Paignton, Bathing Beach 1896
Photo ref: 38545
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Photo ref: 38545
Photo of Paignton, Bathing Beach 1896

More about this scene

Bathing machines were designed to be pushed into the sea, allowing bathers to change and enter the water with maximum decorum. It is curious to think that a generation earlier, nude bathing, at least by the gentlemen, was completely accepted. The Yorkshire resort of Scarborough claims to have invented these machines.

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Britain's Coasts

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Memories of Paignton, Bathing Beach 1896

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. These memories are of Paignton, Bathing Beach 1896

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The caption in the Francis Frith book 'Paignton', by Peggy Parnell (p.46), reads: 'With his powerful business aptitude, Mr Dendy quickly installed the most important tourist commodity, bathing machines; those for the ladies were installed on Paignton beach, those for the gentlemen on Preston beach.' I found it interesting to read of the enactment of these strict, now ...see more