Seascale beach, Cumbria (1976)

Ref: 760803-050-27     Date: 03-08-1976

Seascale was a seaside resort in Cumbria from the 1850s until 1957 and the Sellafield fire. It was the UK's worst nuclear accident. The fire burned for 3 days. Radioactive materials were released into the air and sea. But there was no evacuation of Seascale. In fact, the accident was kept secret for those three days.

Then, the local school closed. The beaches closed. Tourism dried up and never recovered. High incidences of certain kinds of cancers have been recorded in this region.

This photo was taken August 1976. The beach at Seascale was still deserted, although it was summer.