It's 75 years since the #festivalofbritain so a great reason to discuss how it represented and influenced #seaside places in my next online talk on 13 May. These pics show the Seaside Section on the South Bank, in front of the Festival Hall. Tickets at www.ticketsource.com/kathryn-ferry

I am hatching a beach pyjama plan so watch this space...

These #ghostsigns from #worthing are heading straight into my 'best of' folder! They advertise 'Paper Patterns and Fashion Books' on the left and 'Fancy Goods and Post Cards' on the right. You all know how much I ♥️ a postcard!!

A pleasure! Thanks for coming

Good audience for my talk this evening and a productive afternoon in #worthing. The newly re-opened museum is looking great and the #1920s costumes on display from their extensive collection are gorgeous. Beach Pyjama fans will appreciate pic 2!

Oh, I do hope so!

Got to keep those shelters spick and span!

yeah, there were loads of Kursaals in Europe and they had a bit of a moment here from c1900 to the First World War. The Germanic name pretty much disappeared after that - with the notable exception of #Southend

Off to #Worthing tomorrow to talk about #sussex #piers and kursaals. The latter were entertainment venues named after the Continental 'cure halls' at spa towns. I give you Ostend, Worthing and Bognor kursaals. Talk details below:
sussexlocal.net/event/sussex...

It was originally at Turner Contemporary in Margate

I'd recommend too

Only in hardback

Yep, that was me! The book is full of great images from the Butlin's archive. It's out of print so glad you found a copy

Happy Birthday Butlin's! #onthisday 1936 the first #butlins holiday camp opened at #skegness🥳

I wrote the official history for the company's 80th anniversary so thought I'd share some other Butlin's books from Sir Billy's day and after. 'Mystery at Butlin's' is next on my reading list...

Understanding seaside heritage as the legacy of mass tourism is fundamental to valuing it for the future - and it's time to stop being snobbish about it.

Come along to the @seasidenetwork.bsky.social @hbap1924.bsky.social @heritagenetwork.bsky.social symposium in June to find out more ⬇️

Seaside Architecture Between the Wars British seaside resorts were booming in the 1920s and 30s. Dr Kathryn Ferry explores how the architecture of our seafronts was changing.

Sun’s out! 🌞

Which reminds us: we’ve just had a cancellation, so there’s one ticket available for this talk on 30 April by @seasideferry.bsky.social which promises to be just the thing to get us all in the mood for summer. 🍦 ⛵️ 🏖️

Swansea, Mumbles and the Gower Coast : Official Album Guide : Swansea Corporation Information and Publicity Department : E.J. Burrow & Co. Ltd. : Cheltenham : nd [ca.1951] A variation on the theme of an official guide in the form of an 'official album guide' produced by specialist publishers Burrow's of Cheltenham for the Swansea Corporation's Information and Publicity Department in around 1951. It gives details of the holiday attractions not only of Swansea but also of neighbouring Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula. As well as information and advice there are numerous adverts for local companies and services. The unattributed cover is a splendid period item; a happy family enjoying the sunswept beach, making a sandcastle with many other people behind enjoying the sands, and with a pictorial map of the Gower and Swansea above. The title, Swansea in red, Mumbles in smaller blue lettering and Gower Coast in brown script, sits at the lower edge of the cover.

A take on the 'official guide' format with this Official Album Guide to Swansea, Mumbles & the Gower issued by Swansea Corporation's Information & Publicity Dept. in ca.1951. Marvellous cover with The Happy Family on the sunsoaked beach. #holidays @seasideferry.bsky.social

↘️ flic.kr/p/2s5wttQ

My next online talk celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain. I'll be looking at how the #seaside was represented at the South Bank and how design there, in its turn, influenced the look of resorts in the 1950s and 60s
Book your ticket at www.ticketsource.com/kathryn-ferry

Thanks @garius.bsky.social So glad you enjoyed it! And it was a pleasure answering your questions 😊

See you next month!

Butlin's will officially turn 90 on 11 April so I'm starting the month off with my online talk exploring its much underrated #designhistory. There will be chalets, theme bars and monorails!
Book your ticket at www.ticketsource.com/kathryn-ferry

These tiled steps are so cool! Patterns designed by local school children inspired by past #Ramsgate resident AWN Pugin, master of the #victorian Gothic Revival

Fell in love with this #artsandcrafts house on #ramsgate East Cliff. It was built 1889-90 by Ernest George and Harold Peto as a holiday home for William Wills of the tobacco family then was home to Dame Janet Stancomb-Wills who paid for the shelter in my last post. It's grade II* listed gorgeous 😍

Included the 1923 Winterstoke Sun Shelter on East Cliff, #Ramsgate in my talk last night but hadn't actually seen it in person til today. It's a monumental concrete structure set above cliffs sculpted in Pulhamite, an artificial stone used extensively around the town.

Arrived in #ramsgate yesterday evening as the sun was going down and the light was beautiful. My talk for the Ramsgate Society was sold out and I met some lovely people. Took loads of photos so be prepared for more!

A friend tipped me off about that so I mentioned it in my talk. Sad indeed. The others that have been restored were taken on by friends groups. Councils don't seem interested and/or don't have the money to keep them maintained

Not sure. D-day museum is on the site now

Cromer : Gem of the Norfolk Coast : official guide : Cromer Advertising Association/Cromer Urban District Council : 1965. A colourful cover to the 1965 edition of the official guide to Cromer and district that was produced, to lure holidaymakers to the town, by the local Advertising Association under the auspices of the Urban District Council. The coastal town originated as a fishing port - and is still known for it's Cromer Crabs - before developing as a small tourist centre in Victorian days. The colourful cover is by "RH" and shows the town perched on the low cliffs along with the beach and some of the afore mentioned fishermen. The booklet contains information pertaining to the town and surrounding area along with many adverts for holiday related businesses such as hotels and 'bed and breakfast' establishments. The lettering - Cromer in red with other text lower edge in black - is in script lettering.

Cover to the 1965 Official Guide to Cromer & District - Gem of the Norfolk Coast. Published to help lure holidaymakers it contains information as to the town's amenities & many adverts for hotels & "B&B" establishments. @seasideferry.bsky.social

↘️ flic.kr/p/2s3SPr1

This one?

Ever wondered where the idea for floral clocks came from?
Well, I will tell you if you sign up for the #seasidegardens seminar with @seasidenetwork.bsky.social !

Thank you!