Thread by @artefactual_KW, Prompted by @Steelworlds #SWOS20 twitter conference and an expression of interest from [...]

Katy Whitaker

artefactual_KW

Prompted by @Steelworlds #SWOS20 twitter conference and an expression of interest from @Rebecca52731232

here is a short thread illustrating some of the steely #Aerofilms Collection images from @HE_Archive. (I'll only tweet as many images as I can manage in my lunch-break).

Let's begin at Lysaught's Normanby Park steelworks at Scunthorpe in July 1935.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW048520

Here it is on 16 August 1947.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW009623

It's a huge and complex site.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW009634

On 20 June 1949 we are getting a closer look.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW023924

And then on 5 April 1950 things start to get real dicey! THis daring aerial photography is typical #Aerofilms. I can't tell you how dangerous this is.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW028564

But their dangerous flying gets us some great views into the guts of the works.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW028565

And #Aerofilms came back on 25 July 1950 for more. This must have been quite a big commission for them to over-fly the works.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW031177

Now it's 27 February 1951 and a new cooling tower is being built, this time one of the more familiar concrete ones, circular on plan, rather than the boxy rectangular ones.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW034816

On the topic of cooling towers, let's take a look at a few more. Here's Croydon B Power Station towers under construction on 9 February 1948.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW013170

A few days later on 20 February 1948 #Aerofilms were over-flying Walsall B Power Station and taking a look into this cooling tower.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW013443

19 December 1949, watching Rye Park Power Station cooling tower under construction.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW027799

And on 8 April 1949, over Westwood (Ashton-in-Makerfield), the skeletal base of another cooling tower.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW021900

Back to Walsall B for one last cooling tower shot. Unbelievably dangerous flying.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW029343

Just type the word cooling into the search box on the Britain from Above website and you'll get the idea...

I think the earliest surviving #Aerofilms images of an iron/steel works are at Barrow in Furness.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW004059

Should have said, July 1920.

There are really lovely, handsome, small works photographed by #Aerofilms like the Hulton Steel Works in Bolton (13 May 1922).
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW007781

And don't misunderstand me, there are plenty of sites in Wales and Scotland that they photographed too! But I've got to go off for a meeting now, so enjoy exploring #Aerofilms images at https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en

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