Dr Kathryn Ferry
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seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry
@seasideferry.bsky.social
Historian specialising in seaside, architecture & design. I write books, give talks and do a bit of telly.
Founder member @seasidenetwork.bsky.social
Fellow @royalhistsoc.bsky.social Rep'd by @pastpreservers.bsky.social
https://linktr.ee/kathrynferry
#worthing has quite a collection of deckchairs and council initials stamped on the frames suggest some could be almost 100 years old
#seasideheritage
November 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
On my way to #Worthing today to do some deckchair consultancy (yes truly!) Have put on my most appropriate socks #pier 🧦😄
November 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM
If you missed our seminar on Georgian Women yesterday it will shortly be available to watch via our website
Thanks to our excellent speakers yesterday for another fascinating seminar. We learnt about Jane Austen, Martha Gunn and the delights (not always!) of a trip to the Georgian seaside
November 6, 2025 at 4:56 PM
On my way back from North Wales after a flying visit to Clough Williams-Ellis home, Plas Brondanw. 14 hours on trains over 2 days but worth it! Looks beautiful even under grey skies
October 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Been researching seaside Floral Halls, a type of concert hall inspired by the Floral Hall next to the Royal Opera House. Designed by EM Barry, it originally combined a concert venue & flower market. Happened to be in Covent Garden today and a lovely volunteer let me see inside
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Dr Kathryn Ferry
We're delighted to be working with our friends @artdecosocuk.bsky.social on this upcoming event featuring talks by @seasideferry.bsky.social @allanbrodie.bsky.social and @karenaverby.bsky.social
www.ticketsource.co.uk/art-deco-soc...
October 21, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Dr Kathryn Ferry
Join us for this special collaborative event with the Seaside Heritage Network, that brings together four speakers with distinctive insights into preservation, design, and place.
October 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
This Thursday I'll be in #Brighton talking about my new book at the West Pier Centre. Do pop along if you're in the area 😊

www.westpier.co.uk/news/twentie...
Twentieth Century Seaside Architecture - 23rd October 2025 - West Pier Trust
Based on Kathryn's new book of the same title, this talk explores how seaside buildings changed between 1920 and 2000. Though this period covers both the
www.westpier.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Walked past this building earlier, the Salvation Army Citadel in #Sheffield. It's boarded up now through lack of use but I learnt from a fellow speaker on Saturday that there were riots against the Sally Army in the 1880s! In #worthing all the windows in their HQ were broken
October 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Spent today at the fab National Fairground and Circus Archive @uoscollections.bsky.social
Surprising upshot of browsing through 1932 copies of World's Fair magazine is that I now know who (probably) invented the ice cream cornet - Charles E Menches from Akron, Ohio. Now you know too 🍦🍦🍦
October 13, 2025 at 7:28 PM
@victurk.bsky.social Saw this and (obviously!) thought of you.
I'm sure you know #Sheffield #turkishbaths but it was great to see it so boldly advertised and still in use
October 13, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Really enjoyed my talk at #sheffield Millennium Gallery yesterday. A sell-out crowd which just goes to show that you don't have to be beside the #seaside to appreciate it
October 13, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Okay, so I'm not famous enough to appear on the banner but I'm excited to be in such brilliant company! #OffTheShelf #FestivalofWords #Sheffield
October 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Stepped out of the train in #sheffield and the sun was in my eyes! But look, there's Park Hill behind the station...
And lots of shiny things on the walk to my hotel
October 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
On my way to #sheffield to speak at the #OffTheShelf festival and taking a moment to admire the marvellous train shed at St Pancras by William Henry Barlow and Rowland Mason Ordish
October 12, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This looks fascinating. I worked as a tour guide in a glass factory when I was a teenager talking visitors through the processes on the floor below. Didn't know the concept started between the wars
October 12, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Reposted by Dr Kathryn Ferry
#onthisday, 12 Oct 1868, the #Brighton #TurkishBaths opened in West Street. The Architect—Horatio Nelson Goulty—secretary, & all original directors of the Brighton Turkish Bath Co Ltd were Freemasons. www.victorianturkishbath.org/_6DIRECTORY/... Closed in 1909, it became the Academy Cinema. 🗃️ #C19th
October 12, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Some bow windows in #Lewes. I like the tenty shape of the one painted black. Incidentally the building is for sale if anyone would like to own it (me, me, me!)
October 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Tomorrow I'm speaking at a conference about Victorian and Edwardian Sussex which gives me the chance to talk about #piers and Kursaals - a form of entertainment pavilion inspired by Continental spa towns. Here are the Kursaals at Bognor, Bexhill & Worthing
www.sussexarchaeology.org/victorianedw...
October 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Should you be looking for bathroom design inspiration here are some colorful ideas from the late 70s. Couldn't resist picking up a catalogue of sanitary ware from a local bus stop/ book swap. I mean, just look at the colour chart 😍
October 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Went to a really good talk this evening by Roger Morgan-Grenville at #EastGrinstead Bookshop. Lots of what he said resonates with my experience so I'm looking forward to reading the book #RestlessCoast
October 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Hard to imagine now but the #Brighton Grand Hotel must have looked like a skyscraper when it was first built in 1864. Designed by John Whichcord Jr. it towered over the rest of the seafront
October 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
My next book talk is coming up this weekend when I'll be in #sheffield for #offtheshelf Festival of Words. I'm speaking on Sunday at 6pm - here's the info
offtheshelf.org.uk/events/twent...
A nostalgic exploration of Britain’s distinctive and architecturally significant seafront buildings from the 1920s to the new millennium. This book takes the first look at how resort architecture around the UK coast kept pace with changing fashions and competition of foreign destinations.
offtheshelf.org.uk
October 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Lovely to talk about the Seaside Section of the Festival of Britain just metres away from where it was located in 1951. Here's a pic of the site today and some souvenirs belonging to members of the Festival of Britain Society
October 4, 2025 at 12:41 PM
This morning I'm at the Royal Festival Hall to give a talk for the Festival of Britain Society all about how the 1951 exhibition was influenced by, and in its turn influenced, the British seaside.
October 4, 2025 at 8:56 AM