Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Historic Archive Creates 'Time Capsule' Of Powerful Images That Capture Life In Lockdown

Historic Archive Creates 'Time Capsule' Of Powerful Images That Capture Life In Lockdown
A photo from Historic England's Picturing Lockdown Collection entitled 'No View: No Viewers', taken by commissioned artist Aidan Moesby in Rowlands Gill, north-east England (Aidan Moesby/Historic England/PA)

A “time capsule" of photographs has been created showing life in lockdown.

Images of clapping for carers, rainbows, empty streets, social distancing, home haircuts and the natural world were among the pictures submitted after the public were asked to capture a moment in time to be saved in the Historic England Archive.


The Picturing Lockdown Collection, which can be accessed free online, consists of 100 public submissions, 50 commissioned works by 10 contemporary artists, and the remainder from Historic England's photographers.

Here are some of the images:

'Clap For NHS, London', by Shuvaseesh Das (Shuvaseesh Das/Historic England/PA)


'Washing the Shopping' by Steven Murray from Chesterfield (Steven Murray/Historic England/PA)


Children taking part in the Joe Wicks PE sessions in the living room of their home in Beckenham, south London (Francesca Brecciaroli/Historic England/PA)


'Threadneedle Street, City of London' by artist Polly Braden (Polly Braden/Historic England/PA)


'Worker, off licence' by Gemma Mancinelli from London (Gemma Mancinelli/Historic England/PA)


'Social distancing, Vauxhall car factory, Wirral' by Colin McPherson (Colin McPherson/Historic England/PA)


'Banging pots for the NHS' by Danny Burrows from Deal, Kent (Danny Burrows/Historic England/PA)


'A Leeds train station cleaner' by Samantha Toolsie (Samantha Toolsie/Historic England/PA)


'After a Night Shift', a self-portrait by commissioned artist Tristan Poyser (Tristan Poyser/Historic England/PA)


'Ann and Alun Ball at home in Fulwood, Sheffield', by Historic England photographer Alun Bull (Alun Bull/Historic England/PA)


'Upside down world' taken by Michaela Strivens in Wallington, south London (Michaela Strivens/Historic England/PA)


'Transparency' taken by commissioned artist Malaika Kegode in Bristol (Malaika Kegode/Historic England/PA)


'Stay home', taken by John Lee in Bristol (John Lee/Historic England/PA)


'Garden Gym, Yorkshire' by commissioned artist Coralie Datta (Coralie Datta/Historic England/PA)


'Home Alone (One, is the loneliest number)' taken in Rowlands Gill, North East England by commissioned artist Aidan Moesby (Aidan Moesby/Historic England/PA)


'Masako sewing masks'Garden Gym, Yorkshire by commissioned artist Coralie Datta (Coralie Datta/Historic England/PA), taken by Peter Crush in Reading, Berkshire (Peter Crush/Historic England/PA)


'Juliette, Juliette (sounds of the street)', taken by commissioned artist Bella Milroy in Chesterfield, Derbyshire (Bella Milroy/Historic England/PA)


'First Day of the Holidays' taken by Bill Ward in Victoria Park, Bristol (Bill Ward/Historic England/PA)


Owen Bull, just before his 14th birthday, planting vegetable seeds in the garden due to the difficulty in getting food deliveries during lockdown, taken by Historic England photographer Alun Bull (Alun Bull/Historic England/PA)


Neighbors in adjacent gardens on Hallamshire Drive, Sheffield, giving haircuts, taken by Historic England photographer Alun Bull (Alun Bull/Historic England/PA)


'Penn Co-op Jaminder Hayre' taken by commissioned artist Anand Chhabra in Wolverhampton (Anand Chhabra/Historic England/PA)


'Reinvented Rituals'Penn Co-op Jaminder Hayre taken by commissioned artist Anand Chhabra in Wolverhampton (Anand Chhabra/Historic England/PA), taken by commissioned artist Bella Milroy in Chesterfield, Derbyshire (Bella Milroy/Historic England/PA)


A photo taken by Historic England photographer Steven Baker of the tunnel that leads to his nearest open space for daily exercise in Victory Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire (Steven Baker/Historic England/PA)


'Life in Lockdown' by commissioned artist Chloe Dewe Mathews in Bottle Alley, St. Leonards-on-Sea (Chloe Dewe Mathews/Historic England/PA)


'The Little Free Library on the Hill', which washes and distributes vinyl gloves, in Norwich, Norfolk, taken by Peter Offord (Peter Offord/Historic England/PA)


Nappies drying and food product waiting to be disinfected taken by Historic England photographer Chris Redgrave at home in Harrow, north London (Chris Redgrave/Historic England/PA)


Joshua Chhabra's skin fade, a haircut given to him by his older brother Matthew, taken by commissioned artist Anand Chhabra in Wolverhampton (Anand Chhabra/Historic England/PA)

More from News

Country Singer Gavin Adcock went on a drunken rant over Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter" success.
Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Country singer rants over Beyoncé album

Country singer Gavin Adcock became the title of his next album, “Own Worst Enemy,” after going on an unhinged rant about the legitimacy of Beyoncé's Grammy-winning and record-breaking Cowboy Carter in the country music genre.

Adcock, whose upcoming album is set for release next month, was filmed during a live performance last weekend, complaining that Beyoncé and her album are not “country music.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Dionne Warwick; Tiny Chef
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images; @ToonHive/X

Dionne Warwick Is Ready To Go To War With Nickelodeon Over 'Tiny Chef' Cancellation

You know your campaign against a show's cancellation is achieving widespread attention when you get people like venerated singer Dionne Warwick advocating for you.

Nickelodeon's The Tiny Chef Show was recently cancelled, much to the dismay of its viewers and creators. It was also a genuinely surprising decision, since the show has won an Emmy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman relaxing in sunhat and sunglasses
Photo by Jordan Bauer on Unsplash

People Explain Which 'Small Luxuries' They Can't Live Without

Many of us have committed to being fairly financially frugal and not overspending on silly, unnecessary things.

That is to say, sometimes, it's fun to splurge on something one time to see what it's like to experience that small luxury.

Keep ReadingShow less
two women in emotional distress seated on couch
Ben White on Unsplash

People Who've Experienced Grief Share The Most Tone-Deaf Things They've Heard

Grief, loss, trauma are all part of life. But for most people, the emotions and reactions that go with them are difficult to witness.

So they rely on platitudes to fill any holes in conversation. That's rarely a good idea.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Demands 'Boss Of AT&T' Fix Equipment After Failed Conference Call In Bizarre Meltdown

When most of us have technical difficulties, we contact tech support or customer service.

But if you're President of the United States, just ranting on social media—then having your White House Press Secretary post a screenshot of your post on a social media platform people actually use—is apparently the answer.

Keep ReadingShow less