Oh I do like to be beside the sea-side...

Anne here. For those of you who are currently suffering the effects of blizzards, ice-storms, tropical cyclones, floods and other trials, today's blog is offered as a small fantasy, a reminder of good times in the past and more pleasant times to come. But since we are a historical blog, I'll concentrate particularly on the past...so close your eyes a moment and think of warmth, gentle, balmy sea breezes, and the tang of salt air.

For most of the history of Britain, spending time at the beach was far from a fashionable activity. The beach was the haunt of poor people -- fishermen, and those even poorer who gathered cockles and mussels (alive alive-o) winkles and other shellfish. Even oysters were not regarded as the rare and expensive delicacy they would later become -- helped, I suspect by their supposed aphrodisiac properties. Oysters, having no strong, fishy taste were often used as fillers for pies, to extend the more expensive meat.  

The poor in some parts even gathered and ate sea-weed. My Irish grandmother told me that, and I can recall her selecting seaweed, rinsing it and eating it with apparent pleasure. She tried to get her grandchildren to eat it, but we refused. (Ironic now to think I eat seaweed almost daily these days. Nan would be proud. Actually no she wouldn't — she'd probably be highly indignant that I eat Japanese style seaweed after having refused the good Irish version.) 

Bathing in the sea was extremely uncommon. Many people assume sailors and fishermen and seamen would have been excellent swimmers, but in fact mariners of all kinds were deeply superstitious about learning to swim. It was held to be bad luck, showing a defiance, a lack of respect to the element that ruled them.

It wasn't until the late 18th century that sea bathing began to be fashionable, and it started as a health measure. The Romans had introduced regular bathing to Europe, and that practice had continued for many centuries after the decline of their empire, but during the Renaissance bathing came to be regarded as unhealthy -- even dangerous, as they believed water was the conduit by which diseases entered the body. They were partly right, of course; bad water was responsible for many an epidemic, but they believed the diseases entered the body through the skin. Enter the long period where gentlemen were sewn into their clothing and drowned the stench in perfumes.

But in the eighteenth century, doctors started using sea water as a treatment for disease. In the 1730s, Dr Richard Russell of Lewes began to experiment with sea water in the treatment of his patients and later wrote a tract advocating the drinking of seawater and sea bathing in 1750. In 1753, Dr. Charles Russel published a book called The Uses of Sea Water in which he recommended the use of sea water to treat a number of common and less common diseases.  William Buchan's book,  Domestic Medicine, published in 1769, which also  advocated sea bathing and the drinking of sea water, became a best seller, staying in print for more than seventy years, and translated into a number of different languages. As more doctors took up the use of sea water as an aid to health, Marine hospitals sprang up in coastal areas, and the rich, who could afford to be pampered, took to the sea.

Soon it wasn't just sea water that was good for you -- sea air was held to be full of ozone, a marvelous tonic, quite different from the noxious vapors contained by normal everyday air. (Again, if we're talking polluted cities, they were right.)

At first the health practices involved dipping people in brisk winter waters — and the effect was bracing, I'm sure. Strangely some people  preferred to make their visits in the summer. The wealthy and fashionable started coming to the beach, and soon the trickle (yes, I can't resist a pun, sorry) became  a flood. 

Initially people simply had themselves dipped in the sea, usually by some muscular stoic who fished you out if you started sinking.

But some hardy souls soon came to enjoy it and ventured further, learning to swim. These were almost exclusively men, and they usually swam naked. And thus Rules Had To Be Made. In some places sea bathing was restricted to certain hours, in others ladies were banned from the beach during certain hours. It was their modesty that had to be protected, after all, not that of the men, flashing their all. 

The bathing 'machine' was invented -- a sort of room-on-wheels that was harnessed to a horse and driven into the sea. The occupant(s) were then dipped by a dipper (person) in the water in relative privacy, then, when they were finished, the bathing machine was pulled onto dry land by the horse. This is Queen Victoria's bathing machine.

Sea bathing became so fashionable even Royalty joined in. When George III bathed from a machine in Weymouth, a band of musicians hidden in a nearby machine played "God save great George our King." This picture is of Queen Victoria's bathing machine.

The town of Brighton became madly fashionable and much of the architecture of Brighton dates from this time, with its Georgian terraces and Regency architecture and not forgetting the extraordinary Royal Pavilion. Large hotels came to be built to house those who couldn't afford to take a house for the summer, or who only wished for a short, though luxurious, visit.

