Seaside History

18/01/2025

What an amazing refurbishment of the T S Eliot Shelter at Margate.

18/01/2025

Yet more amazing photos from Rockpool School at Cullercoats.

12/01/2025

🌊 Hidden History at Horse Cove, Dawlish! 🤫 Ever strolled along this picturesque coastline and wondered what secrets lay hidden?

whispers tales of daring who used a network of tunnels carved into the red cliffs to evade the excise men. 🏴‍☠️ Imagine lanterns flickering in the dark, the splash of oars, and barrels of alcohol being hauled ashore!

Horse Cove is only accessible from the sea or at very low tide from Coryton Cove, and in the 18th and 19th centuries, smugglers used these tunnels to move contraband goods inland, avoiding the watchful eyes of the law.

While the tunnels are now very worn to the elements, you can still feel the thrill of this illicit past. Explore Dawlish and uncover the layers of history etched into this stunning landscape. Who knows what you might discover?
📷 Beach Cams Man

12/01/2025

⭐ 50% off Admission ⭐

We may be closed until 21 January, but we have a special treat for you all when we reopen! You can enjoy 50% off admission until Friday 14 February using the code PURBECK25 when you book online.

Come and beat the January blues and enjoy the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, including our exhibition, Artists in Purbeck: Spirit of Place 🌊

50% off only valid on tickets purchased online for visits between 21 January and 14 February. Book at russellcotes.com

12/01/2025

It's that time of the year again.📷 Time to go through your photos for our annual photography competition/exhibition. The theme this year is Reflections, Shadows and Silhouettes of Herne Bay.

Our visitors will vote for their favourites and the top 12 will make up our 2026 calendar.

Entry Form and Ts and Cs on our website or at the museum.

07/01/2025

Looking to make 2025 the year you embrace new cultural experiences?! ✨📸

Then why not start by visiting our new Men of Iron exhibition that's on at Lighthouse Poole from next Tuesday 14 January.

This particularly poignant free exhibition features photographs, oral histories and video content that celebrates the spirit of Poole Foundry’s workers and their craft 40 years on from its closure, paying tribute to the people who made the foundry their life’s work.

Find out more including information on the bookable events 👉 www.poolemuseum.org.uk/men-of-iron

04/01/2025

A very frosty Mudeford Spit, photographed by Steve Hogan Photography.

Frosty the SnowMan was at Mudeford Spit today ⛄️ 📷

04/01/2025

1905. One Hundred and Twenty years ago so an anniversary year of the “Water Chute”. In the beginning of a new era the Edwardians introduced some exiting new rides. Using another new introduction, Electricity. At 3d a go it remained for another 25 years.

If you would like to help support Birnbeck Pier please visit the Hub sited on the promenade overlooking the Pier and maybe donating or volunteering please visit our website.

https://www.birnbeckregenerationtrust.org.uk/

02/01/2025

Happy 150th Anniversary to Swanage Lifeboat Station!

02/01/2025

Happy New Year! 🥳 We hope you had a good Christmas holiday and new year, we’re certainly looking forward to our 2025. To kick things off, we thought we’d give you insight into the research side of Project Time Machine 👀 The photo shown is a postcard of the Bungalow Café (also known as the Bungalow Tea Rooms), as 2025 marks 100 years since the Café was bought by William Bigg, with the following exert providing further details ✍️

Our volunteers are back in the Museum from next week, so keep an eye out for star objects and make sure to visit the Museum’s Hearne Gallery to have a chat with us. See you soon, Project Time Machine Officer out! 🫡

“The Bungalow Café was a significant element in Littlehampton’s resort facilities for 50 years after the First World War. Its function rooms could cater for large numbers of people and offered teas for large groups visiting the town, dinners, dances and wedding receptions.

… in 1928 William Bigg was in the bankruptcy court saying he took on the lease in 1925 but made trading losses in 1926 and 1927, leading to his failure. He cited the economic conditions which were indeed difficult.

… successful exploitation of the Café was interrupted by the Second World War. At first they thrived, in the absence of holiday-makers, on the business brought by servicemen stationed in the area, notably Canadian crews from the Fleet Air Arm station at Ford. Tradition has it that it was even used in detailed planning for the invasion of France, with model tanks etc, being used to demonstrate the operation (some of these are in the Museum’s collections).

After the war the Café reverted to Trent and Sons and it resumed its servicing of trippers. Eventually the changes in the economy and social habits took their toll of Littlehampton and the Café closed in 1971. The site is now occupied by a block of flats.”



Supported using public funding by The National Lottery through Arts Council England

02/01/2025

The breathtaking views and superb multi-changing neon lights from Torquay’s very own stairway to heaven are incredible. 💡🌈

Visit www.englishriviera.co.uk and start planning your 2025 adventures.

📌 Rock Walk, Torquay

📸 IG:

01/01/2025

Thirteen years after being added to the Heritage at Risk Register, the Saltden Lido is now saved! It can now be removed from the "At Risk Register" - a wonderful tribute to all those who put in so much hard work.

31/12/2024

30/12/2024

There’s no skipping leg day in Whitby. 🦵

Next to the iconic 199 steps to Whitby Abbey is this Grade I listed steep cobbled path, also known as Donkey Road.

📷 This photograph was taken in 1954 by Hallam Ashley.

30/12/2024

Let's all do our bit! Keep your eye out for discarded fishing line when you are on the beach and pop it in a nearby bin.

Not what you really want to find whilst beachcombing! The biggest ball of fishing line I’ve spotted to date!! 😢

Well at least it’s been removed now so can’t cause any damage and luckily only really bits of broken seaweed attached to it!

Please pop anything like this in th bin if you spot it on your wanders so it can’t cause any damage to wildlife. Thanks guys 😊