In the background of this 1859 fashion plate you can see several "bathing machines" in position on the beach, one being moved by a horse, and a few more lined up further back from the shore; and also some women in bathing dress (don't know if they would have called it "swimming" by then...)Sorry this image is big and not very high-quality, but the printed illustration I'm trying to scan in from isn't all that great...
