John Gay - England Observed

Step inside the world of photographer John Gay (1909-1999) as English Heritage National Monuments Record Centre holds a special retrospective exhibition of his work.

To mark the centenary of John Gay’s birth and to celebrate his work, our exhibitions and monograph draw on the substantial collection of his images held by the National Monuments Record (NMR), the public archive of English Heritage.

Best known for his architectural photographs and celebrity portraits, John Gay also focused on the lives of ordinary people and captured the true spirit of post-war England.

Over 26,000 photographs taken by John Gay can be seen online, for free, on our ViewFinder website.