Sea Collection

Guernsey & Jersey via Weymouth poster, about 1891
In 1889 the GWR began operating a steamship service to the Channel Islands. This poster shows the GWRs TSS Ibex, leaving harbour at Guernsey on its route across the Channel

Locomotive at Carbis Bay in Cornwall, 1950s
A tank locomotive heads along the St Ives branch line. The Carbis Bay Hotel can be seen nestled behind the beach and in front of the viaduct

GWR Harbour & Docks Fishguard, 1909
Arrival of the Maurentania from New York

Exmouth Beach, Devon, July 1950
A crowd of children are gathered on the beach at Exmouth to watch a showing of Punch and Judy. Other families are enjoying the beach and the sea

The Golden Sands of Wales, 1924
This illustration of The Golden Sands of Wales comes from a souvenir booklet produced by the GWR to coincide with the 1924 British Empire Exhibition

The Seafront at Sidmouth, Devon, August 1931
A GWR publicity view of the seafront at Sidmouth in South Devon, taken in August 1931. This image shows the many groynes going out to sea and holidaymakers on the shingle beach enjoying themselves

GWR Publication, Through the Window, 1927
The GWR tourist guide, Through the Window, was first published in 1924. The guide was a travel companion for passengers on trains between London Paddington and Penzance, Birkenhead and Killarny

Portreath, Cornwall, September 1928
A GWR publicity view of Portreath, near Redruth in Cornwall, September 1928. Portreath beach lies below with holidaymakers enjoying the sunshine on the North Cornish coast

Burnham-on-Sea beach, August 1927
A busy beach scene here, looking north from the pier. The esplanade and sea defences were completed in 1911

Brixham Harbour and town, Devon, c. 1930s
Two couples are enjoying the sights and sounds of a busy Brixham Harbour. One lady sunbathes, whilst her partner paints the view. The town on Brixham can be seen in the background

Blackpool Sands, Devon, c1950
Dozens of families are enjoying the beach at Blackpool Sands. The beach is 4 miles south of Dartmouth

GWR Plymouth Millbay Docks, c1920s
Sacks of mail can be seen being unloaded from the tender, Liverpool, onto a waiting Ocean mail train. The mail would have come from a liner anchored just outside the docks

Paignton Promenade, Devon, Summer 1950
A view looking south along the promenade at Paignton. It is adorned with flags of the World, perhaps celebrating the football World Cup taking place in Brazil during June and July of 1950

Diving Float and Bathers, Cornwall, 1931
A GWR Publicity view of a diving float and a group of bathers in Cornwall, 1931. A diver is about to dive into the sea from the platform while a group of people wait for their turn

Looe, Cornwall, August 1936
A GWR Publicity view of the small coastal town of Looe in Cornwall, August 1936. Holidaymakers are swimming in the sea just off East Looe Beach with small fishing boats further out in the water

Winter in the West publicity guide, 1933
This publicity brochure was produced by the GWR in 1933. It was designed by Leonard Cusden and used to promote winter holiday destinations

Goodrington Sands, Devon, 1933
This view of Goodrington Sands, Paignton, shows hoards of families enjoying the beach. A slide can be seen in the sea providing entertainment for everyone!

Brixham Harbour, Devon, c1930s
A group of fishermen are gathered at Brixham Harbour, in this view looking south-east. The harbour is busy with fishing vessels

Nefyn Bay & The Rivals, Wales, August 1938
A GWR Publicity view of The Rivals (Yr Eifl) mountain range in Gwynedd, Wales, in August 1938. Nefyn Bay skirts the three peaks of the range

The Rivals (Yr Eifl), Caernarfonshire, Wales, August 1938
A GWR Publicity view of The Rivals (Yr Eifl) mountain range in Gwynedd, Wales, in August 1938. Nefyn Bay skirts the three peaks of the range

Newquay, June 1951
A GWR Publicity view of Newquay, Cornwall in June 1951. The beach is teeming with holidaymakers enjoying themselves by sunbathing and lounging in deckchairs in the early summer sunshine

Osmington Mills, Dorset, c. 1930
Three young walkers sit on a stile overlooking the coastal hamlet of Osmington Mills. The cliffs form part of the Jurassic Coast and are popular with fossil hunters

West Bay, Dorset, c. 1930
A view looking west up the Esplanade at West Bay. A new development of housing can be seen in the distance on the hill at West Cliff

Chesil Beach, Dorset, c. 1930
Looking north west up Chesil Beach and over the village of Chiswell from the Isle of Portland. The oil storage depot can be seen in the distance on the thin section that separates the sea

Padstow Harbour, Cornwall, 1927
Atmospheric view of Padstow Harbour, Cornwall, August 1927. The tide is out and a number of rowing boats and small fishing vessels are moored up on the bed of the harbour

