The appeal of the coast (and the countryside in general) was partly an escape from the crowds and pollution of the modern city. Pegwell Bay was painted after just such a holiday trip in 1858.

Dyce paints the scene with the meticulous detail associated with the Pre-Raphaelite style. People are shown engaging in gentle pursuits: gathering shells and exploring rock pools, popular pastimes from the mid-century onwards. Donkey rides had become a feature of coastal tourism in the Victorian period, as demonstrated by the men and donkeys at the foot of the cliffs on the right.