Such was the popularity of sea bathing that private bathing was no longer possible, and thus the swimming costume came into being. 

Mostly people just splashed around, staying afloat as best they could, but gradually swimming became a discipline and "swimming strokes" were invented, named and practiced. (No Regency gent ever swam with a powerful crawl, by the way, as I've read in several novels. That particular stroke was developed in response to the strong surf of the Sydney beaches.) 

Beach business boomed in the Victorian era, and railways were built to take the masses to the beach, thus removing the exclusivity and leading to the development of private swimming pools. But that's a tale for another day.

In the heyday of Victorian England, you could find everything you wanted at the seaside — theatres, entertainment venues of all kinds, bands playing, dancing — all the fun of the fair, and water, too. People came in search of "dolche far niente" — a popular phrase at the time, literally meaning 'sweet doing nothing', or pleasant idleness. Sun, sea and leisure to enjoy it -- what a concept. 

I'm sitting in a small seaside town in Tasmania at the moment, hoping I can load this post from the hotel lobby (internet is down in the rooms.) If I don't manage to load any pictures, bear with me -- I'll get them up as soon as the connection is back. And despite the internet problems, it's gorgeous here, and I'll blog about it on my personal blog when I get home.  

Like the fashionable people of the Regency and Victorian eras, most of us still love visiting the sea-side, and long cold winters are made more bearable by the prospect of summer and the beach. (The photo below, posted for your viewing pleasure, is an iconic image in Australia, taken by Max Dupain in the 1930's at Bondi)

So what about you -- do you love the beach? Hate it? Are you a good swimmer, or are you part cat and dislike water. Are you a beachcomber, or a collector of shells?  Share a favorite beach memory, or tell us your favorite summertime activity. 

 

 

Comments

[Carol Luciano]

I've never heard of the bathing machine before your post. I have seen a couple of pictures but actually thought they were for changing into their bathing costumes. :)
I love the water or did until I saw Jaws and then I was always aware of my feet being a target. lol Pool water is my like now. It can be so tranquil and for me easing. As a child we spent every summer at the beach. I really liked your pictures. Thanks for sharing
Carol L
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[Anna C. Bowling]

My prime beach times would be winter, night or rain. I'm fair-skinned and prone to heat sickness, so no beachy days for me. Of course I had to marry an LA native.

I do like the beach, though I have to take my beach time without that whole sun and heat aspect. There's something soothing and intriguing about looking out at the ocean and the advance and retreat of the tides, plus all the neat things one can find beachcombing. An out of season beach also has fabulous atmosphere for writerly types and it's easy to imagine being there in some previous era.

[LouisaCornell]

Lovely post, Anne ! And I envy you your visit to the Tasmanian seaside! Sounds lovely.

I enjoy the beach in spite of the fact I do not swim. My first memory of the beach is actually a trip to Claxton on Sea when I was nine. The little chapel we attended in Kelsale took a day trip to Claxton and my brothers and I thoroughly enjoyed it. They even went in swimming while I waded along the shore. We have some lovely photos from the visit and my brothers and I share a laugh when we get together and see ourselves on that rocky beach.

Back in the States my favorite beach is probably the one in Biloxi, Mississippi. I attended grad school in Hattiesburg and a trip to the beach was only an hour or so away. I haven't been back since Katrina, but the beach there was lovely and had the most amazing sunsets. I spent many an hour sitting on the beach reading romance novels. I do have a collection of seashells from my travels and from the travels of others.

[anne]

Thanks, Carol -- I have posted a few more pics since I have the web connection back. I find the whole medical/seaside aspect of the eighteen century fascinating.
And I'm sure a good part of the "cures" was simply being clean, having some bracing exercise, fresh air and fun. And salt water kills many germs, and in a days before they learned about germs, it must have seemed like an almost miraculous cure, and right there, free and available to all. Or most.

As for sharks, yes, Jaws has a lot to answer for. We have shark warning sirens on most popular beaches on Australia, and I remember one time I was swimming in New Zealand and I hear the siren and I shot out of the water, and was so anxious because the NZealanders were ignoring it. Turns out, I'd evacuated to the sound of the 4pm wool factory siren. LOL

[anne]

Louisa, I love a rocky beach, myself, and love exploring rock pools and interesting crevasses. Like you and Anna (see her comment above yours) I'm a natural born beach comber, too. I have mainly rocks, rather than shells, though. And driftwood.

