Without going too far back in time, let's say until the 1970's, everyone and particularly people more exposed to sun - tyically peasants, farmers, fishermen and similar - would have been fully clothed (long sleeve shirts, long trousers) and would always, and I mean always, wear a hat when outdoors.

The whole idea of sun bathing is as well relatively recent, I believe going back to the early years of the past century and was anyway limited to very few.

And, as anecdata only - in the '70's - I was a child/kid and when we went to the seaside there were a few rules (carved in stone) by my granny:

1) you get to the beach no later than 8:00

2) you get out of the beach no later than 11:00

3) you can optionally go back to the beach no earlier than 16:00

4) for the first 15 days of holidays you stay under the tent/umbrella at all times except when taking a bath