IMAGES of a host of Bradford landmarks feature in a new online map tool showing aerial photographs of Yorkshire and England over the past 100 years.
Undercliffe Cemetery, Whetley Mills, the Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul-Islam Grand Mosque are all included in Historic England’s new Aerial Photography Explorer.
The service, which launches today, gives users the chance to search and explore an online map showing aerial photographs from across the country over the last century.
It features an image of Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul-Islam Grand Mosque or Bradford Grand Mosque under construction in 2007 - one of the largest mosques in the UK.
An aerial photograph of Whetley Mills is also included. The mill forms part of Bradford’s rich textile heritage. The mill is described in a historic publication ‘A Centuries Progress’ (1893) as among the largest and most perfectly organised establishments in the Bradford Spinning industry.
A 2009 snow-covered image of Undercliffe Cemetery also features in the collection.
Allan Hillary, Undercliffe Cemetery charity chairman, says he was proud an aerial image of the site has been included.
He said: “Undercliffe Cemetery is Bradford’s history in stone.
“There are 124,000 Bradfordians’ remains in there.
“I’m very proud we feature. It’s a jewel in Bradford’s crown. It’s a 26-acre site.
“Bradfordians of any note wanted to be buried in there.”
Aerial imagery provides a fascinating insight into the development and expansion of the nation’s urban centres and changes to the rural landscape.
More than 400,000 images from 1919 to the present day have been added to the tool, covering nearly 30 per cent of England.
Aerial images from Yorkshire include photographs of Roman archaeology in the Yorkshire Dales, the East Hecla steelworks and Meadowhall in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Second World War anti-invasion measures in North Yorkshire and the impact of coastal erosion, highlighted by pictures of Fort Godwin, Kilnsea, in East Yorkshire.
The platform will allow people immediate digital access to Historic England’s nationally important collection of aerial photographs.
Around 300,000 of the photographs are the work of Historic England’s Aerial Investigation and Mapping team.
The remaining 100,000 images come from the Historic England Archive aerial photography collection, which numbers over two million images in total, and includes important historic photography, including interwar and post-war images from Aerofilms Ltd and The Royal Air Force.
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Historic England, said: “I am delighted that our new online tool will allow people to access easily our wonderful collection of aerial images and enjoy the historic photography that our team uses every day to unlock the mysteries of England’s past.”
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