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
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
#seasideheritage
November 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
#worthing has quite a collection of deckchairs and council initials stamped on the frames suggest some could be almost 100 years old
#seasideheritage
#seasideheritage
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
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
Some Seaside Floral Halls from the 1900s, 1930s and 1950s at #Scarborough, #Gorleston and #Rhyl. They were often heavily glazed but took on a different form between the wars when that at Gorleston was part of a #lido complex. Although it's the only survivor of the 3, it faces an uncertain future.
October 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Some Seaside Floral Halls from the 1900s, 1930s and 1950s at #Scarborough, #Gorleston and #Rhyl. They were often heavily glazed but took on a different form between the wars when that at Gorleston was part of a #lido complex. Although it's the only survivor of the 3, it faces an uncertain future.
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
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
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
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
@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
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
@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
I'm sure you know #Sheffield #turkishbaths but it was great to see it so boldly advertised and still in use
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
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
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
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
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
And lots of shiny things on the walk to my hotel
October 12, 2025 at 2:56 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
And lots of shiny things on the walk to my hotel
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
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
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
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!)
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...
www.sussexarchaeology.org/victorianedw...
October 10, 2025 at 1:04 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...
www.sussexarchaeology.org/victorianedw...
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
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 😍
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
The Garrick Theatre in #southport is a glorious essay in #artdeco styling that will hopefully be brought back to life soon. Designed by local architect George Tonge in 1932, it has more recently been a bingo hall and is now scheduled to become a classy hotel 🤞
October 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Garrick Theatre in #southport is a glorious essay in #artdeco styling that will hopefully be brought back to life soon. Designed by local architect George Tonge in 1932, it has more recently been a bingo hall and is now scheduled to become a classy hotel 🤞
From my pre-breakfast mooch around #southport Marine Lake, an area replete with ornamental shelters. The iron ones feature #artnouveau motifs and were cast by David King & Sons of #glasgow
#ShelterAppreciationSociety
#ShelterAppreciationSociety
October 3, 2025 at 12:24 PM
From my pre-breakfast mooch around #southport Marine Lake, an area replete with ornamental shelters. The iron ones feature #artnouveau motifs and were cast by David King & Sons of #glasgow
#ShelterAppreciationSociety
#ShelterAppreciationSociety
Lovely audience for my talk last night so big thank you to #TheAtkinson #Southport for having me and to Waterstones for setting up the bookstall
October 3, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Lovely audience for my talk last night so big thank you to #TheAtkinson #Southport for having me and to Waterstones for setting up the bookstall
On my way to #Southport to give a talk this evening at The Atkinson. Going to be talking about piers, bandstands, lidos (with and without pools!) cinemas and leisure centres. Basically the whole 20th century seaside schbang ☺️
October 2, 2025 at 12:35 PM
On my way to #Southport to give a talk this evening at The Atkinson. Going to be talking about piers, bandstands, lidos (with and without pools!) cinemas and leisure centres. Basically the whole 20th century seaside schbang ☺️
That is VERY niche, but then that's sort of my speciality...
I think it was probably the 60s. This postcard from my book was sold to promote the new extension to the Cavendish Hotel which was completed in 1965. The loungers are part of the modern ideal the hotel was selling.
I think it was probably the 60s. This postcard from my book was sold to promote the new extension to the Cavendish Hotel which was completed in 1965. The loungers are part of the modern ideal the hotel was selling.
September 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
That is VERY niche, but then that's sort of my speciality...
I think it was probably the 60s. This postcard from my book was sold to promote the new extension to the Cavendish Hotel which was completed in 1965. The loungers are part of the modern ideal the hotel was selling.
I think it was probably the 60s. This postcard from my book was sold to promote the new extension to the Cavendish Hotel which was completed in 1965. The loungers are part of the modern ideal the hotel was selling.
Bless them, these ladies have got to #Southport a bit early for my talk but I'm glad to see they've dressed up!
I'll be at The Atkinson next week, 2 October at 7pm talking about my new book theatkinson.co.uk/events/c20-s...
I'll be at The Atkinson next week, 2 October at 7pm talking about my new book theatkinson.co.uk/events/c20-s...
September 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Bless them, these ladies have got to #Southport a bit early for my talk but I'm glad to see they've dressed up!
I'll be at The Atkinson next week, 2 October at 7pm talking about my new book theatkinson.co.uk/events/c20-s...
I'll be at The Atkinson next week, 2 October at 7pm talking about my new book theatkinson.co.uk/events/c20-s...
Well, that was fun! And I can now say I've performed on the same stage as ABBA! Lovely to be at #BrightonDome talking about Art Deco - it's a building of many layers, all of them fascinating
September 14, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Well, that was fun! And I can now say I've performed on the same stage as ABBA! Lovely to be at #BrightonDome talking about Art Deco - it's a building of many layers, all of them fascinating