After a young holidaymaker asked the bathing inspector where she should put her deckchair, the helpful man carried both her and the chair to the apporopriate place on Worthing beach, West Sussex. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 12th July 1935

Bathing beauties enjoy iced drinks in a bar in Las Vegas. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images). Circa 1960

A little maid changes into her bathing costume in anticipation of the seaside. (Photo by Hudson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 4th August 1933

Turn of the 20th century bathing costumes. Original Artist: By Chapman of Swansea. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1915

A street hydrant provides an impromptu bath for a group of children when temperatures in New York climb above the 90's. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). 17th July 1954

Spanish bathers with large Tenerife Carnival masks. (Photo by Koenig/BIPs/Getty Images). April 1958

Women bathers at the lido, Southport, Lancashire take a shower. (Photo by A. R. Coster/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 6th June 1918

An unwilling bather receives a little assistance at Port Seton swimming pool near Edinburgh during a heatwave. (Photo by Martin/Fox Photos/Getty Images). 6th August 1935

Bathers dance hand in hand on the beach at Plymouth, Devon. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). July 1921

A model wearing the latest fashion in bathing wear. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). Circa 1933

Three bathers walk into the sea for a paddle. A circular image in a square setting. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1905

A couple dancing on a raft in competition at the bathing pool Cliftonville. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). August 1939

The Lambeth Walk is very popular at Nice and here are two bathers, wearing the fins, during their flip-flop version. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 4th January 1939

Three finalists in the bathing beauty competition step down from the judging platform in the seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset. (Photo by Price/Fox Photos/Getty Images). August 1950

Valerie White and Betty Redshaw enjoy a bath amongst the windrushes. Two young London artists, they have fled the city and taken to the road with a Romany horse and cart and a guitar to make their living as wandering minstrels in the Cotswolds. (Photo by Charles Hewitt/Picture Post/Getty Images). 5th December 1953

From the waters edge a New York policeman urges two young children to put their bathing costumes back on. (Photo by Ed Clarity/Keystone/Getty Images). July 1949

Young twins Martin and Peter Thompson, who took first prize at a local baby show for the second year in succession, sharing a bath in the garden of their Kent home. (Photo by Fred Morley/Fox Photos/Getty Images). 5th September 1938

Two tiny tots in becoming bathing attire, escort each other to the water – a holiday scene in St James' Park, London. (Photo by John F. Stephenson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 5th August 1937

An attendant at Finchley Swimming Pool, north London, warns a young bather not to swim in the deep end. (Photo by E. Dean/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 9th July 1934

British children play in the plastic “Urbanite” portable swimming pool made by Urb products of New York. (Photo by F. Roy Kemp/BIPs/Getty Images). 20th August 1956