• IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here.

    The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.

The great British seaside of a bygone era

na_641af0d60f82a.jpg


Weston-super-Mare -

Weston-super-Mare serves as a convenient standby for anybody out of nearby Bristol wishing to barefoot a carpet of sand. Funnily enough, Weston provided a home for the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel while he was supervising the construction of the Bristol and Exeter Railway in the area. In 1949 if the sea was a tad chilly, people could use the neighboring swimming pool.
 
na_641b0aab365f3.jpg


Southport -

Rarely performed these days, the Punch and Judy show is a traditional puppet show featuring Mr. Punch and his wife Judy. Held on beaches around Great Britain in front of a mainly young audience, this particular show was photographed in Southport in July 1950.
 
na_641af84b865dd.jpg


Worthing -

The great British summer is often a damp and windy affair. In fact, it can get jolly cold. Which is probably why this family have the whole beach to themselves during a 1954 visit to Worthing in West Sussex.
 
na_641af77d9767b.jpg


Great Yarmouth -

Great Yarmouth in Norfolk has enjoyed a reputation as a resort destination since the mid-18th century—long before the advent of the motorcar and certainly before the invention of this miniature bus, pictured in 1955 traveling along the seafront.
 
na_641b09f592ee6.jpg


Barry Island -

In this amusing 1936 snapshot, a hapless beachgoer snoozing in his deckchair is unaware of the incoming tide at Barry Island, near Cardiff in Wales.
 
na_641aeb56d0c5e.jpg


Llandudno -

Llandudno is the largest seaside resort in Wales. The town has been attracting holidaymakers since 1861. Pictured in 1937 is an acrobatic display taking place on the beach.
 
na_641b05ffd3c8e.jpg


Scarborough -

This young boy has clearly lost his head while clowning around on Scarborough Beach in August 1958.
 
na_641aec120a76d.jpg


Margate -

Margate on the north coast of Kent is within easy day-trip distance from London, as this 1933 photograph of its overcrowded beach clearly testifies.
 
na_641b0eefeeff5.jpg


Blackpool -

In 1879, the annual lights festival known as the Blackpool Illuminations was inaugurated. Blackpool Tower, seen here illuminated in 1949, was lit by 300,000 electric light bulbs, and attracted two million visitors during the first post-war illuminations.
 
na_641af5e3a7ad1.jpg


Southsea -

Southsea on the southern tip of Portsmouth, began as a fashionable 19th-century Victorian seaside resort. For many years HMY Britannia used Portsmouth as a departure point for numerous voyages. In 1953, Queen Elizabeth II reviewed the Coronation Fleet in The Solent. The event drew thousands to Southsea Beach, where deckchairs were at a premium.
 
na_641b0536419b3.jpg


Newquay -

Smiling and laughing crowds hold out a large blanket to catch an entertainer jumping in the air during fun and games at Newquay in 1955.
 
na_641afa2e1b7a3.jpg


Llandudno -

While less popular now, donkey rides were once a traditional feature of seaside Britain, beginning during the Victorian era. This youngster at Llandudno, photographed in July 1958, seems unsure of what ride to choose...
 
na_641b037be9b07.jpg


Margate -

Having holiday fun in the sun at Minnis Bay near Margate in 1960 are these two teenagers. The beachwear is typical of the period.
 
na_641afc9f861e4.jpg


Blackpool -

An August weekend scene taken from Blackpool Tower in 1966 captures thousands of beachgoers converging on the town's golden sands.
 
Back
Top