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Before the promenade defences were completed in 1905, Blackpool's sea-front hotels were literally that, with only a narrow road separating them from the waves that crashed onto the beach.

From the beach, the pier's extravagant pavilions suggest something mysterious and exotic, a world away from the industry of the nearby towns.

A leisured stroll on the cliff-top path leads to Cromer - otherwise rest awhile on the benches and admire the scenery and beach activities.

Some of the boys on the beach were probably from Mostyn House School in the town; the yacht in the foreground is a typical 12ft vessel favoured by the school.

Here, looking towards Ingoldmells Point, are the sandy beach and the sand dunes, a view now radically changed by the more recent sea defences with a massive concave-fronted sea wall forming a promenade

Until the 1990s, this was one of the few places where the lifeboat was kept on the open beach. Further along Crag Path is the former red and white brick watchtower (centre).

On the right is that ubiquitous feature of west country beaches, the lime kiln.

It is a major ecological problem, and one that can only be solved by literally dumping thousands of tons of rock on to the beach.

The beach is a clutter of boats and fishing paraphernalia. On the right is the lifeboat house and in the centre a sizeable boat shed, the home of the 'Marianna'. Crabbing is a local industry.

The full length of Grand Parade can be seen, as well as the central beach.

A change in sea level and erosion have combined to produce a fascinating effect off this beach, as documented by Giraldus Cambrensis: 'We then passed over Niwegal sands, at which place (during the winter

At this time, close to the end of the Victorian era, staying fully clothed on the beach was very much the norm, with sand castles and donkey rides the prime amusements for the children; the adults relax

Here we see National Trust shingle and cliffs at the end of Beach Road, with the buildings (top right) comprising the Burton Cliff Hotel.

The scene is Central Beach. J Wolfe and R Penswick were the bathing machine proprietors. These lumbering boxes on wheels were obligatory for swimmers.

The age-old tradition of pony rides on the sand is captured in this photograph of South Lancing beach. The nearby road has houses either side, which limits public access in places.

Nearly a century after its foundation, the town was already dominating the skyline, and its beaches were among the most crowded on the south coast.

These days, the timber-framed Tudor Moot Hall (moot is Old English for meeting) stands next to the beach. When it was built, it was right in the centre of town.

Apart from the areas around the mouth of the Bourne Stream, much of Bournemouth was built to the rear of the long line of cliffs, necessitating many stairways down to the beach for energetic visitors

When this picture was taken, fishermen would have to wait for high tide before launching their boats from the beach.

Beach furniture includes the winding gear that helped to pull boats onto the shingle (centre).

The small hamlet of slate-roofed farm houses and cottages lies at the end of a lane near Black Head, sheltered in the valley which climbs up from Hallane Beach.

The promenade and beach are thronged with visitors. The ungainly motor vehicle in the centre is still an unusual enough feature for it to be attracting the attention of bystanders.

Judging by the crowd gathering on the beach, it looks as though a seaside concert party will shortly be giving a performance.

The steep descent to the end of a lane gives a certain isolation to Polkerris, and this early view shows perfectly how the little village clings to the valley bottom behind a beach and stone pier.