British tradition: beach huts

It's a very British tradition going back to Victoria times (when, apparently, seaside air and good health were linked) to have little huts along the sea's edge for families to own and enjoy.

Mostly these are individually decorated but with common features: a pitched roof, planked walls, a porch.

Brightlingsea has a few hundred of these huts - no overnighting allowed - but a sunny weekend sees families throwing open their doors, getting out the deck chairs and putting the kettle on. Neighbouring families go back generations - the huts rarely change hands. This is our hut with beach in front and boating lake behind. Perfect.