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EVEREST COLLECTION
 

When Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest at 11.30am on May 29th 1953, it was a culmination of over 30 years of British expeditions to the mountain. We hold more than 20,000 photographs, as well as maps, archive documents and artefacts relating to the nine British expeditions. From George Mallory’s exploits in the 1920s, through Eric Shipton’s efforts in the ‘30s to the iconic images of the 1953 expedition led by John Hunt, the collection stands as a record of the key moments in British mountaineering history. Everest continues to be a massive draw to mountaineers from all over the world.
Everest General  View images

1921 A reconnaissance expedition led by Charles Howard-Bury marks the first of George Mallory's three expeditions to Everest. View images

1922 George Finch and Geoffrey Bruce reach 27,300 feet in the first British assault on the summit. View images

1924 Mallory and Sandy Irvine disappear during their summit attempt. View images

1933 Eric Shipton and Frank Smythe reach 28,100 feet, after waiting eight years for the Dalai Lama's permission to climb the mountain. View images

1935 Tenzing Norgay is amongst the Sherpas on this reconnaissance expedition to explore the western approaches to Everest. View images

1936 Adverse weather conditions force Hugh Ruttledge's team back down the mountain from the North Col at 23,000 ft. View images

1938 Shipton resumes his famous mountaineering partnership with Bill Tilman in the seventh British Mount Everest Expedition. View images

1951 Edmund Hillary joins an experienced team of mountaineers on this reconnaissance expedition. View images

1953 Hillary and Tenzing reach the summit of Mount Everest on 29th May. View images