Holidays Learning Journey

Holidays as we know them today were an invention of the industrial revolution. Before the factory people did not think of leaving their village and home for a week to stay elsewhere, they had chores and animals that could not be left alone.

Holy days were single days of celebrations, and the entertainment would travel to the people in the form of a travelling fair or troupe of players, which would set up on the village green and entertain for a few coppers or some food and drink.
The factories, with their unhealthy atmosphere and long days of work provided no time for enjoyment, the only days of freedom allowed were Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

So how did holidays as we know them develop? Follow the learning journey to see how our great grandparents celebrated and saved for their leisure time.

Click on the steps below to explore.

Holidays learning journey Step 6: A Week by the Sea. The unhealthy sooty atmosphere in the towns encouraged many families to follow the fashion being set by the wealthy, and escape to the sea side for their annual holiday. The cheap and efficient new methods of transport meant that for a small amount saved each week, most workers could afford a week in one of the new holiday resorts around the coastline. Towns like Blackpool and Morecambe expanded to accomodate the summer trippers. Boarding houses sprung up, where families could rent a room, "with use of cruet", which meant that they would bring their own food, and the landlady would cook it for them. The holiday towns invested in attractions like theatres and music halls to entertain their visitors if the weather should turn inclement. The term "golden rain" was used to describe the weather conditions that encouraged people to pay to get out of the rain. Blackpool's Wintergardens was opened in 1878, and contained an attraction called Noah's Ark, a collection of performing animals, birds and reptiles. It also contained The Opera House, Britain's largest theatre, where Charlie Chaplin played in 1904. For sunnier days there were Punch and Judy shows on the sands, Pierrot shows which would take place on the beach in the morning, giving a taster of an evening show at a local theatre. Many seaside towns had piers stretching out over the sea, where, when the tide was in and the beach inaccessible, people could stroll, taking the air, or sit on deckchairs and imagine themselves "wealthy folk" on a sea cruise. In 1894 Blackpool even copied the Eiffel Tower recently opened for the Paris Exhibition, Where for 6pence admission visitors could spend all day enjoying the attractions including a trip up to the top of the tower. What kind of entertainment do you want on your holidays? Compare the heights of the Blackpool and Eiffel towers. GG

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