Mr. Punch in the Arts: “Punch & Judy on the Beach in Llandudno,” 1886

Punch & Judy on the Beach at Llandudno
R. Barnes, illustrator for The Graphic, 1886 or 1887
Victoria & Albert Museum

In the 1880’s in Britain, as railways made travel faster, people welcomed the newfound freedom and ease with which they could travel to the seaside for a much-needed holiday.  Punch & Judy shows were a staple of seaside resort life.  In fact, they still are.  Here we see an illustration produced by R. Barnes for the newspaper The Graphic which shows a seaside scene at a beach in North Wales—Llandudno.  The drawing is thought to depict Professor Herbert Codman’s Punch & Judy Booth.  Members of the Codman family were well-known Punch & Judy men and performed over generations for over a century in Wales.  This highly detailed drawing is as accurate as any photograph—showing details such as the bathing machines in the distance and the reactions of the crowd as they watch the show.