Rare photos released by Historic England offer great insight into how Kent looked 100 years ago.

Hundreds of thousands of images have been made available in an online library for the public to view.

The incredible photos of our county in the 1920s contain some familiar sights – but also highlight how much has changed in the past century.

It is another chapter in our aerial archive collection, having previously showcased Kent from above between the 50s and 90s.

If viewing on a desktop, you can delve in deeper by zooming in on all of Historic England's photos.

Ramsgate

The Royal Harbour Pavilion – now the country's biggest Wetherspoon can be seen in the centre of the frame.

During the 1920s, the now-listed building was a concert hall and assembly rooms.

Ramsgate's old pier can be seen in the distance of the above photo. The structure, built in the 1880s, boasted a pavilion, wheel and railway in its heyday before closing in 1914.

It suffered damage during the First World War and was dismantled in 1930.

West Cliff Hall opened in 1914 and went on to host everything from war-time dances to an early Rolling Stones concert.

In the 1980s it went on to become a motor museum, before closing in 2006.

The Ramsgate Harbour railway station opened in 1863 as part of the Kent Coast Railway company's extension of its line from Herne Bay.

It proved popular due to its extreme proximity to the town's buzzing coastline, but closed in 1926 following the launch of a new line, including the opening of Dumpton Park and Ramsgate railway stations.

Folkestone

Folkestone's magnificent Metropole and Grand hotels don't look too dissimilar now than they did a century ago. As can be seen in the photo, the hotels benefited from the 'Metropole Lift', installed in response to the great popularity of the Leas Lift further along the cliffside.

The Pleasure Gardens Theatre is the key feature of the photo above. The venue, which opened in 1886, was the first in Kent to show moving pictures.

A variety of performances were hosted at the theatre before it was turned into a cinema. It eventually became run down and demolished in 1964.

Folkestone's Victoria Pier, a former boxing and wrestling venue, can be seen in the above picture. The landmark gained popularity with soldiers during the First World War and regularly held projections of the latest films.

After the armistice in 1918, entertainment in the pier’s halls included roller skating, novelty shows, dancing and bands. Its popularity waned in the following decades and part of the central section was blown up as a defensive measure in the Second World War.

It was then burned down in May 1945 following an arson attack and its demolition finally began in 1952.

Chatham

Dover

Herne Bay

The impressive King's Hall is the key feature of the above photo. Pictured here in its early years, the venue was originally a pavilion before being developed as the King Edward VII Memorial Hall in 1913 in memory of the late king.

Herne Bay's central bandstand opened in 1924.

The Roman fort at Reculver, which later went on to become the church of St Mary, is one of the county's most identifiable landmarks. The tall twin towers were added in the 12th century.

The key difference between the 1920s and the present day is the presence of the church spires atop the towers.

Herne Bay's third pier (pictured) was completed in 1899. Stretching out into the sea, it was the second longest in the country.

But during the Second World War its middle section was blown up to prevent enemy landings. Temporary bridges were later installed to fill the gap, but following storms in the 1970s, a decision was made to dismantle them.

Lydd

Ashford

Ashford's railway history is clear to see, particularly at the former Newtown works which was built in 1847 to serve the London Dover Railway.

It grew over the next 100 years as it took on more work from Battersea and, although damaged in the Second World War, it remained a locomotive works until 1962 when the work was transferred to Eastleigh. Many of the buildings were demolished over the next 20 years and what remains today is the shell of the original workshops.

Quinn Estates is now behind ambitious plans to convert the site into film studios, with the likes of Netflix and Amazon linked to the scheme.

Away from rail, the town’s first hospital threw open its doors during the 1920s. The Ashford Hospital in Kings Avenue, off Godinton Road, opened in July 1928.

In the same year, Highworth Grammar School – originally known as Ashford County School for Girls – moved to its current base in Maidstone Road.

And in Willesborough, the Ashford Underwear Company is pictured operating in Birling Road.

The site was later taken on by food manufacturer Energen in the 1950s.

Rochester

Hythe

One of Kent's best-known hotels, Hythe Imperial had been open for 40 years when the above photo was taken.

Following its 1880 opening, it went on to be expanded, with a new wing being added in 1896.

The land directly behind the hotel is now occupied by new-build housing. The fields on the left of the picture are today home to the South Road football pitches.

The 1920s marked the launch of one of Hythe's top attractions, with the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway welcoming its first passengers in 1927.

The 14-mile coastal track was founded by Captain J Howey and Count Louis Zborowski, the engineer who created the Chitty Bang Bang car.

Margate

A once impressive Victorian pier, Margate Jetty was lost to the sea in the late 70s. It stood for about 120 years, becoming a launching station for steam ships and boasting a pavilion at the end.

It was closed to the public on safety grounds in 1976 and was severely damaged when it was overwhelmed by storms two years later.

Waves crashed through the structure – leaving the lifeboat station isolated in the water – as the wooden remnants of the pier washed up on Margate beach.

More than a dozen attempts were made to blow up its remains before it was completely erased from the seafront in 1998.

Though not pictured, the Scenic Railway rollercoaster at Dreamland opened in 1920.

Walmer & Deal

Maidstone

Maidstone's brewing heritage is clear to see. Hundreds of barrels can be seen stacked up at the old Medway Brewery.

The images are from long before the second bridge over the Medway, St Peter's Bridge, was opened in 1977.

Whitstable

A familiar view of Whitstable from Tankerton Slopes. Beach huts can be seen in the bottom right of the frame, and the harbour in the distance.

At what is today the Gorrell Tank car park, is a reservoir intended to help prevent flooding at exceptional high tides. Today huge water storage tanks sit beneath the car park.

Sevenoaks

Broadstairs

Tonbridge

Canterbury

In the above photo, the lofty Abbott’s Mill at St Radigund’s can be seen in the distance behind the Cathedral.

The six-storey, and largely timber-framed structure, was built in 1792 and carried on a centuries-long tradition of city-based water mills along the banks of the Stour.

Once owned by famous cattle painter Thomas Sidney Cooper, it went up in flames in a spectacular blaze in 1933.

Looking towards the city centre from Wincheap, the Dane John mound and city walls can be easily spotted. The castle ruins, which were acquired by the council in 1928, are hidden among houses and Wincheap Roundabout and Rheims Way are non-existent.

Canterbury Rugby Club, now playing in the fourth tier, was founded in 1926.

Sandwich

Gravesend

Tunbridge Wells

Historic England hopes people will be able to use the online tool to research where they live and allow councils to use the old photos for archaeology and planning matters.

Tony Calladine, Historic England's regional director for East of England, said: “I am delighted that our new online tool will allow people to browse our wonderful collection of historic aerial photos that my team uses every day to unlock the mysteries of England’s past.

"The remarkable pictures give a fascinating insight into our local areas, allowing people to see how their street and their town centre looked when their great grandparents lived there. "

Sadly, the archives for the 1920s do not include aerial pictures of Swale, meaning there is a lack of content for Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Faversham.

In total, 400,000 images were released by Historic England last week. It is hoped six million will be made available over the coming years.