Brian May’s photo of Victorian family Stonehenge trip to feature in exhibition

The oldest family photograph taken at Stonehenge has been found in the collection of Queen guitarist Brian May, English Heritage has said.

The 3D stereoview image was taken by photographer Henry Brooks during the 1860s and shows his family enjoying a day out at the historic landmark, the heritage organisation said.

The image will been seen in a new exhibition at Stonehenge.

It will be displayed at the neolithic Wiltshire monument alongside a soundtrack of May playing Queen song Who Wants To Live Forever on the piano.

May said: “I’ve been fascinated by stereo cards since I was a boy and got one in a cereal packet!

“This is a fantastic early example and exciting because it’s one of the oldest family snaps taken at Stonehenge.

“It feels even more evocative when set to music – a bit like a silent movie and we thought it would be great fun to recreate the image as a stereo view at Stonehenge and breathe new life into an old photo.”

May’s photograph will be displayed as part of the Your Stonehenge exhibition.

Susan Greaney, English Heritage historian, said: “We’re so excited to have Brian May involved with our exhibition at Stonehenge.

“The stones play such an important role in our collective memory and this can be seen so clearly in the long tradition of family and group photos taken at the stones and on display in the Your Stonehenge exhibition.

“These sorts of Victorian 3D images have a real vividness and depth in themselves, and this one provides a further dimension still because we know who took it.”

The exhibition will run until August 31 2022.