Allan Brodie delivered the 'lunchtime lecture' hosted by the Society of Antiquaries, on #nationalseasideday - 1st July.

This lecture argues that it is time to recognise the role of the seaside holiday in the world’s shared culture and to celebrate England’s leading role in its creation during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This ‘Leisure Revolution’ occurred alongside the Industrial Revolution as the nation’s wealth grew, and new technologies, such as steamers, trains, and seaside piers, became central to the rapid growth of the English seaside. This country boasts dozens of resorts that illustrate our love affair with the seaside, as well as headline sites such as Brighton Pavilion, Blackpool Tower, and Eastbourne Pier. This lecture illustrates how the English seaside matches some of UNESCO’s criteria and compares this to the inscriptions for Bath, spa towns, and Nice.