The English seaside

Blackpool, Lancashire, 1895: As the tide receded, the beach became a playground for masses of visitors and a trading area for scores of stall holders. The beach has always been the focal point of the English seaside resort, and has continued to be a venue for a multitude of activities Photograph: English Heritage

Tower buildings, Promenade, Blackpool: The ultimate symbol of Blackpool and the British seaside, this dramatic copy of the Eiffel Tower (1889) still dominates the seafront. Although the tower is the most obvious feature of the complex, the building at its base should not be overlooked. It contained a variety of entertainment venues, including the famous circus and ballroom Photograph: English Heritage

Promenade, Blackpool: This 19th-century house is a rare survival amid the entertainment complexes that dominate the central part of Blackpool’s seafront. Although the ground floor is now occupied by a shop and a take-away, there is no significant use of the upper floors Photograph: English Heritage

Coral Island, Promenade, Blackpool: On the seafront modern buildings include a strong strand of kitsch and fantasy. The excitement of pirates with the obvious symbolism of hidden treasure is meant to entice visitors into this amusement arcade Photograph: English Heritage

Margate, Kent, c.1812: Sea bathing was at the heart of the Georgian seaside holiday. This engraving shows the recently rebuilt bathing rooms, including Philpot’s Warm Sea Water Baths. Here people waited until a bathing machine was available to take them out to sea. Their low profile enabled the buildings on the eastern side of the High Street to retain their sea views Photograph: English Heritage

Royal sea bathing hospital, Margate, Kent: Seaside holidays were initially restricted to the wealthy few who could afford to travel and stay at resorts, but in the late 18th century a hospital was founded at Margate to treat sick children from London Photograph: English Heritage

Weymouth, Dorset: George III’s statue was commissioned to commemorate the 50th year of his reign and to celebrate his visits to the resort. In 1788 the monarch was struck down with porphyria and was advised to head to the seaside. He arrived in Weymouth in 1789, the first of fourteen visits he made up to 1805. The statue was unveiled in 1810 Photograph: English Heritage

This caption was amended on September 13, September 17 and finally September 26 2007 to clarify that the photograph does indeed show the windmill at Lytham, Lancashire and not Blackpool as we said. Lytham windmill, built in 1805: Seaside resorts were also working towns, with a variety of buildings and structures to support seaborne industries. Photograph: English Heritage

Martello Towers, Folkestone, Kent: The coastline was the frontline in many wars. Martello towers were built on the east and south coasts to repel invasion by Napoleon. They were around 30ft high (9.1m) with tapering walls designed to deflect cannon shot. This example was reused in World War II as an observation point Photograph: English Heritage

San Remo towers, Boscombe, Dorset, 1935-8: In the early 20th century new blocks of flats were built at many seaside resorts. This high-class development was created as a self-contained community with hotel-standard facilities. There were resident staff, a residents’ club containing a library, a reading room, billiard rooms and games rooms for children Photograph: English Heritage

De la Warr pavilion, Bexhill-on-sea, East Sussex: The building is the supreme example of modernist architecture at the seaside. It contained a multi-purpose auditorium, restaurant, conference hall, library and reading room, with sun terraces and balconies to the south side. Photograph: English Heritage

Jubilee Pool, Battery Road, Penzance: The national penchant for outdoor swimming pools between the world wars was expressed most confidently at seaside resorts. The Jubilee Pool’s striking triangular form distinguishes it from other lido designs. Its architectural and historical significance was recognised in 1993 when it was listed Grade II Photograph: English Heritage

Grand Hotel, Scarborough: Scarborough’s Grand Hotel, which contained 300 bedrooms, dominates the heart of the resort. When it was built it was reputed to be the largest hotel in Europe. Cold water could be drawn directly from the sea for customers’ baths Photograph: English Heritage

Brighstone Camp, Isle of Wight: Between the wars a number of the commercial chains of holiday camps were created. This was also a period when single, family-run holiday camps were established. This camp has retained some of its early chalets, but parts of the site are under threat from the erosion of the cliffs on which it is located Photograph: English Heritage

Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire: This view illustrates how prevalent the caravan has become on some stretches of the English coastline Photograph: English Heritage