Look at the larger photograph. Can you see evidence that fishing was an activity carried out from this beach? Notice the fishing nets hung up to dry towards the back of the beach and several boats pulled up out of the sea. These boats were probably for fishing and the man was probably a fisherman.

Notice the three strange "sheds on wheels". These were called bathing machines. When people wanted to swim, they hired a bathing machine. They changed inside and the machine was slowly allowed to run into the water until it was deep enough for the people inside to get out and swim. Can you see how the bathing machines were let down into the sea and pulled out again? Men and women bathed separately. There were separate beaches and of course separate bathing machines. People did not want to be seen undressed for swimming. Bathing machines helped them have a dip in the sea without being seen.

Notice the large building on the left of the photograph. This was known as Thomas's Hut where people could buy cups of tea. It was also where people paid to hire bathing machines. What other things do you think you might have been able to get from this hut?

 

The second photo shows a different view of the same beach. You can see the fishing nets more clearly and also look right through the open door of one bathing machine to the sea beyond.