Book excerpt: An entertaining, illustrated history of over 4 centuries of life among the seaside resorts along the Yorkshire coast. Almost all of us have happy memories of excursions and holidays spent beside the sea. For many, these include the Yorkshire coast which runs unbroken for more than one hundred miles between the two great rivers, the Tees and the Humber. Within those boundaries are the popular seaside resorts of Whitby, Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington as well as numerous smaller and quieter but equally well-loved destinations. How did the love affair with the area start and how did it develop? Over the years, all the ingredients for the perfect holiday are there—the spas, the sea and sun bathing, board and lodgings, entertainment and just as importantly, the journeys there and back. Beside the Seaside takes a detailed but entertaining look back at the history of these resorts over the last four hundred years and asks, “What does the future hold?” Packed with information, this book is fully illustrated with photographs, old and new, together with paintings and etchings. Coupled with the thoughts and memories of tourists and travellers from the 17th century through to the present time, it gives a fascinating insight into how our ancestors would have spent their time at the coast. Evocative and intriguing, absorbing and surprising, John Heywood’s book will appeal both to those familiar with the area and to others who just enjoy being “Beside the Seaside”. Praise for Beside the Seaside “While the author delights the reader with some splendidly nostalgic content—with illustrations to match—there’s also some reflection on the changing times, a current renaissance and future possibilities. A good book to take with you on your hols.” —Best of British, July 2018, Book of the Month “A brief but fascinating history of the popular seaside resorts of God’s own country.” —Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine “John’s fabulous book examines people’s fascination with and love of seaside resorts in Yorkshire, and the evocative photographs and excellent text make this one of the finest advertisements for such resorts to have ever been published. Brilliant!”—Books Monthly