Aerial view of Westminster from a balloon

When this and other photographs of this region of London were taken the air currents were so tricky that one's chief attention had to be taken in assisting in the manipulation of the balloon. In consequence no definite altitude from which this photograph was taken can be stated as the reading of the aneroid was not logged. When it is stated that the balloon fell from 2, 600ft to 820ft owing to a down current of air and that two bags of ballast were required to check its fall there was scanty time to take photographs much less take notes. This photograph is of considerable interest because it shows a good view of both sides of the river in the neighbourhood of Westminster. Conspicuous features are the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Victoria Street. Between Victoria Street and Great George Street lies the Stationary Office (oblong block with quadrangle). To the east of Great George Street (i.e. to the left) runs Parliament Street and Whitehall, with Government buildings of the Board of Education, Colonial Office, India Office, Foreign Office and Treasury all in the left hand corner of the illustration on the river side of Parliament Street will be noticed will be noticed New Scotland Yard, Montague House and the two bridges crossing the river are Lambeth and Westminster. To the right of the latter on the Surrey side are the different blocks of buildings composing St Thomas Hospital. Lambeth Palace will be seen nearer Lambeth Bridge. Westminster Bridge Road will be seen winding its way southward through the sea of houses passing near the large structure Bethlem Hospital. 22 May 1909, 4.30 pm. Balloon Corona

Picture No

10840482

Media ID

48068633

Size

4000px x 3457px (1.9MB)

Credit

Source

Photograph from The Royal Aeronautical Society Archive

Date

1909