Virtual Branch Recording: A Brief History of the Coast in 100 Objects

By Sally Coulthard, published 23rd June 2026

The coast means something different to everyone. It’s a place of pleasure and reckless pursuits, of fishing, fearless endeavours and a crashing, rugged beauty. The coast is, and always has been, Britain's first line of defence and springboard to other cultures.

In this talk public historian Sally Coulthard delves into the myriad ways Britain's coastlines have shaped, and been shaped by, history, culture, and identity through the lens of 100 carefully selected objects.

About our speaker:

Sally Coulthard is a public historian who specialises in material culture, natural history, folklore and the story of rural life. Her 'A Brief History of the Countryside in 100 Objects' was voted a Waterstones Best Book of 2024 for Nature Writing. Sally’s work often weaves together different disciplines, pulling threads from social history, anthropology, archaeology, design and nature writing to bring her diverse subjects to life.

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