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Search 1.7 million records online in the Historic England Archive.

Find photos of street life, buildings and everyday scenes. Searchable records include maps, plans and illustrations showing architectural detail.

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The winter of 1962-1963 became known as the Big Freeze of 1963. It was one of the coldest winters on record. Snow that accumulated on the hands of Big Ben caused it to ring in the New Year 10 minutes late! Photographer: John Gay © Historic England Archive. View image record AA098157

Featured collections

Air Pictures Portleven Collection
Aerial photographs of the 1930s taken by early commercial photographer Arthur William Hobart.
Picturing High Streets Collection
A national collection of photographs documenting England’s high streets, taken by artists and members of the public in the early 2020s.
John Laing Photographic Collection
The John Laing collection provides a unique insight into the origins of iconic British buildings and the human effort that went into building them.

Archive Collections

Our other collections

England's Places
Discover photos of English cities, towns and villages from the Architectural Red Box Collection.
Aerial Photo Explorer
Explore England's changing landscapes through historic aerial photography, showcasing the growth and transformations of urban and rural areas.
Over 9 Million Historical Photos
Details of our photography collections held in the public Historic England Archive.

Can't Find a Photo You Want?

Our staff picks

"The statue of Lion, the mastiff, and the stories of the funeral are why I chose this photograph. When Tom Sayers, Britain's last bare-knuckle champion, died in 1865 at the age of 39, his faithful dog Lion was 'chief mourner' at the funeral. The burial was reputedly attended by 10,000 people who behaved with 'irredeemable blackguardism, brutal levity, and barbaric ferocity'."

Selected by:

Abigail Coats, Cataloguing Officer

Explore our newest photos

The tomb of Tom Sayers (PLA01/03/1303)
The tomb of Tom Sayers, Britain's last bare-knuckle champion, in Highgate Cemetery, Camden, Greater London Authority.
Series: Played in London
Explore the series. This is part of the Played in Britain collection (PLA01).

Explore our newest photos

Second World War aerial photography

A collection of fascinating aerial reconnaissance photographs taken during the Second World War by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) is accessible online through the Historic England Archive.

USAAF Collection
The Historic England Archive’s USAAF Collection comprises over 20,000 photographic prints taken by USAAF photographic reconnaissance (PR) aircraft.
Blog: The Story of the US Army Air Forces in Britain During the Second World War
By 1944, over half a million United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) servicemen were stationed in Britain.

Gifts

Choose from framed prints of iconic landmarks, jigsaws that bring history to life, or books filled with architectural wonders.

Buy Prints and Gifts
Choose images for framed prints, canvases, mugs, jigsaws and more.
Illustrated Local History Books
A nostalgic look at cities and regions in England through images from the Historic England Archive.