Liverpool 'first seaside resort'

Blackpool may be one of England's most famous seaside resorts - but Liverpool was one of the first, university archivists have said.

Historical film footage, diaries, maps and poems from the past three centuries have been scoured by experts to plot the development of holidays.

They found references to sea bathing in the diaries of city residents dating back to the 1730s.

The University of Liverpool presented the findings at an event in Southport.

Seawater baths

Its centre for archive studies said the event, which happened on Saturday, showed how people have used their leisure time since the 1700s.

Allan Brodie, from English Heritage, made the discovery about early sea bathing in Liverpool.

He said: "I have found descriptions of 'bathing wagons' in diaries of Liverpool people which date back to the 1730s, as well as references to organised visits to Crosby for sea bathing.

"Liverpool was at the forefront of providing seawater baths around this time."

BBC Liverpool

:cha (41):

fairly sure its disappeared now, but there used to be a Bath Street somewhere north of Prince Dock (part of the site of which used to be home to seawater baths) which reflected this. Vandries Street is still there, and was named after a Dutchman who owned an inn in the 18th century that attracted bathers.

If you want a broader perspective of the history of British seaside resorts, there is an excellent book by John Walton called The British Seaside:

The British Seaside: Holidays and ... - Google Book Search

Shorter coverage here:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/u...de_resorts.pdf

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SteH

fairly sure its disappeared now, but there used to be a Bath Street somewhere north of Prince Dock (part of the site of which used to be home to seawater baths) which reflected this. Vandries Street is still there, and was named after a Dutchman who owned an inn in the 18th century that attracted bathers.

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Hiya Ste, Bath street is still there just before toysrus and is the little stretch between Roberts st and Brook st, probably not even 100 yds. I have posted a pic up on here somewhere of the pier heads sal****er baths.

I don't know much about the early 18th Century but certainly by the end of it Sea Bathing was very popular and obviously well-practiced in Liverpool.

William Moss (who was responsible for the very first visitors guide to Liverpool in 1796) amended his third addition in 1799 to be called;

The Liverpool guide; including a sketch of the environs: with a map of the town; and directions for sea bathing. By W. Moss.

I quote:

...at Liverpool, where the fresh water from the river and the impurities of the town, are far enough removed above the town, at the high water, by the six hours strong flowing of the sea flood.

The Sea water baths at Liverpool, are, as before mentioned commodius and handsome. Each of the large baths forms a square 10 yards by 11; and there are smaller ones for private, and warm and temperate bathing. The temperature of the baths is sixty-two degrees in the summer season and fourty in the colder months.

Moss goes further to say that some families in Liverpool have become so accustomed to sea-bathing that a 'rum puncheon or a ship's large water cask' may be filled at 'trifiling expense' and that if kept out of sunlight and in a cool place the water may be fresh for up to two weeks - even if daily used by two or three persons! eugh!

Here's a pic',courtesy of L.R.O. (I think?)

Oops!:o Dont know what happened there,but here they are!(courtesy of L.R.O.)