Exhibition of historic seaside town photos opens

Organisers hopes to identify some of the people in the pictures, like these revellers celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953

A collection of historic pictures and documents detailing life in a seaside town for the past 140 years have gone on display.

The pictures of Burnham-on-Sea and the nearby market town of Highbridge are being exhibited at the Burnham Community Centre to mark the 40th anniversary of the North Sedgemoor Local History Group.

Chair of the group John Strickland said he hoped members of the public would identify some of the photos' subjects.

"We're hoping that their relatives will come along and help us fill in the jigsaw with their names," he said.

The display will cover the history of brewers Holt's, brick and tile manufacturers Apex and Colthurst & Symons, and a collection of photos of the Portishead Radio station which was situated where Mullholand Way is today.

Mr Strickland has also collected pictures of schools from the Victorian era, and pictures of the former Burnham-on-Sea railway station.

The history of the town's railways is also explored

Burnham became a popular seaside resort in the Victorian era

"A lot of people have moved to Burnham recently and they are often really interested in the history of that area and Highbridge," he said.

"I'm a big railway buff, and I grew up next to the railway line coming into Burnham.

"With the photos we can travel by train through into Burnham and then you can travel to see a boat at the jetty, that's when the railway was used to bring holiday makers in.

"There's a real interest in local history," he added.

"People really love the 'now and then' photographs."