Londonderry from the Air (1958)

Panoramic views of Derry, showing various landmarks, the iconic bridges and approach to the city.

This film allows us to see Northern Ireland's second city from a multitude of perspectives and heights. Conventional street level scenes of Craigavon Bridge give way to awing aerial shots, the camera depicting Derry from dizzying, cloud-wreathed heights. From here we can see factory chimneys belching black smoke into the air and the residential sprawl of houses huddled against the River Foyle.

These rushes are amongst a wealth of footage that was generated by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. This government department had their own staff who documented the region through stills and moving images and the films they created capture various facets of life in Northern Ireland. The department was particularly busy in the mid-1950s to late 1960s, creating films that aimed to sell Northern Ireland as a holiday destination. This material captures Northern Ireland at an intriguing time, post-World War Two and pre-Troubles.