A Day at the Seaside

A photograph taken by the Pier Photo Company, 68 Regent Street, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, on the Summer Bank Holiday of 1909. The Summer Bank Holiday in that time fell on the first Monday in the month, and so this can be accurately dated to Monday, 2nd August, 1909.
The summer bank holiday was introduced in the Bank Holidays Act, 1871, and first observed in that year. It was originally intended to give bank employees the opportunity to participate in, and attend, cricket matches. One hundred years later, the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in August for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This followed a trial period from 1965 to 1970 of the new date.
The couple in the photograph went on to marry. She was 29, he was 23 when they went to Weston for the day.