Beach huts

Like VW camper vans I also have a love and fascination for beach huts!  Luckily with around 23,000 beach huts in the UK, I have plenty of opportunity of photographing them and maybe dreaming of owning one, one day! I recently featured some beach huts in one of my posts and from the comments received its clear I'm not alone in admiring them!

I started to wonder how long beach huts had been part of our beach scenery and this is what I discovered.....

At the end of the 18th century sea bathing became very fashionable. King George III while visiting Weymouth in the 1790's decided to take a dip in the waters of Weymouth Bay. At that time men and women swam in separate areas of the beach. Bathing machines were towed out to sea by horses. To preserve their modesty people would enter the machine, change their clothes and then enter the water on the other side. King George's dip in Weymouth Bay is still remembered in Weymouth today with his statute and a replica of the bathing machine used.



As time went by and fashions changed and in the Victorian era the shape of the hut changed from an octagonal to more of a box shape



As mixed bathing became acceptable these bathing machines were no longer required and  many were just left abandoned on the shore. The wheels were taken off and they were transformed into the first beach huts changing on the beach was still unacceptable. As the popularity of going to the seaside grew - so did the number of beach huts . New ones were built or old buildings were converted to provide not only somewhere to change, but also to have a brew up or picnic, without the sand in the sandwiches. They also provided a shelter from the rain! The views over looking the sea are always spectacular whatever the weather!



The oldest beach hut in the UK is in Bournemouth in Dorset dating back to 1909 -  it is very similar to the ones above. Bournemouth has over 200 beach chalets ans some of them have been painted in different shades of a single colour. I'm surprised they haven't been used in a paint advertisement. Do you like the different shades?


Although some beach huts are privately owned, many are still owned by councils and are rented out on a long term basis, while others can be rented or a daily or weekly basis.


Dorset used to hold the record of having the most expensive beach huts for sale, but one of these below in Shaldon in Devon has now taken the record  - it was recently for sale for £245,000 see here


More colourful beach huts at Dawlish Warren

I started this post about a week ago and then discovered that it has been a popular subject this week! I saw BBC's Countryfile last weekend featured the history of the beach hut and in the latest copy of Coast Magazine is a selection of beach huts where you can stay!



We have extended weekend with May Day bank holiday on Monday and hopefully the weather will stay dry! Wishing you a good weekend and thank you as always for all the lovely comments you leave me.

Sarah x

Comments

  1. Things and Thoughts4 May 2013 at 10:46

    Wish you too Sarah a relaxing extended week and more posts about sea and beaches...
    Love
    Olympia

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  2. greenthumb4 May 2013 at 11:29

    So many lovely beach huts, not many in Sydney but in Victoria they are still around.

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  3. Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax!4 May 2013 at 11:29

    The trouble with many beach huts is that you aren't allowed to stay in them overnight - but wouldn't it be wonderful if you could? (For a short time!)

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  4. flowersandhome4 May 2013 at 11:30

    Beach huts are always so great to photograph aren't they but I haven't seen so many of them as you have I'm sure. I had never heard of a bathing machine. The octagonal shaped little house/tower on wheels is so neat!
    Have a great long weekend,
    Marian

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  5. Castles Crowns and Cottages4 May 2013 at 11:33

    Good morning Sarah and Daisy!

    I LOVE THESE BEACH HUTS and you do not see them here on our beaches. I grew up on the southern coast of California, USA and we never had these. Then I lived for many years on the eastern coast of Boston, Massachusetts and no huts....but these, especially that portable one (I saw one in the movie, Mrs. Brown where Queen Victoria is driven out to the shore) are just gorgeous icons of the British coast. Remarkable tours that you take us on! I am so looking forward to your France tour for our link party!

    Enjoy your day! Anita

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  6. Emilie's daughter4 May 2013 at 11:40

    A brilliant, interesting and very valuable post, Sarah! I do like the different shades of colors! I start dreaming in my head... the sea is so far away! Wishing you a wonderful weekend with lots of sunshine! CHrista

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  7. Unknown4 May 2013 at 11:48

    Oh how I love beach huts too. I have serious Beach hut envy when I see photos of any. Surprisingly (or Not actually, thinking about murky water and cold wet weather!) there doesn't seem to be any along our Cumbrian beaches. An interesting post to read and a visual delight. Love it :)

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  8. Catherine4 May 2013 at 12:02

    O yes me too!! Both VW Campers and Beach huts, wish we had them here but they are very rare and more of an English thing.......loved these examples!

