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Claire Barratt facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Claire Barratt (born 1974) is an amazing English expert who works with old machines and buildings. She is a steam engineer, which means she knows a lot about engines powered by steam, and an industrial archaeologist, someone who studies old factories and machines to learn about history. You might also know her as a television presenter from shows about fixing historical items!

Claire Barratt's Exciting Career

Studying Engineering

Claire started her journey by studying civil engineering at the University of Portsmouth. This type of engineering is about designing and building things like roads and bridges. But while she was studying, she became more interested in mechanical engineering, which focuses on how machines work and are built.

Working with History

After finishing university, Claire worked at several cool places. She helped at the Chiltern Open Air Museum, the Royal Armouries, and the British Engineerium. At the British Engineerium, she still works as a special engineer today.

Television Adventures

Claire's TV career began when she appeared on Channel 4's show Salvage Squad. This programme was all about restoring old, broken historical machines. First, she was a participant, helping to fix things. Later, she became a co-presenter, helping to host the show!

While filming Salvage Squad, Claire also earned a special degree called a master's degree. She studied the conservation of Industrial Heritage. This means she learned how to protect and preserve old industrial sites and machines. She even won an award for her fieldwork from the Association for Industrial Archaeology!

Current Projects

Today, Claire Barratt works as a freelance consultant industrial archaeologist. This means she works for herself, helping different groups with their historical projects. She has fixed and operated many different types of old vehicles. Right now, she is busy restoring an old watermill in Cornwall. A watermill uses the power of flowing water to grind grain or do other work.

Claire is also a member of Subterranea Britannica. This is a group that studies and records man-made underground places. It's like exploring hidden tunnels and old underground sites!

Claire's Life Outside Work

Claire Barratt is married to someone who also loves cars. They have two daughters.

Claire Barratt on TV

  • Salvage Squad, Channel 4, 2002–2004
  • The History Detectives, BBC, 2007
  • Rory McGrath's Best of British Engineering, Series Engineer, Discovery, 2006
  • The Biggest Little Railway in the World, Channel 4, 2018
  • Abandoned Places
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