Bather, August 1931
GWR publicity image of a woman wearing a diamond patterned swimming costume and cap leaning over a wall at the seaside in August 1931

St Michaels Mount, Penzance, c. 1950
A GWR publicity view of St Michaels Mount near Penzance in Cornwall, c.1950, showing the castle and mount silhouetted against the sky and several small boats pulled up onto the beach

Promenade Gardens, Penzance, c. 1948
A GWR publicity view of the Promenade Gardens at Penzance, Cornwall in c.1948, showing pristinely kept planted beds and benches with a sea view

Newquay, Cornwall, 1933
A GWR publicity view of the seaside town of Newquay in Cornwall, taken from the Towan Headland area in 1933. The image shows the cliffs and beaches of Newquay from between two gateway posts

Newquay Harbour, Cornwall, July 1923
A GWR publicity view of Newquay Harbour on the northern coast of Cornwall, July 1923, showing a number of sailing boats moored up in the harbour at low tide

Kynance Cove, Cornwall, July 1924
A GWR publicity view of the coast at Kynance Cove in Cornwall, July 1924. The stretch of sand seen here is Pentreath Beach

Sennen Cove near Lands End, Cornwall, c. 1950
A GWR publicity view of Sennen Cove near Lands End in Cornwall, c.1950, showing the village in the foreground with the Porth Senan harbour wall stretching out into the dark water of the bay

Teignmouth Beach, Devon, August 1937
A GWR publicity view of the west end of the beach at the seaside town of Teignmouth in Devon. Taken in August 1937 this image shows holidaymakers on the beach

Maidencombe, near Teignmouth, Devon, August 1937
A GWR publicity view of the beach at Maidencombe, near Teignmouth in Devon. Taken in August 1937, this image shows holidaymakers enjoying the beach and bathing in the calm sea

Boats at Teignmouth Pier, Devon, Summer 1933
A GWR publicity view of small sailing boats near the Grand Pier at the seaside town of Teignmouth in Devon. Taken in the summer of 1933 a swimmer wearing a white bathing cap is also in the water

Exmouth, Devon, August 1931
A GWR publicity view of the seaside town of Exmouth in Devon seen from the sea, August 1931. This image shows the row of seafront hotels and villas along Morton Crescent and the Esplanade

Challaborough Cove, near Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon, September 1935
A GWR publicity view of Challaborough Cove in Devon, taken from the Bigbury-on-Sea direction in September 1935. Challisborough Beach is seen here on very quiet sunny day in late summer

On the Beach at Sidmouth, Devon, August 1936
A GWR publicity view of the shingle beach at Sidmouth in South Devon in August 1936. The beach is full of holidaymakers enjoying the summer sunshine; lounging in deckchairs and paddling in the sea

Overview of The Promenade at Sidmouth, Devon, August 1931
A GWR publicity image taken in August 1931 of the Promenade at Sidmouth in South Devon. Seen at high tide, waves are crashing on to the Esplanade along the front

Port du Moulin, Sark, 1925
A GWR publicity view of Port du Moulin on the north-western coast of Sark in the Channel Islands, 1925. This image shows the distinctive coastal arches in the bay

Les Autelets, Sark, 1925
A GWR publicity view of Les Autelets on Sark in the Channel Islands, taken in 1925. These rocks have been painted and photographed for well over 100 years

St Aubins Bay and Fort, Jersey, August 1934
A GWR publicity view of St Aubins Bay and Fort on Jersey in the Channel Islands, taken in August 1934. Holidaymakers are looking out into the bay towards the fort which is accessed via a causeway

St Helier, Jersey, June 1925
A GWR publicity view of St Helier on the south coast of Jersey in the Channel Islands, June 1925. The beach stretches all along the scene with Elizabeth Castle in the distance

Eliquet Bay, Jersey, c. 1930s
A GWR publicity view of Eliquet Bay on Jersey in the Channel Islands, c.1930s. Two women are sitting on the sea wall looking out into the bay

Anne Port, Jersey, June 1925
A GWR publicity view of Anne Port on the eastern coast of Jersey in the Channel Islands, June 1925. Taken from the hill top near Victoria Tower, one of Jerseys Martello Tower fortifications

Portelet Bay, Jersey, June 1925
A GWR publicity view of Portelet Bay on the south coast of Jersey in the Channel Islands. This image was taken in June 1925 from the cliffs near Portelet Common

Rozel Harbour, Jersey, c. 1920s
A GWR publicity view of the harbour at Rozel, on the north eastern coast of Jersey in the Channel Islands, c.1920s. Holidaymakers are lounging on the beach enjoying the summer sunshine while looking

Teignmouth Beach, Devon, c. 1930s
A view looking south down the beach at Teignmouth. The beach is lined with holidaymakers and beach huts. The mouth of the River Teign can be seen emerging into the sea in the background

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