Explore fascinating free online collections of vintage photos from the UK, primarily from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Discover historical images capturing portraits, everyday life, industry, and significant moments from Britain and beyond through these valuable digital archives.
Table of contents
Vintage Portraits (UK)
England’s Beautiful Women
A set of 61 portraits of prominent ladies, taken in the late 19th to early 20th C by the Bassano Studio in London.
Men and Women of the Day by Barraud
A set of 267 photos of prominent people of the 1880s; part of the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, UK.
Everyday Life, Society, and Events (UK)
Criminals of 1871-1873
Newcastle City Gaol and House of Correction Collection 1742 – 1878.
Everyday life in Cornwall in the 19th century
About a dozen photos. The Guardian
Early Photography, Industry, and Broad Collections (UK & British Empire)
Early Photography in the British Empire
About 2,000 photos. “This group is devoted to antique photographs taken in the British Empire (Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all other dominions and colonies) from the invention of photography and up to the end of World War I and the transitory years that immediately followed it (1918-20). Photos taken by British photographers elsewhere pertain to this group.” In the “Early Photography in the British Empire” collection in Flikr.
Hawthorn Leslie Locomotives
Photos from the early 20th century of locomotives built by Hawthorn Leslie locomotive works at Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne. flickr collection.
Vintage Photographs of Great Britain
Old photos from various places in Great Britain, including many from the 19th century. “Photos of the Past” collection in Flikr.
Explore More Free Online Resources
Discover further collections of free online books and other free online materials on these Century Past pages.