Weston-Super-Mare's Growth as a Seaside Resort

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Weston-Super-Mare's Growth as a Seaside Resort

From the mid to 1800's onwards, seaside resorts became increasingly

popular as holiday destinations for Royalty and the upper class, then

later on for the middle class and working class.

There are a number of reasons for why Weston managed to succeed in

being a popular seaside resort and why Portishead did not.

In 1864 Birnbeck Pier was built in Weston. The pier, which connected

the mainland to an island (the first of its kind in Britain) opened in

1867. At about the same time in Portishead, the docks were being built

which would be the main entrance point for the majority of visitors to

the town. With the docks, a pier was built for paddle steamers to dock

at and also a railway which joined to Bristol. The local railway link

meant that it took a longer time than expected to reach the

destination than the Great Western Rail link that Weston had which was

built in 1841. This was because the GWR would take a visitor right

into Weston, but a visitor would have to change trains in Bristol to

get to Portishead. This extra train journey resulted in a higher price

of which working class citizens would struggle to pay.

The main attraction of Birnbeck Pier was a revolutionary theme park at

the end of the island. This included an early style roller coaster

called the 'Switchback Railway', a helta skelta and a flying machine

which swung people out over the sea in baskets.

People were also attracted to the ability to be able to walk across

the sea . The 'Ports and Harbours Act' enabled this pier and more

around the country to be built.

Knightstone Island was also an advantage with its popular Spa baths

built by Dr. Edward Fox at a cost of £25 000, the baths of sea water

were advertised to have mild healing powers and to rejuvenate.

[IMAGE]

A photo of the Royal Crescent near the Weston Super Mare Seafront

Portishead was let down by the lack of private investors in it, most

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