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Aberystwyth became a popular resort for the well-to-do, who came here to bathe and socialise from the late 18th century.

Church Town in the parish of North Meols had long had a tradition of sea-bathing, associated with a couple of local festivals known as Big and Little Bathing Sundays, when the natives took to the waters

This view shows the Georgian façade of the New Bath Hotel, originally known as Mr Tyack's New Bath Hotel.

Named after the Steyne in Brighton, this delightful and relatively unchanged long narrow square was laid out in the 1820s and is lined by modest seaside houses, many with verandahs and balconies which

These baths are around the corner from where Throwley Road once turned to the north (it is now Throwley Way and acts as an inner relief road or High Street by-pass).

The smaller bathing machines seen here are bearing advertising posters for Pears Soap, one of the most popular and widely advertised Victorian retail products.

The Roman town of Aquae Sulis, now Bath, grew up at the point where the Fosse Way crossed the River Avon with hot spring-fed baths as its focus, where citizens of the Empire flocked for rheumatic cures

Lines of hotels along the sea front testify to Sandown's continued popularity through the 20th century.

This view was taken shortly after the Royal Baths opened. They were said to be unequalled in decoration and roominess, and for 5/6d you could get a mud bath with electricity.

A view looking north west, past the tower and along the east wall of the harbour, to Ireland's Eye.

In the centre of the picture are a number of coal and stores hulks, and also what appears to be the turret-ship HMS 'Conqueror', built at Chatham and carrying a main armament of 2 x 45-ton guns

Lines of hotels along the sea front testify to Sandown's continued popularity through the 20th century.

It was the early use of bathing machines that made Weymouth such a popular resort for sea bathing. The larger machines shown here ran down to the water on rails, and had a number of cubicles.

Bathing has not always been the family pastime it is today. 'Tommy's Pit', built at the end of the breakwater, was strictly men only, while women used Crooklets beach, then named Maer Beach.

Were bathing machines (right) being used as late as 1929?

This view was taken shortly after the Royal Baths opened. They were said to be unequalled in decoration and roominess, and for 5/6d you could get a mud bath with electricity.

Below Newgate Gap Bridge, on the right hand side, was Charlotte Pettman's original sea water baths, and she claimed that her bathing machines were far superior to any others.

Safe bathing brought thousands of early visitors to Shanklin, as we can see from the profusion of bathing huts and tents. Many of the boats in the foreground would have been for hire.

Weymouth became popular as a seaside resort thanks to the patronage of George III, who came to bathe here for the good of his health.

With his powerful business aptitude, Mr Dendy quickly installed the most important tourist commodity, bathing machines; those for the ladies were on Paignton beach, and those for the gentlemen on Preston

The coastline bulging out around the Wish Tower affords a vantage point for views north-east along the beach; this view shows the horse-drawn bathing machines on their large wheels plying their trade

The Fosse Way runs down from the right of this picture to meet the Avon and follow it to Bath, three miles away.

The early use of bathing machines made Weymouth a popular resort for sea bathing.

A good bathing day beneath Appley Cliffs, which give shelter to Shanklin's southern beaches. A very steep climb leads up the cliffs above the line of bathing tents.