Seaside Holidays activity 3: design a Victorian seaside resort
It’s 1843 and Folkestone is attracting thousands of visitors for its salt-water-bathing and healthy climate.
With the coming of the railway, things are going to get even busier. You’ve been commissioned by the local landowner Lord Radnor, and Folkestone Town Council, to design a new seaside resort.
- How and where will visitors arrive, where will they stay, and what will they do for entertainment?
- What unique attractions will make Folkestone stand out from its rivals?
- And how will you keep young and old, rich and poor, locals and visitors happy?
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding of Folkestone as a seaside resort.
Skills and confidence in town planning and map making.
Curriculum links
KS1-2 History (Local Area Study, seaside holidays).
KS1-4 Geography (design and map a new seaside resort)
KS1-4 Art and Design (graphic design)
KS1-4 ICT
Children investigate the elements that are needed to make a successful Victorian seaside resort by exploring the Learn with Objects Seaside holidays topic and other sources.
Discuss as a whole class some of the challenges of designing a town.
The need for wide paved streets, lighting, sewerage, decent housing for rich and poor, hotel and guest house accommodation, transport links by land and sea, shops, schools, seaside entertainments.
Research some examples of Victorian seaside towns that were planned from scratch like Saltburn by the Sea, some that were planned in part (like the Leas in Folkestone) and others that grew organically.
Design a Victorian seaside resort
Working independently or in teams, pupils create a 2D or 3D design of their new resort. This can be a real or a virtual design, utilising art and design and/or ICT skills.
Students present their finished designs to the whole class.