From promenading on the pier to landing the big catch
With the arrival of the school holidays, attention will no doubt turn to summer trips to the coast to enjoy all that North Yorkshire’s famous seaside resorts have to offer.
But for our residents who live on the coast, the pleasures of life by the seaside are a constant benefit throughout the year.
Discover thousands of fascinating images from North Yorkshire’s past. Browse our extensive collection and own a piece of history today.
Here we take a look in our archives at some images over the years of life in the county’s coastal communities.
One photo shows men and women dressed in their finest outfits on the North Promenade Pier in Scarborough during the early part of the 20th century, after the North Yorkshire seaside resort had emerged as one of the nation’s favourite seaside destinations.
More everyday tasks are captured in a photograph of a woman doing her laundry on wash day in Staithes, while fishing crews are pictured bringing their catch ashore at Whitby Harbour.
North Yorkshire Archives holds thousands of historic photos - you can browse the collection through the online shop.
If you have any further information about any of the images on this page, our archivists would be keen to hear about it. Please email yny@northyorks.gov.uk.
A crowd watches as a boat is launched in the sea at Filey. Taken by local photographer Bertram Unné, active between 1940 and 1979.
Lily Thompson is pictured wearing her Staithes bonnet. The bonnet is padded to protect the head and the long frill at the back is intended to prevent water dripping down the neck. Taken by local photographer Bertram Unné, active between 1940 and 1979.
A postcard called Up the Harbour at Whitby by A. Winter Moore. The postcard was published by Raphael Tuck & Sons circa 1908.
Two salmon fishermen are pictured taking a moment to relax in Robin Hood’s Bay. Taken by W. A. Smith, circa 1913.
A group of women dressed in bonnets and dresses sit on a bench while enjoying a day out on the coast. From a collection of Scarborough and Whitby photographs dating from 1929.
Children are pictured paddling in the shallow model yacht ponds at Peasholm Lake in Scarborough. From a collection of Scarborough and Whitby photographs dating from 1929.
A lifeboat is launched at Robin Hood’s Bay. The undated photograph was taken by Graystone Bird (1862–1943) and comes from the ‘Tour of Yorkshire’ photographic collection.
A woman is pictured holding a basket in Wilson’s Yard in Whitby. The photo is undated and was taken by Graystone Bird (1862-1943). It is taken from the ‘Tour of Yorkshire’ photographic collection.
A woman is pictured doing her laundry during wash day in Staithes. The photo is undated and was taken by Graystone Bird (1862-1943). It is taken from the ‘Tour of Yorkshire’ photographic collection.
People are pictured wearing some of their finest outfits while on the North Promenade Pier in Scarborough. The picture was taken during the early 20th century.
Fishing crews are pictured bringing their catch ashore at Whitby Harbour. The image is undated and was taken by G. W. Wilson & Co.
A schedule listing details of shareholders and the number of £10 shares that each holds in relation to Whitby’s public baths. The schedule is dated as 1 December 1825 and comes from the Whitby Museum Manuscripts collection.