These bathing machines for women in Brighton, provided by Bob Pearce, were pictured in 1875. Mr Pearce also had many machines available for men further along the beach.

They were considered essential for bathers in the Victorian era but by the 1920s most of them had gone.

This picture was sent in by historian David Rowland, of Telscombe Cliffs, who points out the Chain Pier in the background. It was destroyed by a storm in 1895 but had been abandoned by then because of its poor condition. He says, “I think the wooden breakwaters looked better than the modern ones.”