Aerofilms historic images of Wales go on show

Aberystwyth seafront as seen in 1932

Historic images of Wales from the air have gone on show in a new exhibition at Cardiff airport.

Founded by veterans of World War One, Aerofilms was the world's first commercial air photographic business.

The collection's pictures range from 1919 to 2006 and were bought for the nation by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.

"These extraordinary bird's eye views provide an opportunity for visitors to understand both changes and continuities with town and country in twentieth-century Wales from First World War to devolution," said Nicola Roberts from the commission.

The exhibition is on show until November 2014.

Cardiff Arms Park in 1947, including the cricket ground which survived until 1969

The Millennium Stadium now dominates the riverside location

Tenby Harbour, Castle Hill and St Catherine's Island in 1929

Gresford colliery, Wrexham, one month after the September 1934 explosion and fire which killed 266 miners

Rhyl seafront, in 1949 and 2007

Caernarfon Castle in 1953

Oystermouth Castle, Swansea in 1947, overgrown and surrounded by allotments

The castle has now been cleaned up but some of the allotments remain

Cathays Park, Cardiff, in 1920, showing City Hall, the Law Courts, and the National Museum (top right)

Cathays Park, taken in 2006 - note the expansion of government and university buildings to the left

Francis Lewis Wills, pilot Jerry Shaw and Claude Friese-Greene take to the air in July 1919