Celebrating Some of Britain’s Seaside Architecture

Celebrating Some of Britain’s Seaside Architecture

Britain’s coastline covers more than 5,000 miles and is populated by an array of seaside resorts including Blackpool, Brighton, Bournemouth and Scarborough which are amongst the most popular destinations attracting millions of visitors each year.

Many of our seaside towns have been major tourist centres for generations of families drawn to the beaches and entertainment on offer. As well as the natural beauty of many seaside locations, they are also often characterised by some quite stunning buildings so it’s apt that a snapshot of these architectural gems are being celebrated in the form of the latest set of collectible stamps available here at the Post Office Shop.

Eastbourne Bandstand

Dubbed the ‘busiest bandstand in the UK’, Eastbourne Bandstand with a blue domed roof has been an iconic landmark in East Sussex since it was first built in 1935 to the designs of Leslie Rosevere who was the Borough Council Engineer of the time.

Built in a Neo-Grec style, this semi-circular building features a commemorative plaque in tribute to John Wesley Woodward. John was an Eastbourne band member who passed away on the Titanic when it sank on 15^th April 1912.

As well as regularly playing host to military bands, the 1,600 capacity Eastbourne Bandstand is the venue for a full programme of musical entertainment throughout the year.

Having featured in a number of television programmes and films such as Little Britain, Foyle’s War and BBC Antiques Roadshow, Eastbourne bandstand is a listed building and continues to be a focal point at the East Sussex seaside town.

Tinside Lido

Also built in 1935, Tinside Lido is set in idyliic surroundings and has been voted as one of the top 10 best outdoor pools in Europe.

Located in close proximity to the Hoe and Smeaton’s Tower in the south-west naval city of Plymouth, Tinside Lido is an art deco building designed by John Wibberley which features a semicircle diameter pool of 55 metres.

During the second world war, Tinside Lido was used as a communal bath house when Plymouth’s water supplies were compromised. Throughout the 1950’s and early 1960’s Tinside Lido was extremely popular with sun seekers before its inevitable decline which coincided with holidays to the Mediterranean becoming increasingly popular.

Closed in 1992, Tinside Lido was derelict for more than a decade before undergoing a £3.5m facelift in 2003 to return it to its former glory whilst ensuring many of the original design features were reproduced.

This grade II listed building provides a stunning setting to enjoy outdoor saltwater swimming during the summer months and also features a large central fountain and two smaller side fountains.

Bangor Pier

First opened in 1896 after a Parliamentary Bill in 1893, Bangor Garth Pier was designed by J.J. Webster of London and is renowned as one of Britain’s best pier designs of its era.

This grade II listed building, which cost £17,000 to build, was damaged in 1914 when a cargo steamer collided with the pier before being restored by the Royal Engineers.

Bangor Pier, which is 472m in length, features a series of Victorian octagonal kiosks as illustrated in the seaside architecture special stamps. It was almost demolished in 1974 after falling into disrepair before being eventually saved by local residents.

Recognised as one of the finest piers still operational today, Bangor Pier is the second longest in Wales after Llandudno Pier and the ninth longest in the UK.

Reaching out into the Menai Strait, Bangor Pier is one of the iconic landmarks of the North Wales city and features a tea room housed in another polygonal structure.

Southwold Lighthouse

First lit on 19^th February 1889, Southwold Lighthouse has been a coastal mark for vessels entering Southworld Harbour for over a century.

Construction of this iconic round white tower began in 1887 under the guidance of engineer Sir James Douglas. Earmarked as a replacement for three existing lighthouses of the time which were suffering from erosion, Southwold Lighthouse is 31 metres tall and is located amongst rows of houses near the centre of the Suffolk seaside resort.

Featuring 113 steps around a spiral staircase and a Trinity House coat of arms, Southwold Lighthouse has a range of 24 nautical miles to guide vessels and has a white rotating navigation lamp flashing once every 10 seconds.

Southwold Lighthouse has featured in BBC Children’s television series ‘Grandpa in My Pocket’ and regular guided visits of this popular Grade II listed building confirm the enduring popularity of this iconic example of British seaside architecture.

The Casino, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Dominated by a thin spiral tower, the casino building at Blackpool Pleasure Beach was built between 1937 and 1940 to the designs of Joseph Emberton who was seen as a pioneer of design in a Modern Movement style.

Featuring a series of curved rooms, this three storey building built in an International Modern style attained Grade II listing in 2001.

Located at the southern end of Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach, the casino building underwent extensive alterations during the 1970’s and its name even temporarily changed to become known as the ‘Wonderful World Building’.

In recent years this iconic example of art deco seaside architecture has reverted back to its original name and it is now a thriving concern hosting regular events.

Capturing the essence of one of Britain’s most enduring seaside locations, the Casino at Blackpool Pleasure Beech is made from reinforced concrete and features the award-winning White Tower restaurant offering panoramic views of Blackpool Promenade.

Bexhill-On-Sea Shelter

Built with the aim of protecting seafront visitors from the elements, one of the Next Wave wooden structures that can be found at the coastal town of Bexhill-On-Sea completes the seaside architecture presentation pack.

The East Sussex resort is home to four of these distinct seafront structures which were designed by young architects Michael Tite and Tom Ebdon who won a competition to create them. The Bexhill-On-Sea Shelters have been a key element of the local Council’s Next Wave Seafront Improvement Project as part of a wider cultural regeneration program.

Designed with a view to keeping visitors sheltered from adverse weather conditions, the Next Wave shelters feature a ‘Y’ shaped seating plan to ensure maximum windbreak protection.