About Kathryn

Kathryn Ferry is an independent architectural historian, writer and lecturer. Her research interests include seaside history and Victorian architecture, specifically the work of designer Owen Jones. Although she grew up near the sea in North Devon it was not until her early twenties, when she began taking day trips to the East Anglian coast, that Kathryn discovered a passion for beach huts. She continued to pursue this new love while studying for her PhD at Cambridge University and in the summer of 2002, went on a two-month journey around the English coast to record the state of the nation’s huts. She has been researching their history every since and is now the national beach hut expert.

Kathryn’s Books

Beach huts and Bathing Machines

Kathryn’s first book Beach huts and bathing machines was the Shire Books bestselling title of 2009. This illustrated survey tells the story of beach huts past and present, from their origins in eighteenth century bathing machines to the many types of colourful hut that now line the UK coast.

The book is available from the beach-huts.com shop for £5.99 plus £1 post and packaging. If you would like a signed copy select the signed - "yes please" menu option...

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Sheds on the Seashore

For a more in-depth look at the fascinating and often comic story of how the humble beach hut evolved from a mobile changing cubicle into a highly desirable piece of seaside property, check out Kathryn’s second book Sheds on the seashore: a tour through beach hut history. Taking the beach hut as a starting point to explore the broader history of the seaside, this book also includes an account of Kathryn’s two-month trip around the English coast and the stories of the people she met along the way. A must-have for anyone who loves beach huts!

Praise for Sheds on the Seashore

A fascination for beach huts has taken Kathryn Ferry on an odyssey around the British coast... recording the huts she finds and the people she meets. The result is part historical account, part travelogue, consistently entertaining and peppered with anecdotes. An excellent account of these most idiosyncratic of British buildings.
Coast magazine

What a great release from thinking about The Real World! I have always loved beach huts. When we were little we went to Cornwall with another family. There were lots and lots of them and there was a beach hut. Us children weren't allowed in it - it was used for doling out sandwiches. (Banana and jam sandwiches, which was rather odd, but we got to like them.) But I love the idea of a haven away from the cold, where you can boil a kettle and change out of your wet bathing suit (knitted, of course.)
Katie Fforde, novelist

As a beach hut owner myself - I have one on the Norfolk coast - I quickly found myself identifying with many of the characters that Kathryn met on her travels and I really enjoyed her good delve into the quirky "Englishness" that makes our love affair with these humble "sheds" so strong
Graham L

Kathryn, I love your books - especially "Sheds on the Seashore". It’s so well researched, informative, entertaining - and readily accessible. Congratulations!
Jean T

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British Seaside Holidays

And if you’re a fan of old-fashioned bucket and spade holidays you’ll enjoy Kathryn’s book on British seaside holidays, also available from the beach-huts.com shop. Full of evocative pictures and packed with information this book documents the heyday of seaside holidays from the 1870s to the 1970s.

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The Hunt is on for Britain's Best Beach Hut!

To celebrate their colourful presence on our coastline hut users are being asked to put forward their "Beach Hut of the Year" in a competition that will see five coastal regions go head to head for the coveted award. Entries can be submitted for Best Kept Hut, Best Design, Beach Hut Hero and Best Beach Hut Name

Entries are welcome from individuals, councils, regional tourist boards or beach hut associations. The public can take part by visiting the website and voting for their favourites. The competition, sponsored by TL Risk Solutions - the UK’s leading beach hut insurer, is open to anyone who wants to help celebrate the glory that is summer on the British coast.

Joining Kathryn on the judging panel will be:

Clare Gogerty, editor of Coast magazine
Andrew Wing, beach hut photographer
Jonathan Kitchen, Director of Private Clients at TL Risk Solutions

Get involved now and show the world why you love your beach hut!

Beach huts in the media

Kathryn has contributed to numerous press articles as well as radio and TV programmes including the popular BBC series Coast, The One Show, Countryfile and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

Bathing Beauties Festival

In September 2009 Kathryn visited Mablethorpe for the third annual Bathing Beauties Festival. This event grew out of the Bathing Beauties® competition which was launched in 2006 to get architects from around the world to come up with designs for a twenty-first century beach hut. Several of the winning entries have now been built along the Lincolnshire coast and as one of the judges in the original competition Kathryn was thrilled to be signing copies of her book outside the newest addition to the Prom "A hut for gazing and canoodling". For more details see www.bathingbeautiesfestival.org and to watch Kathryn at the festival check out: