Scottish Office Air Photographs Unit (and later bodies)
Abstract
Over 1.5 million film and print vertical and oblique aerial photographic images of Scotland with a small amount of material covering England, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, plus associated sortie plots and administrative records.
Dates
- Creation: 1935 - 2001
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Accessible via search room and Paid Search Service. Some imagery, and all finding aids, are available on the NCAP website.
Conditions Governing Use
Standard license terms and conditions apply.
Biographical/Historical Notes
The Scottish Office Air Photograph Library was created in 1948 to hold a duplicate print copy of all the aerial photography covering Scotland that was created during the National Air Photograph Survey - created by the Royal Air Force during Operation REVUE - immediately after the Second World War. It grew in subsequent years to hold original film flown by Ordnance Survey and commercial survey firms contracted to Scottish government.
The Library became the Air Photographs Unit within the Scottish Development Department. Following an internal Scottish Office review it was transferred to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in 1993, when it was re-named the Air Photographs Collection (APC). Following the transfer of The Aerial Reconnaissance Archives (TARA) to RCAHMS in 2008, the APC and TARA were merged to form the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP).
Extent
1,500,000 images : Aerial photography on a mix of film rolls and prints.
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
Photographs taken during the National Air Photograph Survey were held from their creation by the Scottish Office Air Photograph Library (later APU), within the Department of Health for Scotland. In 1962 the material was transferred to the Scottish Development Department. Other material entered the collection as it was acquired or commissioned by the APU. The APU Collection was transferred to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (now Historic Environment Scotland) in 1993.
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
Existence and Location of Originals
Held by the National Collection of Aerial Photography.
Resource Rights Holder
Historic Environment Scotland/The National Collection of Aerial Photography
Collection Page on NCAP Website
Source
- Scottish Office Air Photographs Unit (APU) (Organization)
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2012-11-12
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- All finding aids for this collection are accessible on the NCAP website and can be examined in detail with a subscription.
Repository Details
Part of the National Collection of Aerial Photography Repository
Unit 3, Seven Hills Business Park
41 Bankhead Crossway South
Edinburgh EH11 4EP UK
0131 651 6821
ncap@hes.scot