The Shadbolt collection of 76 glass lantern slides includes illustrations as well as photography from the adventures of balloonist Cecil Shadbolt, taken between 1882-1892. Shadbolt sadly died in a balloon accident in 1892. #ExploreYourArchive @explorearchives

The collection includes the earliest surviving aerial images of England. This 1884 image shows the Royal Albert Dock newly built on the East Ham Levels beside the Thames. To the left can be seen the dock for the supply of coal to #Beckton Gas Works. #ExploreYourArchive

This image of Stamford Hill, London from 2000ft is thought to be the first successful vertical #aerial image, made possible by Shadbolt's experiments with a hinged camera plate. Amazingly this collection was found at a car boot sale and bought by HE Archive at auction in 2015.

Shadbolt used the lantern slides for his touring lecture 'Balloons and Ballooning, Upwards and Onwards'. You can read more about the collection and browse the slides here; https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/photographs/shadbolt-collection/ #ExploreYourArchive