian and wartime Britain, and will look at how they have helped our understanding of 6,000 years of British history and pre-history.
“Aerial photography is most useful in helping us understand the human use and development of the landscape around Stonehenge,” said Dave Batchelor, chief Stonehenge archaeologist at English Heritage.
Image: black and white aerial photo of stonehenge
Stonehenge has been photographed from the air many times since the first photos in 1906. Photo English Heritage
“This detailed understanding is used daily in our management of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site and contributes to the enjoyment of the many thousands of visitors every year.”
Lieutenant Phillip Henry Sharpe of the Royal Engineers’ Balloon Section took the first three aerial photos of the famous site from a tethered balloon in 1906. He was based in the Sappers’ Balloon Section located just one mile from Stonehenge, where military ballooning and then fixed wing aviation developed before the Royal Flying Corps (later the RAF) was founded in 1912.
After the photos were published in the journal of the Society of Antiquaries in 1907 archaeologists gradually came to realise the value of aerial photography as a key technique to discover, record and interpret traces of the past.
Image: colour aerial photo of stonehenge
Aerial photography plays a major role in modern archaeology. Photo English Heritage
“Today aerial survey is the single most important tool for the discovery of archaeological sites in this country,” said Pete Horne, Head of Aerial Survey and Investigation at English Heritage.
Every year hundreds of new sites are found through the English Heritage National Mapping Programme, ranging from Neolithic long barrows to Roman villas, medieval villages and World War Two defences.
“Experts study new photographs as well as old ones, using interpretation, mapping and analysis skills to draw out the valuable information they contain,” added Pete. “As a result of their study, we discover more about the past and gain a greater insight into the changes that have taken place.”
The new exhibition, 100 Years of Discovery, will be on display at Stonehenge from August 1 to 7 2006 and will then tour other English Heritage sites around the country. For full details see the English Heritage website.
Stonehenge (English Heritage)
Stonehenge, SP4 7DE, Wiltshire, England
Open: Opening Times:16th - 23rd October: 0930 - 1700; 24th October - 15 March: 0930 - 1600; 16th March - 31st May: 0930 - 1800; 1st June - 31st August: 0900 - 1900, 1st September - 15th October: 0930 - 1800.
Recommended last admissions no later than 30 mins before closing time. Stonehenge will be closed promptly 20 mins after advertised time.
Related Articles
DCMS Launches Consultation Into The Future Of World Heritage Sites
Archaeologists Date Stonehenge And Say It Was A Healing Centre
Stonehenge Proposals Go On Show At Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Summer 2008 Holiday Ideas At UK Heritage Sites And Museums
Stonehenge Latest - More Plans Put Forward For Consultation
Stonehenge - Public Consultation Begins In Mid-July
News In Brief - Week Ending June 15 2008
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
Sheffield Metal Master Wins Museum's Inaugural Design Award
DCMS Launches Consultation Into The Future Of World Heritage Sites
Royal Society Announces Plans For 350th Anniversary
Art Website ArtisanCam Wins Children's BAFTA
Former Floorboards Of Founding Father Franklin Facilitate Funny Four
Mark Leckey Wins The 2008 Turner Prize And Scoops £25,000
Library Thief Update: Sentencing Adjourned Until January 16, 2009
Fund Aims To Realise Long-Standing Campaign For Cardiff City Museum
Culture Secretary Slaps Export Ban On George I Chandelier
Shakespeare's Globe Costumes Go On Show In Nottingham
Britglyph Art Campaign Uses Web To Make Mass Geoglyph
Inaugural Awards Ceremony Honours UK Arts Philanthropists
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
London Fire Brigade Museum Escapes Closure - For Now
Another Busy Year For Archaeology On Orkney In 2008
Severndroog Castle To Be Restored Thanks To Lottery Grant
Campaign To Save Captain Scott's Hut Needs Another £65,000
Open Air Lab Project Launches At The Natural History Museum
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.