The first time I went to Brighton in England, so famous for its beach that there are coastal towns and suburbs all over the English-speaking world named after it, I was shocked to find the beach was entirely made of rocks -- smooth, round, large pebbles. I'd just assumed it would be sandy. To me, that's what a beach is.

I suppose it highlights the early "medicinal/health" aspect of its development -- it was the water that was important, and the sea breezes, not playing or snoozing on the sand. Or, as you say, reading romance novels. :)

[anne]

Anna, for some reason my response to your post didn't turn up, so I hope I'm not repeating myself here, rewriting it.

I love the beach in winter, too, mainly because there are not so many people around and I can have it largely to myself. I'm a born beachcomber too and I always bring something home from any beach I've ever visited. Mostly it's a smooth or interesting pebble (or three) and sometimes some silvery twisted driftwood, and occasionally a piece of coral or some shells.

I remember when I came back from a long trip, backpacking solo around the world, the customs guy went to lift my backpack up and groaned at the weight of it. "What's in here" he joked, "Rocks?" Yes, sez me, and books. LOL

I so agree with you about winter beaches and writerly types - in fact I'm fantasizing now about renting a cottage by the beach next winter. Stay tuned...

[theo]

My favorite beach is on the west side of the tip of the thumb in Michigan. Lake Huron. We have fabulous beaches here and when the wind is strong enough, you can body surf on the waves. Not your typical lakes. But we go every year for a few days at least though I don't go in the water past my ankles. I almost drowned when I was young and no longer even get my face wet in the shower. But the sun, the fresh air, the soothing sound of the waves coming into shore is the most relaxing place to be.

My gran was a great proponent of Epsom Salts and I still use it occasionally. Between that and the antibiotic ability of honey, I think our ancestors weren't as 'backward' as so many like to think.

(ps-I ate an oyster once. It's like swallowing snot. Never again!)

[Sue]

I loved the sea so much, I moved to Devon as soon as I graduated. There is something about the majesty of the sea that is inspiring. I loved it most in the three seasons when the "grockles" (tourists) left. There's something about a beach to ones self that stirs the soul. I swam in the sea in the middle of winter when the water was warmer than the land. (the gulf stream effect) I am now landlocked in the middle of a vast continent and my husband jokes about my sea fix! I have to get to the sea once a year. I cannot get used to the term "beach" applied to an inland river or lake, to me it has has to have crashing waves and salty air.
It makes me laugh to see so many historical novels having their characters strip off and swim at the slightest hint of water - I always think you must not have lived in England!

[Kathryn Smith]

Have you read the Jane Austen novel "Sanderlin?"
When I read this book I was surprised to discover it was about a sea resort.
Love reading novels about the seashore, especially the Regency and Victorian romances with a seashore as a setting. It conjures up images of my children summers spent at Cape May, NJ. Back then, Most of the Victorian hotels were painted white with dark green rooves. I called them "White Palaces by the sea." They call me back in dreams, bright sun, sound of ocean's waves. Never forget the smell of the salt air, sand & flakes of tar that washed up on the beach after the tar broke away from the bottom of the passing ships.
Some day I will afford to go back and fill the SUV with finished paintings of Cape May.

[liz m]

I don't do well away from the sea. I've lived (and live) on the beach in Florida, was once a resident by the sea in California, summered on Michigan's lakes, and went quietly mad during a stint in the midwest, so we relocated to the CT coast promptly. Large bodies of water are apparently required. It was interesting to find a large % of my ancestors come from places such as Cornwall or owned shipping concerns. Must be in the blood!

[Helen]

Anne
What a great post and I loved the pictures I do hope you are enjoying cooler weather in Tamania than we are having here in Sydney at the moment a real beach day here with the temp getting to around 42c today and it is 8-00pm here and it is still around 38c too hot for me unless of course I am by the beach somewhere with a sea breeze.
When we were kids my Mum used to take us to the beach all the time we collected shells took long walks and swam for ages but as I have got older unless there is lots of shade for me I am not a beach person anymore I still love the beaches in the cooler weather just walking along checking out the seaweed and picking up shells love it

Have Fun
Helen

[Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe]

Love the illustrations! I grew up going to the beach nearly every weekend.My dad would find the perfect spot in the sand dunes away from the crowd so he could lie under an umbrella while my mother turned mahogany in the sun. When I was in college, I dated a lifeguard, and the dune parties became just a little different.;)

My best beach memory is a winter one, when we got stuck on Nantucket because the ferry wouldn't run in the storm. Standing on the beach in a near-blizzard was wild and kind of wonderful.

