Weston-super-Mare: The town and its seaside heritage

From a small village to a popular seaside resort, this gallery of images from the Historic England Archive celebrates Weston's distinct architecture and seaside heritage.

Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2016-08-16) by Damian Grady, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Weston-super-Mare: The town and its seaside heritage

Located on the Severn Estuary, Weston-super-Mare has the second highest tidal range in the world. In the mid 17th century there were around thirty-five families living here, fishing, farming and collecting seaweed for fertiliser. By the end of the century a few visitors came to study the area's natural features. Towards the end of the 18th century, the area attracted some health-seekers including sea bathers. A fledgling resort began to develop and by 1831, the population had grown to 1,310 - a considerable increase on the 125 people living here just twenty years earlier. Transport links by road and sea encouraged visitors from Bath, Bristol and South Wales, and the arrival of the railway in 1841 brought mass tourism to the resort. By the end of the century, Weston's population was nearly 20,000. New infrastructure was put in place for residents and visitors, and this continued apace until the Second World War. Like many seaside resorts, Weston's popularity declined in the second half of the 20th century. The resort's economy naturally affected its infrastructure but new projects to protect the seafront from tidal flooding and strategies for regeneration are helping to once again make Weston-super-Mare an attractive place to live, work and visit.

The Old Thatched Cottage Restaurant, Knightstone Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-03-13) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

The fledgling resort

In 1773 the poet, philanthropist and social reformer Hannah More went to the village of Uphill near Weston-super-Mare to convalesce. Her friend, Reverend William Leeves, who was rector at Wrington, a village some 16 km to the north east, was so taken with the area that he built a cottage overlooking the sea in about 1791. The cottage still survives as The Old Thatched Cottage Restaurant, and is considered to be Weston's oldest surviving building.

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Read the List entry for the Old Thatched Cottage Restaurant

The Royal Hotel, South Parade, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-03-13) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

The Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel was Weston's first hotel. It was built on the seafront between 1807 or 1808 and 1810.

Originally known as simply The Hotel, it was leased to Bristol hotelier James Needham, but a lack of custom saw it close in 1811. It didn't reopen until 1814.

By the middle of the 19th century, demand was such that the hotel was extended. The first three bays shown at the right-hand side of this photograph are the extent of the original building.

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Read the List entry for the Royal Hotel

Former Fox's Baths, Knightstone Island, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-05-15) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Fox's Baths

In 1828 Knightstone Island at Weston was acquired by Dr Edward Long Fox, a Quaker physician from Brislington House lunatic asylum in Bristol. Fox was an advocate of sea bathing for the treatment of mental illness and physical ailments.

Fox and his son, Dr Francis Ker Fox, opened a purpose-built bathing establishment on the island in 1832. The ground floor included a reading room and eight bathrooms. Above were sitting rooms and bedrooms. Attached to the bathhouse were vapour and shower baths, and an open seawater swimming bath.

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Read the List entry for Fox's Baths

Former Victoria Buildings, Knightstone Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2017-08-31) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Victoria Buildings

Built in 1840, Victoria Buildings was the first terrace of houses to be built on the seafront at Weston.

The houses were originally built for wealthy residents but were soon used as lodgings for visitors to the resort.

This photograph shows that since their construction, an extra storey has been added to all but two of the houses in the terrace.

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Read the List entries for 18 Knightstone Road and Sunningdale

Town Hall, Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-03-13) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

The Victorian and Edwardian town

Weston's population jumped from 2,103 in 1841 (the year the railway arrived) to 23,235 in 1911. New buildings and amenities were put in place to meet the needs of residents and visitors alike. Streets were laid out and houses, places of worship, schools and other public buildings built. One architect who made a noticeable mark on the look of Weston was Hans Fowler Price, who moved to the town in 1860. Of the 861 projects he is believed to have been involved in, the majority were in Weston. A number of Price's buildings survive, some of which have been recognised for their historical and architectural significance on the National Heritage List for England. One example is Weston's Town Hall, pictured here, which Price enlarged and remodelled in 1897.

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Read the List entry for Weston Town Hall

Blakehay Theatre, Wadham Street, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-04-19) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Former Baptist Chapel, Wadham Street

Weston's first Baptist chapel opened in 1850. In 1862, Hans Price was engaged to increase the building's capacity. Price's extension added a further 400 seats for the congregation.

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Former Baptist Chapel, Wadham Street

Magdala Buildings, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-05-15) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Magdala Buildings

Hans Price's Magdala Buildings was built in 1870. In 1905, the angled, corner section of the building housed the Shaftesbury Hotel, a 'high-class temperance' hotel.

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Magdala Buildings, Walliscote Road and Regent Street

Walliscote Primary School, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2017-08-22) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Board School, Walliscote Road

A school board was established in Weston in 1893 and Hans Price was appointed its architect.

The board's first school opened on 30 July 1897. An architectural competition had been held but the selected design was overruled and Price's own design chosen in its stead. This was somewhat controversial as Price's design had initially been disqualified for breaching the conditions of the competition.

