Banjo Groyne was built in 1887 and is so called because it is shaped like a banjo.

Since the 1930s the beach has become much higher due to the drift of shingle, but the Volks railway originally ran along the beach on a track raised by a viaduct. Back then, at high tide, the sea to the east of the Banjo Groyne came right up to the new sea wall, which was built in 1895 to extend Madeira Drive eastwards.

‘In the summer some of the kids, girls as well, used to go barefooted on nice days, so their parents could save on the shoe leather. To be in fashion, I left my boots and shoes off, and used to go with my pals down to the Banjo Groyne beach – the tide seemed to go out further then – and go bathing with clothes or swimming costumes on, girls as well, but they kept well away from us. On the way back some of the very poor children used to look for what they called Chockers; that was an apple core not eaten very much, or perhaps an orange that had only been partly sucked. The lucky finder would have first bite, and then hand it over to the next one, and so on, until it was all gone, pips and all. I never did fancy having a bite. I think I did once, but I did not like it.’

‘On the east side of the Banjo Groyne you used to have to go down steps to get to the beach. The beach below Banjo Groyne was very popular in summer as it was sheltered from the south-westerly winds. In the thirties, arc lights were suspended from the Volks railway supports and other vantage points. Those interested indulged in midnight bathing, and this stretch of shingle and sand became known as the Lido beach. During the Second World War the beaches were closed for five years and thousands of tons of shingle accumulated here covering the access steps, the wooden supports and, probably, the floodlights. Now the beaches are all the same level and the men and boys who looked over the Banjo Groyne to admire the bathing belles below are no more to be seen.’

You have now completed this walk.