Beach Huts in Britain

British Culture: Beach Huts

The Beach Huts at Brightlingsea

Jake Davies

A common sight at many British seaside towns are lines of brightly colored beach huts.

Though many consider them quintessentially British, in fact they can be found at many beach resorts around the world. It is estimated that there are about 20,000 of them in Britain.

Almost always made of wood, and usually in a jumble of bright colors, they are in essence garden sheds. They developed from the Victorian bathing huts which were wheeled contraptions that could be taken down to the water's edge and allowed the prudish Victorians a space to privately change into their bathing costumes and enter the sea.

Beach Huts can change hands for thousands of Pounds. — Beach Huts can change hands for thousands of Pounds

Brightlingsea

In the early twentieth century the beach huts became a fixture at many beaches and were considered a kind of working-class holiday home.

Situated above the high tide line, they were and are tiny spaces that allowed their users a space to store things needed at the beach: deck chairs, beach toys and games, etc as well as a space in which to change.

They also offered shelter from too much sun and wind, and sometimes even the ability to brew up a pot of tea.

In the later part of the century they became much sought after. Some owners were very creative and inventive in what they could do with such a tiny space with some of the larger ones being fitted out like a camper van or small chalet. A few even had electricity and many gas cylinders. Staying overnight is not allowed, however.

Nowadays they are much sought after with waiting lists of up to twenty years, though in many places they can be hired for short term holidays.

Unbelievably the sale prices of such rudimentary structures can be astronomical with one selling for a quarter of a million pounds. The ones pictured here have sold for forty thousand pounds.

All these photos are from Brightlingsea, a small coastal community on the Essex coast between Colchester and Clacton on Sea.

Bateman's Tower

Once a thriving oyster fishery and boat building town, both industries have all but disappeared. The main landmark of the town is Bateman's Tower.

Built in 1883 the octagonal tower was built by John Bateman as a folly and as a bathing house for his daughter who was recovering from consumption. Some believe it may have been intended to be a lighthouse.