Do you have happy
memories of a trip to the seaside at Weston-super-Mare? Did you
arrive by paddle steamer from Wales, or look forward to that
essential ride on a donkey? Then this presentation, filmed during
the best summer in living memory, is for you.
Weston’s story
begins with the earliest settlers who built Worlebury Hillfort two
thousand years ago. Find out about the 18th century plant hunters,
geologists and antiquarians who discovered rare specimens on the
undisturbed beaches.
The first
tourists came in Georgian times, ‘roughing it’ in local cottages
while gradually the features of a resort were built – piers, hotels,
shops and theatres. By 1900 Weston was a thriving resort welcoming
thousands of holidaymakers throughout the summer months. Discover
local characters and stories of the people who built the town,
including extended features on Birnbeck Pier and the Grand Pier,
illustrated by remarkable photographs and memorabilia.
Previously
unreleased archive film from 1935 shows the naming of a new motor
lifeboat by the Duke of Kent and there is also a fascinating glimpse
of holidaymakers at leisure in the inter-war period.
Weston suffered
badly during the Second World War. Hear about the blitzes, the
stories of evacuees and GIs. What were the secret weapons being
developed on Birnbeck Pier?
An excerpt of
colour archive film shows Weston in all its glory during the 1950s
and 1960s, as the great British seaside holiday enjoyed a revival.
Researched and
presented by local historian and author Sharon Poole, this is a real
treat for anyone with an interest in Weston-super-Mare.
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