A

A
trip to the seaside
is a quintessentially British experience. Iconic beach huts,
deckchairs, buckets and spades, fish ‘n’ chips, hard-rock candy –
all relics of a sun-shy summer spent by the sea. Dated but dotey,
it was photographer Tony Ray-Jones’ fear that England, in the
1960s, was losing its cultural identity to encroaching
“Americanisation”. His response: to turn his camera to the beaches
of Britain. Travelling cross-country in a camper van with his wife,
Anna, Tony Ray-Jones captured his sun-worshipping subjects
spontaneously and off-guard, recording English traditions which he
saw as a disappearing way of life.

Covering the country’s beaches from Brighton
to Blackpool, this photo series captures the customs, traditions
and eccentricities associated with the British
beach experience. The familiar sight of Brits determined to
enjoy their day out, whatever the weather, are documented from
Southend-on-Sea, Shoeburyness, Leigh-on-Sea, Frinton-on-Sea,
Clacton-on-Sea to Walton-on-the-Naze.

Similarly, the self-proclaimed “aficionado of the British
seaside”, Martin Parr’s fascination with coastal towns and
beachside living, has resulted in reams and reams of photographs on
the subject. Often amusing, sometimes uncomfortable and almost
always beach-related. Consumed by the apparent separatism and
preserved lifestyle that the coasts of Britain have from the rest
of the country, Parr’s photographic documentation offers viewers a
glimpse at the peculiarities and absurdities of British beach
culture.

The Great British Seaside: Photography from the
1960s to the present runs at the National Maritime Museum,
Greenwich until 30 September 2018.

@martinparrstudio
| www.martinparr.com