Weston–super–Mare – The town and its seaside heritage: Informed Conservation

Two centuries ago, Weston-super-Mare was a sleepy, remote fishing village, small and rarely visited. But its location along the Severn Estuary soon made it a convenient bathing place for the wealthy inhabitants of nearby Bristol and Bath. Once the railway arrived in 1841, this elite handful of sea bathers grew into thousands of day trippers, excursionists, and holiday makers in search of fun and sunshine. Weston’s population rose accordingly throughout the nineteenth century, from around one hundred to almost twenty thousand, leading to a transformation of the village’s piers, bathing facilities, gardens, and houses. This book celebrates the complex history and colorful heritage of the town and its architecture.