Join Me In Sunny Rhyl Poster – British Railways travel poster – Caswell c1950
In the 1950s there seems to have been a conscious decision by British Railways to move away from the wholesome, family images used on travel posters in the 1930s and 1940s, and move towards sexier, more glamourous images to advertise rail travel to Britain’s popular seaside resorts. The posters feature a bevy of beauties in a genre we like to call the ‘seaside pin-ups’. This Join Me In Sunny Rhyl Poster was commissioned by British Railways to promote rail travel to Sunny Rhyl which on the poster is dubbed The holiday playground of North Wales. In it a fair-haired summery beauty is skipping out of the shallow waters of the Irish Sea and stepping out onto the warm, sun-baked sands of Rhyl Beach. Dressed in a bright yellow 1950s bathing suit, the young woman looks beyond our gaze and offers a wave to friends on the beach. In the background, other seaside revellers and sun-bathers frolicking in the sea and relax on the beach. Our view further down the beach is interrupted by Rhyl’s truncated Victorian Pier and the magnificent Moorish-styled architecture of Rhyl’s Pavillion Theatre. The fabulous Join Me In Sunny Rhyl Poster was commissioned, published and produced by British Railways in the 1950s to promote rail travel to the Welsh coastal town of Rhyl. The bright and colourful artwork is signed by the artist Caswell.
Rhyl – A railway seaside gem
Rhyl is a popular, much-loved Victorian seaside resort nestled in Flintshire on the northeast coast of Wales. For over 200 years it has offered a picturesque escape at the mouth of the River Clwyd. Its roots as a holiday haven trace back to the 1830s and 1840s, a period when sea bathing gained immense popularity. Lying within the historical boundaries of Denbighshire, the town’s close proximity to Liverpool and Manchester quickly made it popular with tourists from the bustling cities of the northwest of England. The arrival of the Chester and Holyhead Railway in 1848 brought in new visitors from as far away as London
As the town flourished, it set out to cater to every need of the discerning seaside traveler. Along the town’s expansive sandy beach, elegant hotels graced the seafront, offering luxury and comfort. The transport infrastructure was equally impressive, with Rhyl boasting one of the most modern train stations of its time. The town’s commitment to leisure and culture was evident in its luxury baths, libraries, and reading rooms, rivaling the best Britain had to offer. Stretching out into the sea, the 2,115-foot-long Victoria Pier became an iconic landmark, beckoning visitors with its charm. An artificial boating lake provided additional recreation, and children reveled in the entertainment offerings, from pleasure rides and puppet shows to a miniature railway. The town’s crowning glory, however, was the stunning backdrop of the Snowdonia mountain range, creating a breathtaking panorama for this idyllic coastal haven.
As Rhyl continued to evolve, so did its reputation as a premier holiday destination. Coasting steamships regularly arrived from Liverpool and Lancashire, enhancing its accessibility and popularity. It’s no wonder that Rhyl garnered acclaim as an ideal family-friendly destination, a veritable children’s paradise that burst to life every summer, leaving cherished memories in the hearts of all who ventured to this captivating seaside town.
Back in the days before package holidays became the norm, Rhyl was one of Britain’s go-to destinations for thousands of tourists and their families in search of a wholesome and refreshing escape. The allure of the sea air, the sun-kissed sandy beaches, and the myriad attractions along the promenade drew visitors from far and wide. Spanning the decades from the 1950s through to the 1980s, Rhyl emerged as a vibrant hub of entertainment and fun, solidifying its status as one of the UK’s premier holiday hotspots. Today, hundreds of thousands of people still hold dear the cherished memories they created in these quintessential British seaside towns during their golden years.
Rhyl, in its heyday, epitomised the elegance of a Victorian-era resort town. However, the landscape of British tourism underwent a seismic shift with the advent of package holidays and the availability of cheaper air travel. This change saw a steep decline in the fortunes of many of Britain’s once-popular seaside towns, Rhyl included. To compound matters, a lack of regeneration efforts in the 1990s and 2000s only exacerbated the town’s challenges.
The challenges continued into the 21st century, with a combination of factors further straining Rhyl’s vitality. Austerity measures, stretching over a decade and a half, took their toll, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic dealt a heavy blow. Additionally, a mounting cost-of-living crisis added to the town’s difficulties. To be candid, seaside resorts all across the UK have faced substantial struggles in recent decades.
Nevertheless, there is good news on the horizon. Coastal destinations including Folkestone, Hastings, and Margate are beginning to successfully reinvent themselves, breathing new life into their communities. In 2023, Rhyl embarked on an ambitious regeneration project, due, in no small measure to £65 million pounds of Welsh Government and European money, offering a glimmer of optimism for its revival. The town aspires to recapture some of its former glory, hoping to regain its former stature as a bustling seaside resort, that’s very popular with tourists.
Caswell’s “Join Me In Sunny Rhyl” poster is an absolute delight, and we know you can’t resist her charm. Lucky for you, you don’t have to journey to Sunny Rhyl to enjoy this beauty. She could grace your doorstep and the walls of your home within the next day or two. Don’t wait—place your order today!
Other Seaside Pin-up posters
Morecambe fir First Class Holidays
Ramsgate Red Bikini
Sunny Rhyl Red bathing suit
Sunny Worthing Go By Train
Whitley Bay Starfish
Whitley Bay Poodle
Sunny Rhyl Donkey
