Beside the Seaside
A much-loved part of the British Way of Life
Summer Exhibition 2nd April-30th Aug 2022
The idea of visiting the seaside for a holiday first became popular in the 18th century and really took off for ordinary people with the railway in the 19th century and the introduction of Bank Holidays in the first half of the 20th century. Celebrating how a Day at the Seaside became a much loved part of the British way of life.
Special features of this packed exhibition include:-
- The opportunity to dress up for your day at the seaside and try the Aunt Sally and Donkey’s tail, spend a few magical moments at the seaside
- Take part in our mouse hunt in the Museum and Alnwick town (download the form if you want to visit the town first)
- Older children will love becoming a Museum Detective and winning their free Detective badge to impress their friends.
- A fascinating collection of seaside postcards from Victorian times onwards, including many very humorous ones.
- Plenty of opportunities to take your own photographs
- Photographs of families, from all social classes at play
- A look at commercial photographers from the 19th and early 20th centuries who made a living by taking and printing photographs of people on holiday.
- Cameras - some cameras from our permanent collection.
- The ‘knitted swimsuit’- the horror stories for both adults and children- you have been warned!
- Local families camping on the beaches at Alnmouth- working class families from Shilbottle camping for the summer
- A Puppet Show for younger children
- The chance to try some great games for a wet day at the seaside in the pre digital age
- Two of Stella Vine’s seaside paintings, born in Alnwick and now an internationally recognised artist
- Also an opportunity to celebrate Bailiffgate’s 20th anniversary. The museum was founded in 2002, and has won many regional and national awards including the Award for the 2021 “ Best UK Museum for Children”
