Pier Bandstand, Weymouth

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A passer-by needs only a brief understanding of architectural history to place Wemouth's Pier Bandstand as a building of the 1930s. Put together in one building the symmetry, rendered finish, elongated windows, stepping above the central entrance, curved walls, elongated railings, minimalist clockface and flagpoles and you have most of the characteristics of a "moderne" building. It is the work of the architect V. J. Wenning and opened in May 1939. At that time this structure was the entrance to a large bandstand and concrete deck with seating for 2,400 that extended out towards the sea (removed in 1986). Indoors it housed concerts, dances, talent shows, roller skating, boxing and wrestling and many other attractions. It continues in use today, a focal point on this part of the promenade, and it is sympathetically restored (see the signage lettering).

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Summer sun at the seaside

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I was recently on the promenade at Weymouth, Dorset, wondering whether there was ever a time in my life when I was happy to sit on a beach in the summer sun. Back came the answer, pretty quickly, "No". For most of my life the coast, as I prefer to call it, has been a place for walking, thinking, talking, looking and photographing. That's not to say that I haven't spent time on the beach as one part or another of a family group, where being there together was the intention and the reason itself. As I took this photograph on a sunny June day I had to recognise that most of the people there seemed to be enjoying sunning themselves and partaking of the traditional seaside activities. Which just goes to show that, as they say, "It takes all sorts".

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Sea front at Sidmouth, Devon

The success or otherwise of a seaside town that relies for its livelihood on tourism is very dependent on what it offers for visitors to see and do. Attractive, interesting buildings contribute enormously. So too do activities connected with the sea. The small Devon town of Sidmouth has a good mixture of buildings and sea-linked activities, in fact rather more than you might expect in a settlement of its size.

 
The building shown is a fanciful mixture of styles and materials, something that is a feature of many British seaside towns.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2