[anne]

Kathryn, I think I read Sanditon many years ago, but I confess, i don't remember it much. But I do believe Jane Austen was very much interested in sea "cures" and the like. It was very fashionable and no doubt offered many fascinating people watching opportunities.

I love those old Victorian era hotels, too, and I love your name for them. I really hope you get to go and take your trip of the heart.

[anne]

Liz, you probably do have a bit of salt water in your blood. Glad you were able to return to the seaside to live again. I know that when I go to the coast I feel refreshed and renewed.

Helen, ouch! Anything over 38 C (100 F) is way too hot, I agree, and with humidity, ugh!
I spent my youth at the beach day in day out, but like you, now I don't like to get too much sun. Early morning, dusk, and winter are my favourite times on the beach. When I was a kid we spent a lot of time at the beach and a morning scramble through the rock pools was the absolute best thing. Thanks for coming by.

[anne]

Maggie, love your "dune tales." Yes, the beach saw many of our rites of passage, ;)
I don't know many of the US coasts, but I've always wanted to visit the Carolina Outer Banks -- one of my favorite historicals, by Bronwyn Williams was set there, and I loved the setting so much.

I can't imagine the beach in a blizzard, but I would LOVE to experience it. I love swimming in the rain.

[anne]

Theo, I love the sound opf your lake beach. I remember doing a double take when a friend who grew up on the inland of australia said they spent their youth at the beach. It was a 4 hour drive from the coast, so I was confused. She meant a river "beach" really just a curve in the river with a sliver of soft sand. but the beach is where you find it, I guess.
I agree with you about our ancestors not being as backward in many ways. I think many of the old folk medicine existed because it worked. OTOH, some was just plain weird -- I have a "cure for blindness" in an old recipe book that involves taking the white of hen droppings, dried and pounded to a powder and blown into the affected eye. Treatments like that, and some of the theories behind some of the medicine are often quite bizarre.

[anne]

Sue, the feeling of being alone on a wild beach is fantastic, I agree. I've been very lucky this trip as several times I've been the only person on the beach. It's such a luxury.

As for characters stripping off and swimming, maybe they're like my father, who swam in the sea every day, winter and summer. Completely mad! I remember he even swam in Scotland, though not, I think every day.

I did have characters swimming in Perfect Stranger and Perfect Kiss, but in both cases it was summer.

[librarypat]

I enjoy the beach for a stroll, but I love the mountains. I can swim, but my husband is a much better swimmer. I collect shells and love looking at the ocean and the shoreline. I have shells and other things I have collected on our trips to the shore. I love going to the tide pools to see what has washed in and/or lives there. I like the rocky coasts which often don't have beaches or if they do, they tend to be pebbles rather than sand.
Thanks for a wonderful post on the history of bathing.

[Ranurgis]

I've never been much of a beach lover. Like librarypat, I prefer the mountains though I really didn't have much of those growing up on the prairies. I've never been athletically inclined. I'm able to sort of swim, but I can't get the breathing right. I once told a swim teacher that and she laughed and told me that everybody can breathe. So I restrict myself to backstroke and a sort of breaststroke, but they don't take me far. In my late teens I also discovered that I don't like being too hot, that heat seems to sap me of all energy. Yeah, I know I'm not very adventurous though I did climb a small mountain all on my own. I like my comfort above all. Maybe my trouble breathing stems from the time when I was in Grade 3 and the doctor ordered strict bed rest and an interdiction of going to school for almost 6 months, because I had an "inflammation of the lungs." I never did find out what that was.

[Nicola Cornick]

Wonderful post, thank you, Anne. I find the history of sea bathing and the "cure" fascinating. My favourite beach is the white sand of Barra in the Hebrides. I have a photo taken there and it looks as though I am somewhere hot and exotic when in fact I am shivering with the cold! Worth it, though!