Alton Towers, Aerial Autumn View

This aerial photograph offers a rare view of Alton Towers from above, revealing the full scale and drama of one of Staffordshire's most famous landmarks. Long before it became a world-renowned theme park, Alton Towers was the grand Gothic country estate of the Earls of Shrewsbury, its landscaped gardens laid out in the early nineteenth century. From the air you can take in the stately ruins of the Towers themselves, the sweeping parkland, the lakes and the intricate garden structures, all telling a story of aristocratic grandeur and centuries of local heritage. Seen this way, the historic heart of the estate and the modern attractions that now surround it sit side by side, a remarkable contrast between past and present that makes Alton Towers such an iconic part of the Staffordshire landscape. Photographed in autumn colour, it makes a spectacular print for lovers of Staffordshire history, aerial photography and one of the county's best-known estates.