A biker carrying huge bags of recyclables travels on a street outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Saturday, March 27, 2021. (Photo by Heng Sinith/AP Photo)

Swiss Alisha Lehmann, right, fights for the ball with Czech Republic's Jana Petrikova during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 play-off 2nd leg qualification match between Switzerland and the Czech Republic at the Stockhorn Arena in Thun, Switzerland, 13 April 2021. (Photo by Alessandro Della Valle/EPA/EFE)

A view of electricity wires, in Caracas, Venezuela, 03 April 2019. West Venezuela started receiving electricity intermittently in the states of Zulia, Falcon, Merida and Trujillo after 100 hours without power. (Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

“Mayweather City” cake is held by performers at Floyd Mayweather’s exclusive red carpet birthday bash at Gabriel South Beach on February 24, 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by MediaPunch/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Gold medalist Luiza Gega of Albania celebrates after the Athletics - Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final on day 10 of the European Championships Munich 2022 at Olympiapark on August 20, 2022 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)

England's Rachel Daly is fouled by Colombia's Ana Guzman during the Women's World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and Colombia at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, August 12, 2023. (Photo by Rick Rycroft/AP Photo)

Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

While the lido was described as bringing “modernism to the masses” on the British coast it was just the latest example of a trend that had been developing since Victorian times – transforming seaside towns into resorts for leisure and entertainment. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, the fashion was for local authorities to build great piers stretching from the promenade out into the sea. The Eastbourne Pier, pictured here in May 1931, was erected between 1866 and 1870 to an ingenious design by Eugenius Birch, which saw the structure sitting on special cups allowing the supporting struts to “move” in bad weather. Arranged on the pier's 1,000-foot length were kiosks, a theatre, a ballroom and a camera obscura. 1931. (Photo by Aerofilms Collection via “A History of Britain From Above”)