With winter at its worst, it is easy to yearn for the summer: the sunshine and sea, the beach and ice cream. The coast has always attracted us, and in Gwyn Jenkins new book, On the Seashore , we have a collection of photographs that portray the relationship between the Welsh and the seaside from the mid 19 ^th century to the present day. From the black and white photographs of Llandudnos promenade in 1857 to the surfers braving the waves on Y Sgers beach today, you can enjoy the varied coastal views through the last centuries, in every season, and without leaving your armchair.

Over the centuries many Welsh men and women earned their living from fishing, importing and exporting, or by providing leisure activities on the shore and on the water, and the aim of On the Seashore is to reflect this aspect of our history. The book includes photographs of fishing boats that sailed from small ports, such as Porth Dinllaen on the Lln Peninsula, where there were up to 40 boats that were used for fishing herring. There are also photographs showing the development of larger ports such as Aberdyfi and Porthmadog, as well as the significant docks of Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Barry. Among the other striking photographs there is an image of Porthmadog harbour in its heyday, when the ferry would transport people between Aberdyfi and Ynys-las.

Some coastal towns, such as Aberystwyth and Tenby, developed facilities to attract wealthy visitors, and with the arrival of the railways came the development of other seaside towns for the not-so-wealthy. Thousands would come on their holidays from large cities such as Liverpool and Manchester to Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Llandudno, and families would flock to Butlins in Pwllheli. In the south, mining families from the Rhondda would travel by train or bus to enjoy a day at the seaside in Barry or Porthcawl, where there was a fair, as well as the beach, to amuse them.

Even with the arrival of overseas package holidays, where sunshine was guaranteed, our coastline continues to attract visitors. The book includes some stunning recent photographs, including one of the more unusual visitors to Aberystwyths pier each February the starlings that flock there in their thousands at dusk to roost.

In the style of its precursor, Life in the Welsh Countryside , the photographs include the work of some of Wales best known photographers such as Geoff Charles, John Thomas, J H Lister, Tom Mathias, William Harwood, David Hurn and Keith Morris.

Gwyn Jenkins was brought up in Perparcau near Aberystwyth but has made Talybont his home for over thirty years. Before retiring in 2009, he was Director of Collections Services at the National Library of Wales. He has published several books, including the successful Life in the Welsh Countryside .

Some images from the book

Porthmadog

Bath house Llandudno

Porthcawl picnic