The neglected heritage of the English seaside holiday

Abstract

This paper focuses on the neglect of the heritage of the seaside holiday in England. Many seaside towns feature an idiosyncratic architecture dedicated to entertainment and pleasure which, until recently, was rarely considered in terms of heritage. The paper examines why this heritage has long been neglected, arguing that seaside architecture – associated with fun and entertainment among predominantly working-class tourists – was misaligned with conventional ways of defining heritage. The paper then examines the changing evaluation of this heritage in recent decades. There is growing popular nostalgia for the seaside holiday, along with emerging local activism dedicated to preserving iconic buildings associated with the seaside holiday. Furthermore, national and local policy initiatives have mobilised seaside heritage within economic and social regeneration strategies. Consequently, the heritage of the seaside holiday is increasingly valorised within place promotion, and some seaside towns are repositioning themselves as destinations for heritage tourism. The heritage of the seaside holiday illustrates how conceptions of heritage can be challenged and reshaped by various external political and social factors. It is significant that the state (both national and local) and its agencies are leading the way in this process.