|
Weston-super-Mare,
one of the largest seaside holiday resort towns in the West
Country, is on the Bristol Channel, 18 miles south-west of
Bristol.
Set in
the broad sweep of Weston Bay, the resort boasts miles of
sandy beaches. However, because the Bristol Channel experiences
the second largest tidal rise and fall in the world, at low
tide the sea can be over a mile from the promenade.
Until
the early 19th century Weston was just a small windswept village
of around 30 houses.
Weston-super-Mare
owes its growth and prosperity to the boom in seaside holidays
during Victorian times. Its first hotel opened in 1808 and
over the years the town gradually spread out along the coast
between the higher ground of Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill.
The proximity
of large centres of population in Bristol, Bath and South
Wales was important to the growth of the resort.
As Weston
became more popular, many fashionable terraces, crescents
and villas were built. Hans Price, a local architect, was
responsible for much of the development of Weston during the
Victorian period. Isambard Kingdom Brunel lived here for
some months while he was supervising the construction of the
Bristol and Exeter Railway.
When
the railway opened in 1841, it enabled visitors to travel
long distances for day trips at Weston. Paddle steamers also
brought visitors from ports on both sides of the Bristol channel
and steamers tied up at Birnbeck Pier, opened in 1867, to
cater for daytrippers. The pier also offered amusement arcades,
funfair rides and tearooms.
One of
the resort's most important developments was the strengthening
of the sea wall and creation of a two mile long promenade
in the 1880s. The Grand Pier opened in 1904 and its Winter
Gardens and Pavilion in 1927. The opening of the Grand Pier
saw a decline of the Birnbeck Pier and this Grade II listed
structure is now derelict and on English Heritage's list of
endangered buildings.
Today
Weston-super-Mare, with its sandy beaches and a bustling seafront,
has lots of activities to keep tourists and visitors entertained.
A land train transports visitors along the promenade to Marine
Lake and to Royal Sands.
The area
has two, two-mile long sandy beaches, one in Weston-super-Mare
and one in Sand Bay, 3 km to the north.
At
low tide the sea goes out about a mile exposing mudflats and
danger signs warn visitors of the risks of crossing these.
To compensate for this an artifical lake, with a stretch of
sand, was created at the northern end of the main beach and
this allows children to play safely whatever the state of
the tide.
Donkey
rides are still a feature of Weston-super-Mare.
For the
more energetic visitors, the West Mendip Way, a 30 mile walking
route, can be joined at the southern end of the town.
Although
Weston-super-Mare is still reliant on tourism, the town is also
increasingly dependent on industry, commerce, consumerism
and commuting.
|
the internet holiday and travel guide to the UK
Weston-super-Mare
