Ursell's edge waves are derived systematically using a new method. Computed profiles are then compared with the lesser known shoreline singular waves first constructed by Roseau (1958). A recent method of writing the continuous spectrum solutions on a plane beach is thereby extended to the discrete spectrum to enable the reconstruction of both types of edge waves so that, in particular, the unbounded wave profiles are more easily computed. The existence of stagnation points on the bed for standing edge waves is considered and demonstrated for the first few modes. A ramification of this is the existence of (two-dimensional-cross-shore) dividing ‘streamlines’ from the bed to the surface also, the number of which appears to equate to the modal number of the edge wave. These dividing streamlines, along with other streamlines, are computed for the first few modes of both the Ursell and the (alternative) singular waves constructed by Roseau.

It follows that these waves can also exist in the presence of solid cylinders bounded by fixed streamlines and, in particular therefore, that the hitherto unbounded Roseau waves can exist in a bounded state since a region including the origin can be removed from the flow by exploiting a dividing streamline. It is confirmed that the wavenumbers of the Roseau waves interlace those of the Ursell waves. An examination of available evidence leaves open to further research the question of whether the alternative Roseau waves have been ‘inadvertently’ observed either in the laboratory or, by means of contamination of data, in the field. Further laboratory simulations using longshore solid cylinders as ‘wave guides’ are proposed.