Not a hipster in sight! Amazing photographs show how Brighton, Margate and Whitstable looked 100 years ago

The fascinating pictures are taken from a new book by Philip Davies called Lost England
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Liz Connor3 December 2016

Dilapidated seaside towns have never been more on trend.

As rent prices drive creatives out of London's inner zones, hipsters are looking to relocate to the sea in the search of fresh air, culture and cheap rents.

These days, strolling around parts of the British coast, you’re just as likely to see as many bearded hipsters walking their whippets as you are in Forest Hill or Clapton - thanks to the area’s retro appeal - but these photographs show how some of Britain’s trendiest seaside towns looked, long before they got a ‘Shoreditch-on-Sea’ makeover.

There’s the parade in Margate, which is now home to the Turner Contemporary gallery and Dreamland Amusement Park.

Long before a swathe of artists moved in, these photographs show a typical afternoon view looking west along the promenade in 1910.

At this hour the seafront was a hive of activity, with horse-drawn omnibuses and carriages rolling down the road, while street vendors tirelessly polished shoes and sold ice creams.

There’s also buzzy Brighton in the 1900s, with its famous vista across the sea front from the Aquarium’s clock tower - which is still standing today.

There are also quieter scenes from the sleepy coastal towns of Hastings, Broadstairs and Deal, showing visitors bathing in the sea and enjoying the shores when holidaying on the south coast was all the rage.

The images form part of a new book called Lost England by Philip Davies, which features 1,200 stunning images of England from 1870-1930.

Historic England

As many of Britain’s seaside towns enjoy a second lease of life, take a look at them in their original heyday by clicking through our gallery above.

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