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Read the List entry for the Board School

Weston Museum, Burlington Street, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-05-29) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Gaslight Company Workshops and Stores

Weston's first gasworks was built in 1841. A new, larger gasworks replaced it in 1856.

The town's Gaslight Company built workshops and stores in 1912. It is the last known work designed by Hans Price, and it now houses the town's museum.

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Read the List entry for the former Gas Company workshops and stores

Birnbeck Pier, Birkett Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (1905/1915) by Unknown photographerHistoric England

A century of fun and entertainment

In 1844 an estimated 23,000 holidaymakers visited Weston by train. This was a huge increase on pre-railway figures. For families and excursion groups, Weston's sands were a major attraction. However, great investment was made in providing the kinds of leisure and recreation facilities that most of England's seaside resorts strived to offer masses of holidaymakers and day trippers. Before the First World War, the number of bank holiday visitors was around 38,000. In 1921 the August bank holiday brought 51,000 and in 1937 it was a massive 78,000, all of whom expected to be fed, watered and entertained. 

Birnbeck Pier, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2017-11-28) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Birnbeck Island and Pier

Weston-super-Mare boasts two piers. The high tidal range of the estuary restricted steamer services and so plans emerged in the 1840s and 1850s to construct a pier designed for landing tourists.

However, it was not until 1867 that Weston's first successful pier opened. Designed by the renowned pier engineer Eugenius Birch, Birnbeck Pier used Birnbeck Island at the pier head to house a multitude of facilities for visitors.

In the early 20th century, the pier amusements included a water chute, switchback railway, shooting gallery, helter-skelter and merry-go-round.

In the second half of the 20th century the pier went in to decline. By 1994 it was in such a poor state of repair that it was closed to the public.

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A number of structures relating to Birnbeck Pier are recognised for their historical and architectural significance.

Read the List entries for Birnbeck Pier, the Entrance Gates and Turnstiles, Toll House Lodge, the Clock Tower, the North Jetty, and the Lifeboat House and Slipway

Grand Pier, Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2017-11-01) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Grand Pier

Weston's Grand Pier opened on 11 June 1904. It was designed by Peter Munroe and constructed by Mayoh & Haley of London.

The pier's pavilion was destroyed by a fire in 1930. A replacement opened in 1933, followed by a cafe a ballroom in 1935.

Another fire caused considerable damage on 28 July 2008. A new building, pictured here, containing a range of attractions and facilities, opened on 23 October 2010.

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Read the List entry for Grand Pier

The Grand Atlantic Hotel, Beach Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-07-03) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

The Grand Atlantic Hotel

In 1859 a private boys' school called 'the College' moved to new seafront premises on Beach Road. The school moved out in 1889 and the building was enlarged to create The Grand Atlantic Hotel.

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The Grand Atlantic Hotel

Victorian Cafe and Public Lavatories, Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2017-09-01) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Public Lavatories, Marine Parade

These seafront public lavatories date to 1905. The building features a central portico decorated with strapwork and arabesque ornamentation.

A cafe and shop were later incorporated into part of the building.

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Read the List entry for the Public Lavatories

Knightstone Island and the Marine Lake, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2016-08-16) by Damian Grady, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Marine Lake

An area of Glentworth Bay at Weston was successfully enclosed by 1929 to create a relatively safe bathing area.

The barrage between Knightstone Island and the mainland retains a large expanse of seawater, regardless of the state of the tide.

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Marine Lake, Glentworth Bay

Odeon Cinema, Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (1935-05) by John MaltbyHistoric England

Odeon Cinema

Weston-super-Mare's magnificent Odeon Cinema opened on 25 May 1935.

It was designed by the Nottingham architect T Cecil Howitt and was constructed by C Bryant & Son Ltd of Birmingham.

When built, it had 1,174 seats in the stalls and 633 in the balcony. In 1973 it was divided into three screens and a fourth was created by 2001.

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Read the List entry for the Odeon Cinema

Open-air bathing pool, Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (1949-07-25) by Aerofilms LtdHistoric England

Open-Air Pool

Weston-super-Mare's seafront open-air bathing pool opened in July 1937.

A central, two-storey entrance block is flanked by single-storey changing rooms with roof terraces for sun bathing.

The pool's three-tier diving platform was demolished in 1982 and the pool closed in 2000. Since then the site has hosted a number of events, including artist Banksy's Dismaland in 2015.

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Open-Air Pool, Marine Parade

Weston-super-Mare seafront from the Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset (2018-07-03) by Steven Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Weston-super-Mare: a Heritage Action Zone

In March 2017 Weston-super-Mare was chosen as one of the ten successful bids for support from Historic England through its Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) scheme.

The HAZ scheme provides funds, research expertise and advice to help breath life back into historic places and to stimulate economic growth.

In Weston, this has included the completion of a historic landscape characterisation, a review of Weston's listed buildings and a review of the town's conservation areas.

Find out more about our Heritage Action Zones scheme

Credits: Story

Much of the information used in this exhibit has been sourced from entries in the National Heritage List for England and the Historic England publication Weston-super-Mare: The town and its seaside heritage, written by Allan Brodie and Johanna Roethe of Historic England, and Kate Hudson-McAulay of North Somerset Council.

Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops.

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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