Bridlington Echo Then & Now by Aled Jones
Here is a wonderful vintage postcard showcasing a group of eight holidaymakers enjoying a brisk walk along the South Promenade, and what a highly joyful looking crowd they are.
Sadly, it is postally unused, and therefore not date stamped, however from the elegant attire and the classic box camera the man to the left is holding it can easily be dated to around 1908.
The modern replication, showing the exact scene as it appears today, exhibits the truly momentous changes that have taken place since the original photo was taken.
For example, the beautiful garden to the side of the Spa Theatre has vanished and is now a paved (partially hidden by the new Lifeboat Station), though it was also previously a much-loved boating lake.
The Spa complex itself has, of course, altered out of all proportion from its fairly humble beginnings shown in the Edwardian postcard.
Intriguingly, there is a large wooden jetty in the postcard (right) that no longer exists, was this used for rowing boat trips around the Bay?
About the only thing that really hasn’t changed at all is the beautiful curvature of the sea wall in this iconic area of the town.
Thank to Aled Jones for the pictures and research.
