The popularisation of the British seaside from the mid-18th Century onwards would create a particularly distinctive form of national heritage.

Specialised architecture comprising piers, promenades, pavilions, funicular railways (pioneered in Scarborough), lidos, sea defences, combined with theatres, arcades, fairgrounds, sea bathing, beach entertainment such as Punch & Judy shows etc, would establish a defining recreational culture found at coastal resorts across the country.

Appropriately enough, given Scarborough’s status as the first seaside resort in Britain, the roots of an organisation centred on the celebration and educational promotion of the phenomenon, began in the town a decade ago.

The Seaside Heritage Network (SHN) is a nationwide confederation whose aim is to coordinate individuals and groups who share a common interest in the culture and history of the UK’s seashore destinations.

placeholder image — The Grand Hotel, Scarborough, with, inset: programme cover of the 2017 Seaside Heritage Conference at The Spa and the SHN logo which originated from the Scarborough project.

The organisation’s focus is primarily on heritage which is linked with the development of mass tourism from the 19th Century era to the present day.

The group’s forthcoming 2026 conference at the Grand Hotel; itself an outstanding primary example of seaside expansion in the Victorian era, headlined by railway historian Andrew Martin, takes place on Friday September 18.

A precursor of the organisation was initially established as part of a Scarborough Museums Trust Seaside Heritage Project in 2016.

Supported by funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the group’s work was initially engaged with a museum focus as former Project Curator Esther Graham explained: “The network was set up really as part of project legacy planning to ensure that there would be a focal point for ongoing research and a continuing network to champion all things seaside heritage-related”.

The culmination of the alliance resulted in an inaugural conference event, as Esther added: “When the project was ending, I organised the Seaside Heritage Conference which was held at Scarborough Spa in April 2017.

“This was a chance for network members to come together for the first time and while being a bit of a farewell event it was also hoped to be the start of something longer lasting”.

Speakers included City Archaeologist for York John Oxley and Scarborough historian Keith Johnston together with Dr Allan Brodie and current SHN trustees Dr Kathryn Ferry and Dr Anya Chapman, who was involved in setting up the initial group.

“The original steering group was comprised of members from Scarborough Museums Trust, Blackpool Museum Project (now Showtime), Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, The National Piers Society, Manx National Heritage, Southend Museums Service.

"We also worked closely with the National Coastal Tourism Academy.

"The network was set up as a membership organisation - free to join – and we ended up with over 140 members (organisational and individual) by the end of the project”, Ms Graham added.

Five years later, with the support of Scarborough Museums Trust in retaining the original name and logo, a new resurgent iteration of SHN would emerge.

Dr Ferry recalled: “In 2022 England's Coast ran a campaign for Year of the Coast and the National Piers Society, of which Anya and I were trustees, ran Year of the Pier.

"We really wanted there to be a permanent legacy from these events so decided to reform the SHN”.

Since reconvening the group has initiated a wider remit across its range of activities.

An annual programme of events including regular online seminars, which are recorded and available to view via the website, the implementation of the Bucket and Spade List vote where the public choose their favourite seaside experiences, the Big Day Out Conference and a symposium aimed at people working in the heritage sector around the coast.

Becoming registered as a charity in 2025 as a Foundation CIO it is an educational charity which ‘seeks to raise awareness and understanding of the broad heritage associated with the UK seaside holiday’.

Although currently not a membership organisation, those interested in the group’s activities can register for the newsletter via the SHN website or follow the latest developments on social media.

The Seaside Heritage Network Conference with railway historian and author Andrew Martin is at The Grand Hotel on Friday September 18, from 1.30pm, and is open to the public.

Conference Day tickets are priced at £15.

Visit seasideheritage.org for details.