Photographed between 1983 and 1986, this series explores the social and cultural life of two West Cumbrian coastal towns through their changing docklands and revived summer carnivals. Rigby focused in particular on Maryport harbour, semi-derelict at the time, yet subject to ongoing conversations about regeneration. He documented the many ways local people used the space: fishermen, dog walkers, coal pickers, golfers, bikers, travellers and children all appearing across his quiet yet attentive frames. His photographs capture the layered rhythms of coastal life, shaped by work, weather, tradition and adaptation.

He was also drawn to the area’s carnival culture, re-established in the early 1970s and providing a focal point for year-round community effort. Carnival day, with its tableaux, comic acts and foot characters, became a space where town pride, creativity and shared histories played out in public, momentarily transforming the streets into a stage for collective expression.