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5 minute history

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Britain's heritage of piers dates from the boom in seaside resorts during the Victorian era.

The first seaside piers were built in England in the early 19th century.

Originally constructed as simple wooden landing stages for boat trips, piers later developed into complex entertainment venues, with ornate pavilions, delicate ironwork, and exotic lighting.

Serving the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight off England's south coast is the world's oldest seaside pleasure pier. Ryde Pier opened on 26 July 1814.

Here are 18 of the most beautiful seaside pleasure piers of the Victorian era.

Margate Pier, Kent, 1855

Margate claims a number of firsts for its once magnificent Victorian pier. It was the first pier from the famous pier designer Eugenius Birch, the first iron pier, and had been an 1100 foot wooden jetty called "Jarvis Landing Stage" since 1824-long before the reign of pleasure piers.

A drifting vessel and storm damage ultimately led to the pier's demise, with some relics to be found in Margate Museum.

Great Yarmouth's Britannia Pier, Norfolk, 1858

Originally measuring 700ft, the wooden structure was used for evening band performances and open air concert parties.

As Great Yarmouth grew in prominence as a holiday destination, the wooden structure was replaced by a steel construction, housing a 2000-seat pavillion.

Southport Pier, Merseyside, 1860

At 3,600 ft, Southport Pier is the second longest pier in Great Britain after Southend Pier, but at one time reached 4380 ft.

A cable operated tramway opened in 1865, running from the promenade to the far end of the pier and a tram has run in various guises ever since, only recently closing in June 2015 due to rising maintenance costs.

Worthing Pier, West Sussex, 1862

Opened as a simple 960-ft promenade deck, Worthing Pier was upgraded in 1888 with a 650-seat pavillion.

When only the stranded pier head remained after storm damage on Easter Monday, 1913, it became affectionately known as "Easter Island".

Blackpool North Pier, Lancashire, 1863

Intended only as a promenade, the popularity of Blackpool as a major tourist resort forced the oldest and longest of its three piers to offer other attractions including theatres and bars.

While Blackpool's other piers entertained the working classes with penny arcades and open air dancing, North Pier attracted an upper-class clientele with orchestral concerts and respectable comedians.

Designed by Eugenius Birch, it is the oldest remaining of his fourteen piers.

Brighton West Pier, East Sussex, 1866

Designed by Eugenius Birch to attract tourism to Brighton, the West Pier was constructed during the 1860s boom in pleasure pier building.

At its peak in 1919, it attracted two million visitors, but its popularity declined after World War II, eventually closing in 1975 after the owners filed for bankruptcy.

Decay and two major fires in 2003 have rendered it a mere shell of its former self.

Birnbeck Pier, Weston-super-mare, Somerset, 1867

Serving as a boarding point for steamships in the Bristol Channel, Birnbeck Pier was popular with tourists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is the only pier in England that links the mainland to an island.

Designed by Eugenius Birch, it is designated as part of England's "Heritage at Risk", being derelict and vulnerable to further decay since 1994.

Saltburn Pier, North Yorkshire, 1869

Arriving in Saltburn in 1861, the Stockton and Darlington Railway prompted a growth in tourism that spurred the construction of a 1500 ft pier with a steamship landing stage and a Cliff Hoist to provide access from the town via the steep cliff.

Eastbourne Pier, East Sussex, 1870

Opened by Lord Edward Cavendish, son of the 7th Duke of Devonshire, Eastbourne pier was 1000 ft long and with its bands and theatre, only offered the highest class of entertainment.

At the seaward end was a 400-seat domed pavilion, which was later replaced by a 1000-seat theatre, bar, camera obscura and office suite. Midway along the pier were two saloons.

Designed by Eugenius Birch, it was built on stilts resting on cups on the seabed so that the whole structure could move during rough weather

Clacton Pier, Essex, 1871

The first building in the new resort of Clacton-on-Sea, the pier was originally a wooden structure 480 ft long and 12 ft wide, serving as a docking station for steamships.

Becoming a popular destination for day trips, Clacton Pier was extended in 1893 to 1180 ft and a pavillion and other entertainment facilities were added.

Fire and storm damage caused significant structural weakness, but an ambitious restoration project was undertaken in 1994 to creae a modern amusement park.

Hastings Pier, East Sussex, 1872

Designed by Eugenius Birch-famous for the West Pier at Brighton and Eastbourne's Pier-Hastings Pier was opened on the first ever August Bank Holiday in 1872.

After a tumultuous history of storm damage, fires, and failed attempts to salvage the pier, it closed in 2008. National Lottery funding in 2012 eventually kickstarted a major redevelopment plan with the pier opening again on 27 April 2016.

Rhyl Pier, Wales, 1872

Damaged by ships and storms and eventually demolished in 1972, Rhyl Pier once reached out 2,355 ft into the sea in North Wales and included a pier railway.

Beside it stood the five-domed ornate Pavillion Theatre, once a famous Rhyl landmark.

Llandudno Pier, Wales, 1877

At 2295 ft, Llandudno Pier is the longest pier in Wales and is often chosen for Victorian and Edwardian seaside filming locations.

A 2,000-seat Pavillion Theater opened in 1886 with three stories and a flamboyant cast-iron veranda running the entire seaward façade. It burned down in 1994 and was not replaced.

Skegness Pier, Lincolnshire, 1881

At the time of its opening, the Skegness Pier, at 1,842 ft, was the fourth longest in England.

Featuring a saloon and concert hall at the pier head, it was damaged by a drifting ship in 1919 and today is only 387 ft long.

Folkestone Pier, Kent, 1888

Opened by Lady Folkestone on 21 st July 1888, the pier's pavilion could seat 800 patrons and provided high-brow entertainments for Folkestone's largely aristocratic clientele. A stroll on the pier cost 2 pennies.