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  9. CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS4 May 2013 at 12:18

    Hello Sarah, I loved reading about the history of your Beach Hut..I love all there bright and wonderful colours and they are all very "Grand" looking.. I wish you a lovely long weekend. Hugs Judy

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  10. Wendy4 May 2013 at 13:59

    I love to see beach huts too; they are so much a part of the seaside tradition in this country. I'm always fascinated to glimpse inside and see how people have furnished their own huts. Some of the beach huts here on the east coast have sold for unbelievable amounts of money, but I've not heard of one going for anything like £245,000. Incredible!

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  11. Claire/Just a little less4 May 2013 at 14:33

    They all look so colourful and smart - people seem to take real pride in them. Enjoy the long weekend. Claire xo

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  12. kristieinbc4 May 2013 at 14:41

    Those beach huts are adorable! I love the bright colours! I can't believe they could possibly be so expensive though- they are so tiny. Why would someone pay so much for one?

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  13. Nancy Carr4 May 2013 at 15:32

    Thank you for the history lesson and beautiful colorful photos. Blessings from Puerto Rico

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  14. Freda4 May 2013 at 15:32

    Oh those colours! (and oh those prices!!) I did enjoy your post Sarah. I hope your weather is better than ours this weekend..

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  15. Jennifer Hays4 May 2013 at 18:04

    How pretty. I would love to see some in person. The purple ones are just breathtaking to me, as purple is my favorite color. I would not be able to tear myself away from those. Have a good weekend. :)

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  16. Rosemary4 May 2013 at 18:04

    This is so evocative of my childhood - my parents always took one for a month every summer. We would take a little primus stove with us to make a hot drink or heat up soup - I can smell the wet sand on the floor, and visualise the buckets, spades and towels hanging on the walls.
    Love your superb photos.

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  17. David Ford4 May 2013 at 18:09

    Lovely post on beach huts Sarah, clearly the ones at Eastbourne have passed you by I shall post them on my blog sometime, but £245,000 for a hut really! we can only rent ours

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    Replies
    1. Down by the sea4 May 2013 at 19:51

      I haven't been to Eastbourne for quite a few years now and didn't have a camera as a constant companion then! My parents had one in Hove for a few years. We will look forward to seeing more of your beach hut and others in Eastbourne on your blog!
      Sarah x

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  18. thriftwood4 May 2013 at 19:02

    Ooh Sarah, I love this post as beach huts, camper vans, in fact any small space living is a favourite of mine! The colours are amazing, and as a child we holidayed at Littlehampton and used a beach hut while we were there. I've loved them ever since ...

    Love Claire xxx

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  19. Anonymous4 May 2013 at 19:06

    Those colours are fabulous! One of my friends owns a beach hut and she and her husband spend a lot of their time there, resting and reading and walking. Lovely to have but expensive to buy as you say.

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  20. Vintage Sheet Addict4 May 2013 at 19:11

    I just love beach huts too, that first one is the poshest I've ever seen! :) x

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  21. Unknown4 May 2013 at 20:45

    Fascinating! Who would have known a cute little building would have so much history? I don't think we have these in the USA. Thanks for sharing! X

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  22. Sally4 May 2013 at 21:05

    Hi Sarah, lovely photos, I think I like the multi coloured ones the best which show some individuality, but those ones painted in different shades are lovely too! You got me thinking to whether we have beach huts in NZ, and I don' think we do - we have boat sheds instead. Which are larger, as they hold small boats, and are often very close to the sea for easy launch of the boat. Not all places have them, there are some good examples in Wellington, but the oldest, built in 1882, is the Antigua Boatsheds on the banks of the Avon River in Christchurch - and yes they have survived the earthquakes due to previous renovations. I might see if we can visit them while on holiday! S:)

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  23. Louise4 May 2013 at 21:07

    what an interesting read, I enjoyed this post. The prices they fetch are amazing.

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  24. Madelief4 May 2013 at 21:12

    What a crazy price for a beach hut Sarah!!! Hope you will get yours one day, for a lower price.

    Hope your husband is back home again and feeling well!

    Happy weekend!

    Madelief x

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  25. rusty duck4 May 2013 at 21:54

    I can certainly see what you mean about the paint advertisement!

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  26. Gerda4 May 2013 at 21:59

    Hej Sarah, interesting read indeed. And lovely huts you photographed. Hope you can get some day one, a little bit cheaper! Groetjes, Gerdaand

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  27. SeagullSuzie4 May 2013 at 22:43

    What a lovely post, lots of information and beautiful photos as ever.

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  28. Fran5 May 2013 at 07:11

    I have many happy memories of days spent at the seaside in my grandparent's friends beach hut at Frinton in Essex. I didn't know the history of them, so this was a really interesting post to read. Enjoy the weekend and the weather xxx

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  29. Jay5 May 2013 at 09:26

    I never knew the first beach huts were bathing machines minus the wheels, really interesting! We have lots around this part of the coast, they always look so pretty in their bright colours. I'm always a little bit envious of the families sitting inside with their mugs of tea!

