The north Cornwall seaside resort town of Bude has undergone quite a transformation since its humble beginnings as Stratton's unremarkable neighbour. As one local candidly put it, 'Stratton was a market town when Bude was just a furzy down.' Initially known for its beach sand properties, which worked wonders on soil and proved favourable with many Cornish farmers, Bude expanded rapidly following the construction of the sea canal in the early nineteenth century. The Victorians sought it out as the ideal holiday resort. Bude - known in the Cornish tongue as Porthbud - has proven a hit with holidaymakers as an idyllic seaside destination. Whether surfing at Widemouth Bay, exploring cliffs and hidden beach coves, or simply enjoying a spot of fishing, the charming resort has emerged as a tourist hotspot. Author Dawn G. Robinson has compiled a captivating collection of postcards that capture the beauty and charm of this seaside spot.

In 1800, Bude would have been lucky to have a population of 100, but people flocked to the town for work when the canal opened. When the canal closed, Bude would have crumbled, but for the developing tourist trade. The canal totally changed the topography of Bude. Victorian engineers built the breakwater and altered the course of the river to scour out a makeshift harbour. Today the breakwater is used for fishing and by tourists for fabulous views to Summerleaze Beach and beyond. Bude has had its share of disasters. The River Neet flooded the Strand and The Crescent in 1903, the 1950s and 1993, and in 1891 there was a great blizzard. The Strand now looks very different to the 1860s when it was dominated by warehouses. As tourism developed, many old buildings such as the cinema disappeared. Modern Bude has evolved, with changes to place names and buildings, but it remains a beautiful town loved by locals and visitors alike.

The third book about Bude by Dawn Robinson is a little different to the first two. Certainly, it contains historical and contemporary images; however, its focus is very much on the facts, fiction, people and places you may know little about in this friendly seaside town. Bude has little by way of ancient history but it has plenty of tales to be told. Home to fascinating characters and events, Bude is an enthralling community. For example, did you know that Bude was home to a survivor of the Titanic? Or that the creator of the artwork of a famous tarot deck died in Bude? That Tennyson was known to have visited? Or that a story very akin to Romeo & Juliet actually occurred nearby? Additionally, there are plentiful tales of shipwrecks, piracy and even smuggling along Bude's rocky shores. With much to capture your interest, this book walks you along some lesser-known paths of Bude's history, including an astonishing fictional Cornish tale of murder, plus many places and spaces which few people are aware of. If visiting Bude, get the inside story of what to look out for, and where to go to get a true feel of the town's history.