The Victorian Seaside

Why was the seaside holiday so popular? The Bank Holidays Act of 1871 meant that there were four new holidays every year. This gave people a break from work. People thought that the air was cleaner and more refreshing beside the sea. They even thought that sea water could cure diseases!

How did people get to the seaside? In the Victorian era, railways were being built around Britain. Railways changed people's lives. Families went to the seaside for the day by train. People who could afford it took a week's summer holiday.

Advertisements With more people visiting the seaside, resorts and railways started advertising their services.

What did people do for fun at the seaside? What activities do you see in this picture?

Sea Bathing Very few people knew how to swim, but they could take a dip in the sea! During the Victorian period, bathing in the sea was believed to be good for you. The Victorian people were very modest and were fully clothed at all times. In old photos you'll notice most people are wearing ordinary clothes, with trousers and skirts rolled up to keep dry. Their bathing costumes were not like the ones we use today!

Bathing Costumes

Bathing Machines Victorians used bathing machines, like the one you see here, to get changed in. They would then be led by horse into the water where they could lower themselves into the sea without being seen.

Bathing Machines You can see the people standing in the water. Proper ladies never got their bathing costumes too damp!

Performers Singers Musicians Comedians Acrobats Puppet shows How might these be different than the performers we see today?

Punch and Judy These shows were put on by puppeteers. Punch was always very mean to Judy!

Then Now Building Sandcastles How was building a sandcastle different in the Victorian era than it is now?

Strolling along the pier Piers were originally built to let people get off steamboats, but developed into a leisure facility as the seaside tourist business boomed!

Promenade along the pier A nice walk along the pier was sometimes considered the highlight of the holiday! Everyone stayed covered from the sun with hats or parasols. This picture is from the movie Sweeney Todd, which is set in the Victorian era

Other activities Wealthier people may have been able to go to a zoo, aquarium, theatre, or even a circus during their visit to the seaside!

What did people eat at the seaside? Picnics were a popular seaside activity

Fish and Chips

Cockles and Whelks Cockles are edible saltwater clams. Whelks are a type of sea snail! These foods could be pickles or fried and eaten on the go--- early Victorian fast food!

Candy Floss

Ice Cream Without proper freezers, ice cream got a bit dirty during Victorian times… Horrible Histories Victorian Ice Cream Ice cream was sometimes called “hockey pokey” and it was usually sold in a small glass called a Penny Lick, for just one penny!

Issues on Holiday With a rush of people heading to the seaside on bank holidays, there were often huge crowds at the resorts! Long queues for food stands or events Lots of pushing and shoving Children could easily get lost Lots of germs! Not a lot of room for sand castles or playing on the beach However, the crowds also meant that there was always someone to socialize or play with!

Souvenirs Porcelain souvenirs such as miniature teapots were popular in seaside resorts during Victorian times. Children liked to collect seashells to bring home with them. They might also bring home some sweets!

Postcards

POSTCARDS WERE FIRST INVENTED IN 1870, BUT DID NOT HAVE PICTURES ON THEM UNTIL AT THIS TIME, THE ADDRESS HAD TO BE THE ONLY MARKING ON ONE SIDE, MEANING THAT ANY MESSAGE HAD TO BE WRITTEN ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE PICTURE. Postcards

BATHING COSTUME BATHING MACHINE PARASOL PENNY LICK PIER PROMENADE PUNCH AND JUDY SOUVENIR Vocabulary

TO CREATE A POSTCARD ABOUT A VICTORIAN HOLIDAY AT THE SEASIDE. Learning Objective:

Template Your writing goes here! Sincerely, [Your name] Dear [name], 7 August, 1871 Address of the person you would send your postcard to. Please don’t use your real address! Postage Stamp Salutation Valediction Make sure your date is during the Victorian era! Your drawing goes on the other side!

Success Criteria I used appropriate vocabulary (from the slideshow) to talk about seaside holidays. I labelled my postcard with a date from the Victorian era (1837 – 1901) I described how a person would have gotten to the seaside I described at least TWO activities someone might take part in on a Victorian seaside holiday. I described at least ONE thing a person might have eaten at the seaside. I made at least ONE complaint about the Victorian seaside holiday. I used strong adjectives, adverbs, and connectives to keep my reader interested. I drew a neat, colourful picture that represents the seaside during Victorian times. I addressed my postcard to an imaginary person. I included a salutation (ex. “Dear”) and a valediction (ex. “Sincerely”) in my postcard. I used proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.