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  30. Julie5 May 2013 at 13:42

    Fascinating. I'm not actually sure I have ever seen one in the flesh - they do look gorgeous, and it would be such fun to own or rent one. Juliex

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  31. valerietilsten59.blogspot.com5 May 2013 at 19:16

    I love these beach huts. How I would love to hire one for a day. Take a pic nick and sit and watch the sea.
    I am sure there must be many stories about all these lovely little huts.
    I do like the different colours.
    As a young child.. I remember going to the beach with my parents. and eating ice cream and playing with my bucket and spade. years ago Sarah. But the memory is there.
    What a great story about King George. How we have changed over the years.
    I like this post very much..its informative and your photos are stunning.
    happy sunday
    val x

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  32. Dawn5 May 2013 at 20:15

    I'd love a beach hut. The ones at Southwold near me go for silly money though.

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  33. Draffin Bears5 May 2013 at 22:19

    Hi Sarah,

    I always enjoy seeing pictures of these fun Beach huts and how wonderful all your photographs are - thanks for sharing.
    Hope that you have lovely weather for your bank holiday.

    Happy new week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  34. June5 May 2013 at 22:57

    I too love beach huts and VW camper vans, especially the split screen ones. I also hav to admit to being a bit of a nosey parker where beach hits are concerned - I always peek at the decor whenever the huts are open and in use - the interiors as so evocative of days gone by.
    June

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  35. Anonymous5 May 2013 at 23:38

    Hi Sarah - I like your Beach Hut post they are fascinating little places and look so cute they are certainly part of our Great British Seaside resorts symbolising the true bucket and spade holidays of our childhoods even if we never actually went in one. There is an amazing one at Runswick Bay near Whitby converted into the tiniest Holiday Home - I must try and find out the picture I have and post it for you to see. I had a peak inside to see how they had managed to fit everything into such a small space they had some brilliant ideas. Not sure where the loo was though! Viv x

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  36. Art and Sand6 May 2013 at 04:35

    All of the beach huts are fun, but I love the colorful huts the most.

    I think I must have commented on this before. My grandmother was from northern Norway and our relatives still in Norway have cute colorful beach houses much like those your featured.

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  37. lucent imagery6 May 2013 at 06:14

    Sarah, thank you for your research, this was so interesting. We have them here in Australia too, just south of Melbourne, although I've never been in one of them. No doubt harking back to our country's British heritage. I love the ones in different shades of green or blue! (Thank you for your kind comment last week. I have been thinking of you both. Hugs. xx)

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  38. Paula6 May 2013 at 10:27

    I'm amazed that people will pay that amount of money for a tiny beach hut, it's just crazy. I loved all your photos but especially the 2nd one from the bottom as I like the colours best.

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  39. claire6 May 2013 at 12:47

    I love beach huts, I wouldn't get one here though as although they are relatively cheap....up to 1,000 plus ground rent, they are vandalised or set fire to and then they often get washed up by the sea! Up the road in Southwold they go for about 25,000!

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  40. Anonymous6 May 2013 at 14:48

    i can't get enough of these or your lovely photos and interesting lessons.
    Best,
    Kim

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  41. Bobbie Lynn7 May 2013 at 13:25

    Hi Sarah,
    Thank you for sharing those lovely beach houses. I hope one day you will have one.
    Blessings,
    Bobbie Lynn

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  42. Rustic Vintage Country7 May 2013 at 20:17

    Beach huts are just so cheery and I love them! I've got a board of Beach Huts on Pinterest. Suzy x

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  43. Annie Cholewa7 May 2013 at 21:59

    Another beach hut fan here ... we look longingly at the beach huts on the Suffolk coast whenever we holiday there. Lovely post Sarah :)

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  44. sweetpea family8 May 2013 at 09:17

    What amazing images I share your love of beach huts - thank you for sharing x

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  45. Maria8 May 2013 at 09:32

    ~ Forgive me, Sarah.....I loved this post and thought I had left a comment...YOU always research such fabby information.....And quite simply I would feel like I was on holiday, living in your corner of the world......I am thinking we could all do with a little beach hut escape, or a camper van at least! to dream away in.... ~ Take care, dear Sarah....I have so much business at the moment which I will be mentioning on my blog soon! good things....~ With kindest thoughts....Maria x

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  46. Gracie Saylor14 May 2013 at 04:22

    Thanks so much for your beautiful and interesting post!
    xx,
    Gracie

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