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Karen Averby 🌊

@karenaverby.bsky.social

4.3K followers 1.2K following 7.7K posts

karenaverby.co.uk Buildings Historian/Consultant Seaside Heritage, House History, Hotels, Architecture, Local History, Archaeology, Other Delights Director ArchangelHeritage.co.uk FRHistS ACIfA Extreme Seagazer/ex-Archivist Rep Past Preservers Brum/London

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 6d

OH WE DO LIKE TO STROLL ALONG THE PROM< PROM, PROM!
I'll be giving this ONLINE talk on seafront buildings, 23 Oct 2pm- a jolly post-lunch slice of seafront buildings your ancestors may have encountered & enjoyed in years past.
#LocalHistory #FamilyHistory #Architecture #SeasideHistory #UKCoast

The Story of Britain’s Seafront Buildings

Talk on Zoom by Karen Averby, a seaside-loving historian, heritage research consultant and former archivist.

portal.sog.org.uk

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 1d

Important history. I remember watching the film, Escape from Sobibor. It stayed with me...

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 1d

Me too! Will be watching online with a pal, drinks and snacks.
#HouseHistory #Birmingham #BirminghamHistory

Justine Pick @justinepick.bsky.social · 1d

Looking forward to this house history: home to 3 families, then given to university for multiple uses, now heritage attraction with beautiful gardens
Winterbourne House and Gardens, Edgbaston, #Birmingham
🗓️Thurs 16 Oct
🕰️7:00-8:00
💻Online
All welcome

Winterbourne, 1904-2025

Join Dr Sue Tungate for this house history on Winterbourne in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 1d

Have only just read about this- lovely news!
#Devon's Woody Bay station (1898) receives Grade II status from Historic England: ''the best-surviving example of a station on the former Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.''

#UKCoast #Railway200 #RailwayHistory
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Devon's Woody Bay Station receives Grade II status

It is still in use and is credited with playing a significant role in the growth of tourism.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Karen Averby 🌊

Joel Morris @gralefrit.bsky.social · 10d

Ever wondered where all the Cheers title photos are from? I did. And I've gathered everything I can find into this post. That was fun.

joelmorris.substack.com/p/where-nobo...

Where nobody knows your name...

Tracing the anonymous faces at the start of Cheers.

joelmorris.substack.com

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 2d

Well, hello there...
A cool customer in Barmouth...
#UKCoast #Wales #seaside

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 2d

Save the date! ONLINE EVENT
Preserving Our Seaside Art Deco Heritage, 12 Nov 7pm.
An @artdecosocuk.bsky.social online event with @seasidenetwork.bsky.social.
4 speakers: @seasideferry.bsky.social @allanbrodie.bsky.social Nigel Wilkins, and me!
More info and booking details 👇

www.ticketsource.co.uk

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 2d

#BIRMINGHAM: Handsworth ''is hugely significant in the Black British story – a history seemingly unknown to Tory MP Robert Jenrick – as revealed on a guided walk that remembers Nelson Mandela and Benjamin Zephaniah.''
#LocalHistory #SocialHistory
www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...

Black, Brummie and proud: a walking tour of the real Handsworth

The Birmingham neighbourhood is hugely significant in the Black British story – a history seemingly unknown to Tory MP Robert Jenrick – as revealed on a guided walk that remembers Nelson Mandela and B...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Karen Averby 🌊

Historic Environment Forum (HEF) @histenvforum.bsky.social · 2d

[email protected] looking for case studies demonstrating how the #heritage sector is helping to create vibrant, creative, thriving, and sustainable places for people to live, work, and enjoy - if you can help, please contact Neil Andrews [email protected] by 17 October

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 2d

#BLACKPOOL: Tremendous tram/ transport treat trips are imminent, as the HMS Blackpool and vintage double-decker Tram 717 returns to the seafront for the Lightpool Festival (begins 15th Oct).
www.blackpooltransport.com/historic-tra...

Historic trams on track for Lightpool return

Tickets are on sale now for the historic return of HMS Blackpool and vintage double-decker Tram 717 during Lightpool festival

www.blackpooltransport.com

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 2d

Fancying some super seasonal spookiness? Here are a few atmospheric heritage sites:
'Six “spooky” places across the UK.'
Other than No. 6, the list is a tad South East/ South biased though- any suggestions for sites elsewhere?
www.heritagedaily.com/2025/10/six-...

Six “spooky” places across the UK to visit this Halloween

The UK is steeped in centuries of folklore, ghost stories, and eerie traditions. Castles, catacombs, and forests whisper tales of restless spirits and long-forgotten rituals, making the country a perf...

www.heritagedaily.com

Reposted by Karen Averby 🌊

Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group @yvbsg.bsky.social · 2d

Lovely! Also a chance for us to shamelessly plug our publication 'Doorways in the Dales' - details at www.yvbsg.org.uk/publications....

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 2d

Fabulous! Do you ever use them?

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

Hurrah That Friend! It is a desirable condiment that deserves more love... 😀

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

I never knew this! Mind you, the Archaeology modules I did at Aber in the '90s were undoubtedly far removed from anything he introduced back then...

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

They really don't. Hhhm, wonder when that happened? I have seen some Chinese food recipes that call for white pepper though!

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

That would be a somewhat miserable condiment-based mishap 🤔

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

Good job I like pepper! It would probably have to be white pepper though...

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

It is! I want one!

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

Ooh, fab- have just registered for this!

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

For #FindsFriday- Rather lovely mid-20th century tourist salt and pepper shaker, Llandudno Museum & Art Gallery. Perfect for fish 'n' chips!
llandudnomuseum.co.uk/20th-century...

#SeasideHistory #Wales #Llandudno #20thCentury

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Reposted by Karen Averby 🌊

Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 5d

I have a set of hand-drawn comics/gossip sheets/newspapers donated alongside our aluminium foundry at @bclivingmuseum.bsky.social, dating from (I think) late 1940s. Does anyone know any lit that will help me explore this as a source? I've found work on company mags but this is very different.

Excerpt from handwritten zine-style text entitled "Burglar's editorial"

Hand-drawn comic panel showing workman thumping a desk and shouting "I demand shorter hours" - the caption reads, "whadoya want then = fifty nine minutes"

Hand-drawn caricature of Ernest Bevin, reading "Bevin says - even Russians read this paper"

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

Waiting...

Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

I did! Really encouraging- will be in the ADSUK/ SHN talk for sure :)

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

This looks great! Pop to #Ilfracombe Museum to see their exhibition on The Holiday Industry, featuring 1870s VR experience of the glamorous luxury Ilfracombe Hotel! Plus how The Holiday Trade influenced the town www.ilfracombemuseum.co.uk#iLightbox[ga... #SeasideHistory #LocalHistory #Devon #UKCoast

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Karen Averby 🌊 @karenaverby.bsky.social · 5d

I cover this sort of thing in my upcoming talk on seafronts :)

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