Southend Pier, Essex, 1889

Spending time by the sea was considered good for one's health and many Victorian Londoners came to Southend for this reason.

But the sea recedes at Southend for over a mile, necessitating the original 60o-ft structure to be extended to 7,000 ft, making it the longest pier in Europe and the longest pleasure pier in the world today.

Morecambe Pier, Lancashire, 1896

Originally extending 1800 ft into the Irish Sea at Morecambe Bay, the pier suffered storm and fire damage but continued to soldier on, providing entertainment until 1978 when it was finally demolished.

Herne Bay Pier, Kent, 1899

Completed in 1899, and at 3,787 ft, it was the second longest pier in England until being demolished in 1978.

Still existing today is the restaurant at the pierhead which later became a ticket office and cafe.

At a short distance from the entrance, a large concert marquee housed the local Cremona orchestra and an electric tram cost 1 penny to take people from one end of the pier to the other.

Colwyn Bay Pier, North Wales, 1900

Opening in June 1900 at a length of 750 ft, the pier included a massive 2500-seat pavillion in the Moorish Revival style.

Boasting a large balcony extending around three sides of the auditorium, the pavilion featured a full orchestra pit.

Despite many changes of ownership due to financial difficulties, fires, and several regeneration attempts, the pier sits in a state of disrepair and collapse.

Popular Posts

References
Wikipedia
Designing the Seaside: Architecture, Society and Nature by Fred Gray
National Piers Society

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Britain's heritage of piers dates from the boom in seaside resorts during the Victorian era. The first seaside piers were built in England in the early 19th century. Originally constructed as simple wooden landing stages for boat trips, piers later developed into complex entertainment venues, with ornate pavilions, delicate ironwork, and exotic lighting.

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For decades the bathing machines ruled the sea.  These were rooms or wheels dragged into the sea by horse giving the privacy of indoor bathing.  No lady would have considered bathing without its protection.  By 1901 mixed bathing was usual.

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Piers were developed as an extension of the promenades and took visitors right out to sea without getting wet or undressing.  The parade and marina were as close most visitors would ever get to the ocean.

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With the new visitors new forms of entertainment and catering developed.  Street musicians, Punch and Judy shows, minstrel shows, acrobats, whelk stands, ice cream carts, travelling photographers, and pedlars all swarmed the beaches and promenades turning them into fair grounds.

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Clothing, Transport

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The British as such had no interest in the seaside areas till the 19th century. It was in the mid years of the 19th century that resorts near the seaside became holiday places where people came to relax and enjoy. The railways provided an easy transportation to people to these seaside areas.

The seaside locations were not given importance until the mid 18th century. However, things changed when a doctor named Richard Russell said that sea-waters have the minerals rich enough to cure any human diseases. This influenced many to come and visit the seaside. The popularity grew as time passed and the number of people that came also increased tremendously.

A need was thus felt to arrange for books, games and other sources of entertainment to attract more visitors. Amongst the visitors that frequently stayed at these seaside resorts were Kings, Queens and other nobles and aristocrats. Apart from them, people from all social classes visited the resorts. An essential element at the seaside was the promenade.

Victorian Era seaside clothes

The people who visited the seaside resorts were often very apprehensive about their clothes and would carry some extra clothes with them. Women wore crinolines and hats on the beaches but the fashion in 1870 when crinoline was replaced by tight corsets and bustles.

Straw hats were used by women on the seaside to protect the face from the sun. These hats were also known as uglies. Brighton was most famous and the first major seaside town. The seaside was a place often resorted to by people to be away from the hectic life and have some time for themselves and their families.

Trains were very convenient to travel distant places. With the passage of time, bathing machines were set-up near the seas. The seaside was also a place where a different culture evolved. There were people who came there for relaxing, some used the ambiance of the seaside to pen down their thoughts and for others, it was an educational centre. It can be correctly said that seaside played a unique role in the lives of the Victorian people.

Popular Victorian seaside resorts

Blackpool
Bognor, East Parade
Brighton (sitemap)
Broadstairs, Kent
Herne Bay
Ramsgate
Scarborough
The Isle of Thanet, Kent
Whitley Bay, North Tyneside

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Victorian Era Seaside holiday places, clothes

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The British as such had no interest in the seaside areas till the 19th century. It was in the mid years of the 19th century that resorts near the seaside became holiday places where people came to relax and enjoy. The railways provided an easy transportation to people to these seaside areas.

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The Victorian seaside visitor was clothes conscious.  Huge trunks were packed with clothes slightly less formal than those worn for town.  Ladies wore their crinolines and round hats, an impractical costume for blustery coasts and damp sands.  As long as the clothes were fashionable they wore them.

For general holiday wear and travelling to destinations women wore shorter skirts minus trains.  Large ribbon streamer straw hats were a great seaside favourite in the mid 1850s. Many paintings of the seaside illustrate the straw hat fashion alongside bonnets with brims with projecting frames of cane covered in silk.  They were used to shield a woman's face from the sun.

Young men tried to get a nautical or at least exotic flavour into their seaside dress.  They would dress in shiny new straw boaters, richly striped blazers, bright cummerbunds and white flannels.

Many local newspapers such as the Scarborough Gazette ran regular fashion notes.  This emphasis on dress highlights the fact that the seaside was something very special for Victorians, an escape from everyday life.

As sunbathing did not become fashionable until the 1920s ladies used hats and parasols to protect their skin from the sun's harmful rays.

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Entertainment, Piers, Transport, Clothing.

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Entertainment and Clothing

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KS2 History learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers.