Fairey Surveys Ltd
- Reference:GB 551 NCAP/8/1/26
- Dates of Creation:1965 - 1980
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:1 record group
Administrative / Biographical History
Fairey Air Surveys Ltd provided aerial survey, remote sensing, land survey and map production services to countries around the world. Initially headquartered at 24 Bruton Street, London, and later at Reform Road, Maidenhead, with subsidiary companies in Scotland, Canada, India, Pakistan, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Nigeria, Zambia and Ireland.
The company's Douglas DC-3 aircraft and technical offices were based at White Waltham, Berks, along with a special research laboratory. Here the company undertook the design and development of anti-vibration isolators which were incorporated into camera mountings for mapping and geophysical survey work. The UK-based aircraft undertook aerial surveys for local authorities within the UK and for many Governments around the world. Maps were also published under the Fairey-Falcon imprint. The company operated into the late 1970's, later becoming Clyde Surveying Services Ltd.
Access Information
Largely uncatalogued. Catalogued imagery can be accessed on the NCAP website.
Other Finding Aids
Some uncatalogued sortie plots exist.
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
Rolled 9-inch aerial film and 223mm x 223mm contact prints.
Conditions Governing Use
Standard terms and conditions of use apply.
Custodial History
Films for some contract work for Scottish Development Department were held by the Scottish Office Air Photographs Unit, until transfer to RCAHMS in 1993, while others were retained by the company. Those retained by Fairey Surveys were subsequently acquired by Clyde Surveys, then by National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd, then by Infoterra Ltd, then by Blom ASA, before being bought by the Scran Trust Ltd in 2013. The films were transferred to NCAP in 2016.
Corporate Names