Ilfracombe, Capstone Parade and Wildersmouth 1860 - 1894

Francis Bedford made this albumen print of Ilfracombe in Devon, England, during the mid-19th century. Bedford was one of many artists employed by photographic firms to document the British landscape, and seaside towns like Ilfracombe held a particular fascination. Here we see the Capstone Parade, bustling with figures, and Wildersmouth Beach, where people gather to enjoy the bracing sea air. The very act of picturing these towns played a role in shaping the social and cultural landscape of the time. Photographs like this were widely circulated as tourist souvenirs, postcards, and illustrations in books and magazines. They helped to create a sense of national identity and promoted the idea of the seaside as a place of leisure and recreation, particularly as new railway networks opened up this remote part of the country. As art historians, we can look to archives, guidebooks, and social histories to understand the role that photography played in shaping the Victorian experience of travel and leisure.