Wembley Stadium, Brent, London

Photograph taken March 1999 © Copyright Historic England Archive ref: nmr 18315/07

Pictured shortly before its closure in 2000, Wembley Stadium was built as part of the British Empire Exhibition and was opened by George V on the 24rd April 1924. Built at a cost of £750,000, the stadium was completed in just 300 days. Perhaps the single most significant change to its structure came in 1963, when the distinctive glass and aluminium roof was added

Location

Greater London Brent

Period

1920s (1920 - 1929)

Themes

"Wills, Shaw and Friese-Greene Ready to Film". This was a publicity shot for the foundation of the Aerofilms aerial photography company. It was taken at the London Aerodrome, Hendon. Francis Lewis Wills was a former Royal Naval Air Service Observer and co-founder of Aerofilms. Claude Friese-Greene, holding the cine-camera, was technical director for Aerofilms in its early days, but is best known as a pioneering cinematographer. We know very little about Shaw, the pilot, probably an AirCo employee.

Wembley Stadium, Brent, London

Location

Period

Themes

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