The seaside resort towns of England and Wales.

Abstract

This thesis is a comparative study in a type of town. In it, two factors are of outstanding importance, the distribution of non-resort population and the presence or absence of unified land-ownership, and development. The first factor largely accounts for the distribution and size, of resorts and the relative importance of(a)the residential and holiday resort functions and(b)period and day visitors. The second factor accounts for the survival of the majority of 'select' resorts, and for their, form and land-use pattern. Nineteenth century town planning is probably best represented in the seaside resorts. The commercial core of resorts is characteristically located immediately behind the 'frontal strip'. Its precise form and location has been greatly influenced by the pre-resort road and settlement pattern, and by the site of the railway station. Several resorts possess a better/poorer side structure which is reflected in their residential and accommodation patterns and in the form and functional differentiation of the core. Distinctive growth features are (a) separate estate development along the coast, (b) linear development along the coast, and (c) a common looseness of form up to 1850. The pre-resort settlement pattern and topography have greatly influenced the shape of resort In the analysis of accomodation patterns, a fundamental distinction must be made between early villas and terraces that were not necessarily tied to the sea front and later hotels and boarding houses that were. Estate boundaries often form significant divides in the accommodation pattern. Post office statistics are used to show the size and rhythm of the holiday season, also the varying relative importance of the holiday and residential resort functions. The resort is characterized by its Front. In this respect the presence or absence of frontal trading is highly significant.