Sources & methods (3): guest arrivals 1864

Demographics. Seasonality. Venues

Introduction

Sources & methods (3) describes the database constructed from guest movement data published each week by the Poole and Dorset Herald during 1864. This provides a valuable source of quantitative data which supports a range of analyses about this very important sector of Victorian Bournemouth’s economy.

Sources & methods (3): data

The newspaper published each week the names of guests present in Bournemouth. It recorded names according to whether people had arrived or departed. In addition, it reported people who had moved from one venue to another. As well as tourists’ names, the newspaper also listed the venues at which they arrived. For those moving between venues, the report captured the names of both places. Demographic data also appeared. Apart from names (and, hence, gender), this might include a title and whether or not an individual formed part of a group. Data has survived for all weeks except 5, 47, and 49. Thus, the database provides the basis for studying demographic aspects of Bournemouth’s tourism for close to an entire year.

Sources & methods (3): analyses

The database enables analyses along the three key dimensions of demographics, seasonality, and venue. For example, titular labels provide a way to explore holiday-taking amongst notable people: aristocracy, the Queen’s forces, and clergy. The seasonality figures portray the fluctuations in arrivals week by week, and, hence, by month or even season. This provides a way to assess Bournemouth’s claim that unlike most resorts, it had two seasons a year. Since the reports allocated names of arrivals to their venues, analysis on the latter becomes possible. Thus, on a simple basis, an idea of arrival volume for each venue emerges. Weaving together these three variables enables micro focus on specific points to occur. This includes the seasonality and venue choice for spinsters or whether venues varied by rank amongst military guests and so on.

Takeaway

Sources & methods (3) has provided information about the shape and components belonging to a key database relating to the history of Victorian Bournemouth: guests of 1864.

References

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