Yarmouth beach over the centuries

Early sea bathing in Yarmouth

By Martin Keable

The beach along Marine Parade remained the mecca for all holidaymakers. This tinted photograph, taken at some time between the two world wars, shows the beach packed to the water's edge with trippers enjoying sun, sand and relaxation.  Their forefathers had started the trend some two centuries before. The publication of a pamphlet by a Dr. Russell in 1750, stating that sea water was a cure for practically every ailment, started to make seaside areas fashionable with the aristocracy. It seems that the more water you had, the better it was for you! King George III started 'taking the waters' and what was a pursuit turned into a craze with more and more demands for facilities to be added to the seaside towns.

By the 1820's Yarmouth had acquired all the trappings of a Georgian resort. The town had its own bath house, with hot and cold baths plus views of the ocean over the glorious promenade, the Jetty. The town boasted its own Assembly Rooms, a Library and all the tea houses and places of entertainment which you could wish for.