banner
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry
@seasideferry.bsky.social
1.6K followers 490 following 530 posts
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
linktr.ee
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 5h
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
1 10
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 11h
That's an attractive looking block
1 2
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 12h
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
2 6 28
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 12h
Yay!
2
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 1d
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
1 2 4
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 4d
😍
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 4d
It was one of several scarves on show - serious collectors!
1
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 4d
Yay! Hope you enjoy it 😊
1
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 4d
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
3 1 16
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 4d
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.
1 3 25
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 5d
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 🤞
2 3 33
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 5d
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
13
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 5d
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
9
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 6d
Keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/artic...
The beloved Dorset hotel 'in disrepair' set to finally make a comeback
A hotel in a popular seaside town in the UK is set to make a comeback. The building, one of the area's most recognisable coastal landmarks, fell into disrepair in 2022.
www.dailymail.co.uk
3 16
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 6d
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 ☺️
2 20
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 6d
Looks like the sand is shifting around them. We don't have many huts actually on the beach in the UK, probably for this reason!
1 1
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 10d
Glad to hear it!!
2
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 12d
This was really fun to record. Hope you all enjoy it!
grindrod.bsky.social
John Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 13d
After a late summer break, Monstrosities Mon Amour is back, and with a seaside special: Blackpool's Golden Mile with the brilliant @seasideferry.bsky.social. And also, discover her passion for 50s wonder-fabric Crimplene! Fun, actual fun. open.substack.com/pub/johngrin...
Monstrosities Mon Amour: The Golden Mile, Blackpool, with Kathryn Ferry
#10. John Grindrod meets seaside historian Kathryn Ferry to explore the outlaw Victoriana of Blackpool's Golden Mile and Macclesfield's 50s wonder-fabric, Crimplene
open.substack.com
1 4 18
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 16d
Aha! That is an extremely smart set up you've got there. I'd say a deck chair is right for the 50s 👍
2
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 16d
If I find any other postcard evidence I'll let you know. I do have one or two (thousand!!) that I can look through...
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 16d
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.
1
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 16d
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...
1 11
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 16d
Looking forward to seeing this on catch up
davidjarratt.bsky.social
Dr David Jarratt. @davidjarratt.bsky.social · 17d
BBC Travel Show on 'Saving the Seaside'. @seasideferry.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
The Travel Show - Saving the Seaside
Rajan Datar explores the future of Britain's seaside towns, from Margate to Skegness, uncovering stories of revival, climate pressure, and community grit. Can the British seaside still shine in 2025?
www.bbc.co.uk
1 4 15
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 21d
Very happy to be an Art Deco ambassador, I might even adopt that title 😊
1
seasideferry.bsky.social
Dr Kathryn Ferry @seasideferry.bsky.social · 21d
Artistic licence I guess, but thanks for the correction