450 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— E. 



geographical text-books. These towns have a well-marked individuality 

 and their functional peculiarities can be analysed from occupational stat- 

 istics. The growth of these urban settlements has been remarkable ; of the 

 I OS towns in England whose population exceeded 50,000 persons in 1931, 

 ten can be described as inland or seaside health resorts. The movement of 

 population into these places is of two classes : — (i) The permanent settle- 

 ment of retired individuals and of persons who cater for visitors. (2) The 

 seasonal migration of holiday-makers which now assumes vast proportions. 



This paper includes a summary account of the causes of the growth of 

 seaside resorts in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The original 

 development of these resorts may be ascribed to several causes : — (i) The 

 practice of drinking mineral waters at spas in the seventeenth century and 

 earlier. (2) The practice of bathing in the sea from about 1720, and of 

 drinking sea-water for health, which began in about 1750- The new sea 

 bathing resorts copied the manners of the older inland spas . It will be noticed 

 that the freedom from war after the Napoleonic struggles made the coast 

 safe, and that the building of the railways rapidly accentuated the movement 

 of population to the sea. The history of the communications, in the case 

 of each town, is of great significance, as is its relative proximity to the areas 

 of industrial population. 



These towns can be divided into the following types : — (i) inland spas 

 such as Bath, Cheltenham, Leamington, Tunbridge Wells and Harrogate ; 

 (2) ancient ports or fishing harbours converted into seaside resorts such as 

 Brighton, Scarborough, Weymouth and Hastings. Brighton is the only 

 town of this type which developed at all rapidly before the railway age. 

 Southampton was for a short period a resort of this character ; (3) new 

 towns, such as Bournemouth, Blackpool, Southport and Southend, whose 

 mushroom growth on virgin sites can be compared with the development 

 of American towns. Bournemouth and Southport are two of the few 

 English towns whose founders are known. The first house was built at 

 Bournemouth in 181 2 and there was only one postman as late as i860, when 

 the population had not yet reached 2,000. The population of Bournemouth 

 in 193 1 was over 116,000, and Blackpool, which exceeded 101,000 in that 

 year, contained less than 4,000 in 1861. 



Discussion on Some aspects of the regional concept (continued) (3.45). 



Wednesday, August 24. 



Dr. Vaughan Cornish. — The Sidmouth coast and the preservation of its 

 scenery (9.45). 



In order to preserve the scenic beauty for which Sidmouth is celebrated 

 it is necessary that the cliff lands of Peak hill on the west, and Salcombe 

 hill on the east, should be completely protected from sophistication. 



The following measures have been taken for the preservation of the cliff 

 lands of Salcombe hill from the summit (540 ft. in height) to the foot of 

 the hill in the secluded valley of Salcombe Regis. These come within the 

 author's farm of South Combe. The perfection of their charm is due to 

 the union of an immense ocean prospect with the peace of a pastoral scene, 

 and the author has therefore decided not to make the cliff summit a public 

 playground but to preserve it as farm land, while giving the public a right 

 of way by all those footpaths to which access has hitherto been by courtesy. 



On the lower fields of South Combe the draft Town Planning scheme 

 sanctioned the erection of sixteen houses, but as they would have marred 



