About the Network

1. 2016

   The Seaside Heritage Network was first formed in 2016 by Scarborough Museum Trust with funding support from the Esme Fairbairn Foundation. Its founding members included Southend Museums Service, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Manx National Heritage, Blackpool Museum Project and the National Piers Society.

   The original SHN had a museum focus, with an emphasis on utilising the network to research seaside-related collections, locate custodians of seaside heritage and share vital knowledge and expertise. However, the activities of the early SHN were unable to continue once the funding ended.

2. April 2017

   The SHN held the 'Seaside Heritage Conference' at Scarborough Spa, with speakers including current SHN trustees Samantha Richardson, Kathryn Ferry, and Anya Chapman.

3. 2022

   A small group of volunteers with interests in the heritage of seaside tourism sought to re-establish the Seaside Heritage Network, with a broader focus. With the full support of Scarborough Museums and Galleries, they took over the original name and logo.

   The 'new' SHN began by providing free online seminars that examined particular examples and issues relating to seaside heritage. These seminars can be viewed on our YouTube channel. Attendance steadily increased, recognising a clear community of people who valued the distinctive heritage of the seaside.

4. 2023

   The annual 'Bucket and Spade' list was introduced, inviting members of the public to vote on their favourite example of seaside heritage. The inaugural winner was Saltburn Cliff Railway. The SHN also introduced #NationalSeasideDay on 1 July.

   The annual 'Big Day Out' — an in-person event held in a seaside town to celebrate seaside heritage and announce the winner of the Bucket and Spade list — was also launched. Previous locations have included Blackpool, Weston-Super-Mare, and Scarborough. The event includes an informal interview with somebody who has championed the UK seaside (previous guests have included the designer Wayne Hemingway and the author Paul Doe).

   The SHN has also been increasingly active in organising guided tours of seaside resorts, with recent examples including Blackpool, Weymouth, Weston-Super-Mare, Brighton, Saltdean, and Margate.

5. 2025

   From 2025, attendees at the online seminars and the wider public were invited to nominate their favourite examples of seaside heritage — these were whittled down to a shortlist which was then put to a public vote.

   The Seaside Heritage Network also teamed up with Historic Buildings and Places to organise in-person symposia on seaside heritage. The first symposium, 'Recognising Seaside Heritage', was held in London in June 2025.

   In December 2025, the Seaside Heritage Network was registered as a charity (a 'Foundation CIO') with the Charities Commission — an educational charity which seeks to raise awareness and understanding of the broad heritage associated with the UK seaside holiday.

6. June 2026

   The second symposium, 'Valuing Seaside Heritage', was held at Saltdean Lido. A third symposium is planned for 2027.

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