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The beach first became popular in England during the 18th century. Britain as an island has an extensive seacoast. The water temperature because of the northerly lattitudes are a bit nippy, although this is moderated by the Gulf Stream. English fascination with bathing gradually spread to the Continent. Visits to the beach became popular throughout Europe and America. There were substantial variations from country to country first in chronological developments. There were also variations in beach conventions. One major variation was access to beaches. Once railroads developed, few Britons lived more than 2 hours from the coast. Thus a broad spectrum of the English public had access to the seaside. This of course was much more limited in many other European countries. The sea and beaches was the initial attractions. Soon a variety of entertaiments and amusements appeared. The major beach resorts built piers that went out into the sea and offered a wide range of entertaiment, rather like minature amusement parks. We note a wide range of clothing worn to the beach. There were swimsuits, but msny children even in the early 20th century might wear suits and other outfits, especiall sailor suits. Wide brimmed hats were commonly worn. The English children here have come to the beach without swimsuits. Notice the boy wears a Norfolk suit with a Eton collar.
The beach first began to become popular in England during the 18th century. And this became increasing populkar during the Victiorian era. A factor here was the railoroad. Before the railriad, beach vacations were an experice for the well-to-do. Getting to the seaside was alone was expensive and time consuming. The railroads changed that. hey made travel inexpensive and fast. And the industrail Revolution created vast wealth. This created a prosperous middle class which could afford a modest seaside outing. Even workers negan to receive paid vacations bu the end of the centuyry. A British reader writes, "When teaching younger children we usually include a study of the Victorian era and the kids usually find it hilarious that there were segregated bathing areas for male and female and horse drawn changing rooms which took people to and from the water. Whilst many Victorian woman risked
drowning in their costumes it was most common for men and boys to swim naked even though all-in-one swim suits were also commonly worn. There was royal precedent in this as there are accounts of Albert and his children swimming this way as well as his Russian & German cousins. The Tsar being especially fond of swimming as an exercise. With Victorian purity the two seem quite at odds even with the use of the segregation and bathing wagons."
Britain as an island has an extensive seacoast. The water temperature because of the northerly lattitudes are a bit nippy, although this is moderated by the Gulf Stream.
English fascination with bathing gradually spread to the Continent. Visits to the beach became popular throughout Europe and America. There were substantial variations from country to country first in chronological developments. There were also variations in beach conventions. One major variation was access to beaches. Once railroads developed, few Britons lived more than 2 hours from the coast. Thus a broad spectrum of the English public had access to the seaside. This of course was much more limited in many other European countries.
The first references to seaside resorts in modern Europe that I am aware of was in England. As an island people surrounded by the sea, the English have an historic fascination for the seaside. Few Englishmen now live more than two hours travel by road or rail. The English have a variedf coast. From the rocky, craggy Cornish coastline, to the fabeled limestone cliffs of the Channel coast, to the flatlands of East Anglia, and the wild North Sea cliffs of East Yorkshire. Some of the most famous resorts are Brighton and Blackpool, but there are many others. They are mostly known to the English. Because of the climate the English resorts are not well known abroad. Most foreigners interested in a seaside holiday choose warmer climes.
The sea and beaches was the initial attractions. Today we think of the beach as recreation. This was turue in England as well, but doctors for many years also for many years described health benefits. At poular beaches, a variety of entertaiments and amusements appeared. The beaches themselves were very popular attractions. The adults and older children could swim. The younger children could paddle. Of course the children loved to play in the sand. Activitoes like Punch and Judy shows were very ppopular in both beach resorts and city parks. We see some assemblages of people on the beaches and are often not sure just what they were doing. The major beach resorts built piers that went out into the sea and offered a wide range of entertaiment, rather like minature amusement parks.
One popular convetion when holidaying at beach resorts was to have portraits taken. Thus we have large numbers of portraits of families and children from these restort towns. Some show the children in bathing costumes, but more commonly we see the children in fashionable suits and dresses of various descriptions.
We note a wide range of clothing worn to the beach. There were quite a range of swimsuits. The styles of swimsuits or bathing costimes have changed dramatically in the 20th century. English children did not always wear bathing suits to the beach. Here changing conventions about swimming as well as climate were factors. Many children even in the early 20th century might wear suits and other outfits, especiall sailor suits. Wide brimmed hats were commonly worn. English children commonly went to the beach without swimsuits. Many times they only waded or played in the sand. Modern readers might think they were dressed very formally. We commonly see boys at the seaside wearing Norfolk suits and Eton collars in the early 20th century. Gradually we see boys wearing more casual clothes.
One development as families began buying cars after the War was the caravan (trailer) and caravan holiday (vacation) parks. I have not noted American-style motor homes in Britain, but I have noted caravans and caravn parks. I think they were more popular in the 60s-70s than they are now, but am not aure about that. Oil prices are probably a factor. These caravan parks were especilly popular along the southern coast near beaches. A good example is an unidentified family on their summer holiday during 1964.
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