A view from above at Torquay Library
Britain from Above workshops on Thursday 25 April 2013
Looking at Torquay from an eye in the sky will be the focus of a workshop and a talk at Torquay Library on Thursday 25 April, when experts from English Heritage’sBritainfrom Above project showcase some of the stunning imagery available in its online library.
TheBritainfrom Above workshop takes place from10.00amuntil12noonin Torquay Library’s IT suite, as part of the national Spring Online campaign to encourage people to learn how to use computers and the internet. The workshop will show people how they are able to access some of the 25,000 images currently available online of aerial photographs taken between 1919 and 1953 by Aerofilms Limited including many of Torquay and theDevoncoast.
“Many people, especially older people, don’t necessarily understand just how much fascinating content there is to be found, if you just know where to look. This workshop will help participants to access the superb Britain from Above resource, which provides a fascinating view of how our area looked in the first half of the 20thcentury,” comments Susan Herlihy, ICT-based learning co-ordinator at Torquay Library. “Many older people will recognise areas, features and buildings now long gone, and we hope that the workshop will inspire them to take a look around the website when they go home, too, or return to the library to use the computers we have available every day here.”
The second event, taking place at2.00pmon Thursday 25 April, is a talk about theBritainfrom Above project as a whole, including the collection of 95,000 images in the archive which are gradually being added to the online resource. Participants will learn how the project is not simply about making the photographs available to the public, but also about gaining a wider understanding of what the pictures show, from those who lived and worked in the areas at the time.
“The Britainfrom Above website currently contains thousands of aerial photographs of the whole country, but it is at events like these, where you meet people who have lived in the areas photographed for many years that you start to understand some of the stories behind the pictures,” comments Sandra Brauer, Britainfrom Above Activity Officer. “These events really provide us with a showcase for some of these stunning photographs and we always encourage people to continue their exploration of the archive and share their own memories and factual knowledge about the photographs when they get home on www.britainfromabove.org.uk.”
Both the morning workshop and afternoon talk are free for all participants, but places must be pre-booked as the course is expected to fill up quickly. To book a place, please call Torquay Library on 01803 208300. The course takes place at Torquay Library on Lymington Road.
The archive of images on the Britain from Above archive is completely free to browse, and can be accessed at www.britainfromabove.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Britain from Above is a four year Heritage Lottery funded project managed by English Heritage to conserve, digitise, catalogue and make available online the first 95,000 images of a unique collection of aerial photography, taken between 1919 and 1953. The collection comprises over 1.2 million photographs in total, taken by the pioneering company Aerofilms Ltd between 1919 and 2006.
The images provide an unparalleled photographic history of Britain from the air in the twentieth century illustrating the enormous changes that have taken place in housing, leisure, industry, transport and agriculture and the physical impact of two World Wars. English Heritage works in partnership with the Royal Commissions on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales and Scotland to make those images freely available on www.britainfromabove.org.uk for all to see.
For further media information, please contact:
Jay Commins – PRO English Heritage (Education)
Tel: 01904 500698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk