I do like to be beside the seaside (December version)

[puddleshark]

Another grey day, with the wind in the north-east. Perhaps not the perfect day to be visiting Swanage. In winter, when the wind is in the north-east, it blows straight off the sea into Swanage Bay, icy-cold. And a stroll along the promenade requires either fortitude or thermals.

Still, a few dogs and their owners were wandering along the beach. The dogs seemed to be having more fun than the owners.




The north side of Swanage, which is slowly eroding away and sliding into the sea.


Groynes, to prevent erosion. "In the late 1990s, a review and consultation based on the existing coastal defences was undertaken in order to develop a strategic framework for the long term management of the [Swanage] coastline. The aim of the review was to determine the most suitable method of retaining sediment, dissipating wave energy and thus reducing the risk of flooding and slippage whilst still maintaining the beach. The most cost effective method was found to be the replacement of the 1930s groynes and replenishment of the beach sediment." https://www.rgs.org/schools/resources-for-schools/jurassic-coast-of-dorset-and-east-devon/swanage-coastal-management


The Mowlem Theatre (built 1967, to replace a smaller Victorian theatre. Very 1960s.) Nobody sitting outside any of the seafront cafés or tea rooms today. The little seafront kiosks selling ice creams and takeaways all shuttered up for the winter.


The Parade. To the left of the picture, painted blue, concrete flood defenses. When the wind is blowing into the bay, Swanage is very vulnerable to storm surges.


Painted flood defences, which all bear the message "Flooding Swanage with Art". To which someone has added "Damage to this panel was caused by STORM CIARÁN on the night of 1st November 2023."

I paid my £2 to a very warmly bundled up volunteer in a kiosk, and took a stroll along the pier.


No, not that pier. That pier belongs to the cormorants. It's the remains of a pier built in 1859 to load stone quarried in Purbeck onto ships, to be taken to London. By 1874, the pier was also being used by passenger steamers, and, as it became increasingly busy, it was decided to build a new pier.


"The new Pier was officially opened on 29th March 1897 but the first steamer, the P.S. Lord Elgin, landed people on May 1st 1896. The Pier was an immediate success. 10,000 visitors arrived by steamer in the first season." https://www.swanagepiertrust.com/timeline


The pier all lit up for Christmas.




There are thousands of small brass plaques embedded in the planks of the pier: memorials to people, to dogs, to special occasions, or just to a love of Swanage. Each plaque raises funds to replace a plank.




Nobody sitting in the shelter, or on the benches. But one couple were braving the wind to search for one particular plaque, and were jubilant to find it. (Five minutes later, as they were trying to take a photo at the spot, I heard a cry of "Oh, blast! I lost it again...").








Couldn't agree more.

Left behind the pier and all that overly fresh sea air, and wandered into town.


The steep side streets of the south side of Swanage.


The slightly desolate Christmas decorations of Swanage swinging in the wind.

Wandered along the High Street to the Salt Pig, where I had a lovely macaroni cheese and salad for lunch, thanks to a Salt Pig voucher someone gave me for Christmas last year, and which I just got around to using, two days before it expired. I also had a cup of their coffee, which was a mistake - I forgot how strong it is. I may never sleep again.


A very tiny gallery along the sea front. It's part of the Swanage Christmas market, Artisans on the Beach, where local artists and craftspeople sell their items from beach huts along the front. Weather permitting. I doubt very much anyone was selling anything last weekend, as Storm Darragh blew through.

Comments

[heleninwales]

My mother-in-law used to live in Swanage and we visited and stayed with her a few times in the mid to late 70s, but I can't really remember anything about the place. So thank you for the virtual tour.

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

I don't think Swanage sea front has changed a lot over the years. It still has the beach huts and the ice cream kiosks and the amusement arcades (though they were penny arcades when we went there as kids. I'm pretty sure they cost more than that now...)

[kaishin108]

That really does look 'Wintery'! I really like the storm graffiti.

[puddleshark]

I do like Swanage in winter - that whole melancholy "Seaside Town in Winter" mood.

Those concrete flood defences are rather ugly, so painting them was a stroke of genius.

[nikonf3]

Judging by the housing in the background, it looks like a fair number of people live there. Are they all inside watching the football?

[puddleshark]

I don't know where all the inhabitants of Swanage were that day, but they certainly weren't walking on the sea front!

Though Swanage does have quite a high proportion of holiday homes, so the population does tend to shrink in winter.