Historic London landmarks photos show how capital has changed from 1930s to now

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery St Paul’s Cathedral today The collection features 242 black and white aerial images showing the national landmarks, towns, industrial sites, construction projects and seaside resorts of 1930s interwar England. open image in gallery Battersea Power Station under construction and the Gas Holder Station, Wandsworth, Greater London, open image in gallery Battersea Power Station today “We are the guardians of the largest national collection of aerial images in the country and hope that releasing this Collection helps inspire people to learn more about their local history through our online Aerial Photography Explorer tool.” Born in 1882 in London, Arthur William Hobart was an early ‘commercial aerial photographer’ who started in the business around 1920. open image in gallery Crystal Palace, Bromley, Greater London, circa 1930s. open image in gallery Victoria and Albert museum today To-date, no service record can be found for Hobart, however many early commercial aerial photographers had served during the First World War in aerial-related roles, and prior to the first World War he worked as a journeyman baker, commercial traveller and a draper’s clerk. open image in gallery Royal Albert Hall, Westminster, Greater London, circa 1930s open image in gallery Royal Albert Hall today Targeted for their unique selling point of providing views that people would not have been seen before, Hobart also appears to have been tapping into the emerging demand for aerial photos from other sources such as the construction industry and industrial sectors.