Last Friday, John Beynon gave the Tenby and District Arts Club a fascinating talk on the people of Victorian Tenby, beginning with the way Tenby had declined from a thriving merchant town that could give Bristol a run for its money to a declining fishing port in the early 1800's. This can be seen in the paintings of Charles Norris (writes A.D.).

By the 1850s, Tenby had reinvented itself as a resort, helped by the wars on the Continent sending people on holiday at home, and the rise in popularity of sea bathing. A new harbour, walkways and parks were constructed.

There was still much poverty among the fishing community, but some of the wealthy incomers were keen to be philanthropic. A national school was established in the building now housing the museum, and in 1871 the cottage hospital opened.

Fanny Price Gwynne lived in what is now the Ocean Café by the harbour, from 1819 to 1900. She was a wealthy antiquarian, poet, philanthropist and author of guide books to Tenby.

Augustus John left memories of his childhood in Tenby from his house in Victoria Street to jumping off the cliffs at the beach, and St. Margaret's summer fair by the Five Arches.

As incomers or new residents - retired, leisured or wealthy - started arriving, they moved into rebuilt parts of the old town or out above the North Beach to the North Town (now known as the Norton).

Dr. Daniel Dyster worked at Tenby Hospital, and was also a councillor, mayor, founder member and donor of the new Tenby Museum, founded in 1878. His special interest was marine biology, and he was instrumental in bringing the well-known biologist Thomas Henry Huxley to Tenby, where they both gave lectures. The Observer described his life as one of 'unostentatious munificence'.

Dr. Chater is remembered as the saviour of the Five Arches, having put an injunction order on it to prevent it from being demolished. His daughters donated the font to St. Mary's in his memory.

Visitors came to Tenby by sailing and steam ships, carriages and then in the 1860s the railway. Mary Ann Bourne described Tenby in a guide book as the 'judicious choice of rank and fashion'.

It was recommended that bathing machines be used early in the day as they later became smelly and disgusting. There were also complaints of 'gross violations of propriety and common decency'. There were strict regulations on the beaches about what could be worn - so locals often went down to the Giltar end of South Beach to bathe without costumes or bathing machines. Charles Goss described young boys jumping in from the harbour and 'clinging to rocks like barnacles'.

Many artists visited Tenby, including J. M. W. Turner, Charles Norris and William Powell Frith. Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) visited twice, and Beatrix Potter stayed on the Croft. Tenby was described as 'fair and fashionable' and the 'Naples of Wales'.

There is no Arts Club meeting this week as Tenby Male Voice Choir is having a concert for St. David's Day in St Johns.

On March 8, Val, Roz and Anne are going further afield... All welcome at 8 pm at St. Johns Church Hall, £2 for members and £4 for non-members, including light refreshments. On the 15th, we are changing to St. Mary's for a one-woman play by Alison Neil.