National Piers Society member Greg Hoar used to enjoy childhood bus trips to south coast piers, supervised by an indulgent godfather. He recalls faded iron and woodwork in an exotic colonial style, edible treats such as rock and toffee apples and old-fashioned amusement arcade machines and funfair rides. Dorset’s piers have survived with one notable exception - Southbourne Pier, which was demolished in 1909. Here he looks at how piers still play a contemporary role in our seaside landscape.
My interest in piers stems from childhood bus trips to south coast piers supervised by an indulgent godfather. My recollections are of faded iron and woodwork in an exotic colonial style. There were edible treats such as rock and toffee apples, along with old fashioned amusement arcade machines and funfair rides. Even by that time, steamer trips, for which piers had provided access, were no more.
Despite the passing of time, Dorset’s piers have survived with one notable exception - Southbourne Pier which opened in 1888 to receive steamer traffic from Bournemouth and beyond. Situated towards the eastern end of Poole Bay, the structure suffered severe storm damage at the turn of the century and the remains were demolished in 1909.
Swanage Pier
My forebears working the quarries around Langton would have recognised the first pier built in Swanage in 1859 which gave truckloads of Purbeck stone direct access to waiting ships. The ‘new’ pier, also made of wood, opened in 1896 to improve capacity for increasing steamer traffic bringing in day trippers. Voracious attacks by gribble, a wood-boring marine worm, necessitating ongoing repairs soon after completion. My father’s family joined summer trippers in the thirties for views of the coast along to Lulworth Cove, although falling demand halted regular steamer traffic in 1966. With declining use and maintenance, the pier closed on safety grounds in the early 1990s.
The Swanage Pier Trust gained ownership in 1994 and successfully secured funding for a substantial restoration project of the timber, ironwork and lighting of this Grade-II listed landmark. Their efforts were rewarded as Swanage Pier was awarded the prestigious Pier of the Year accolade in 2012.
Strollers are welcome every day (except Christmas Day) for a modest toll, with regular boat trips running to Poole, Old Harry Rocks and beyond from Easter. Come September, the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer Waverley appears. In recent years we have glided majestically down the Jurassic Coast to Weymouth on board this paddle steamer. Anglers, too, are very welcome on the pier for an additional charge. Divers Down has had a base on the pier since 1958 and offers immediate access to the sheltered seabed for divers, while boat charter is available to explorer the many wrecks located offshore.
A grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled the development of the landward Marine Villas complex, providing an exhibition area, education facilities, gift shop and the 1859 café restaurant. Displayed artifacts recovered from the area’s wrecks make fascinating viewing.
Staff and volunteers work hard to make this an appealing year-round destination for all. There are regular children’s activities in the holidays, and sunrise yoga sessions in July and August, while ‘Lighting Up Lives’ at Christmas brings the crowds in December. You can even get married on the pier. What a view and what a backdrop to a special day.
swanagepiertrust.com
Bournemouth Pier
Eugenius Birch’s ‘Gothic Glasshouse’ building and cast-iron pier from 1880 was subsequently modified in 1930 and, after postwar structural reinforcement, the new pier theatre, bar and restaurant opened in 1960. As students, we watched from the beach in the late 1970s as a concrete overcoat was applied to the structure. Subsequently a new entrance building emerged with shops, catering outlets and the council’s new Show Bar.
Although still Council-owned, Bournemouth Pier’s facilities were transferred in 2006 on a 25-year lease to Openwide International, who also operate Cromer Pier. After significant investment the former theatre was transformed into the Rock Reef Adventure Centre in 2014, and the Zip-Wire attraction added shortly afterwards. Visiting a decade later, I was struck by how busy Rock Reef is with families. Birthday party bookings were full, with the youngsters able to enjoy climbing walls, an aerial obstacle course and the pier ‘cave’ all under parental supervision. A Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council entrance toll operates from Easter to the end of October.
The former café where we took our children for ‘Tea on the Sea’ is now Key West which also operates as a wedding venue. Tribute themed music evenings are a regular feature and, in keeping with the year-round attractions, there’s festive fun from November with a Christmas Tree Trail, lights, and seasonal hospitality.
Due to shifting holiday season dynamics and the declining condition of the landing stages, Crosons’ pleasure boat trips ceased operations from the pier in 2012. As part of the Coastal Communities Levelling Up fund, BCP Council has recently obtained nearly £10 million for repairs and renovations to the pier’s concrete pillars and wooden landing stages. Let’s hope the boat trips are back soon.
thebournemouthpier.com
Boscombe Pier
Opened in 1889, nearly 53,000 steamer passengers arrived and departed from this pier in August 1913 according to the history panels mounted on the central windbreak shelter of this BCP Council owned pier. I recall it being very busy in the mid-1970s, with overhead aerobatics, the Peeks teddy bear stall, and sign boards for Excelsior Coaches daytrips. Later as students, the Mermaid amusement arcade and Neptune Bar opposite were regular weekend haunts. Since then, the 1960 council-designed entrance building has been listed. The swept-wing concrete roofs, glazed canopies and retail units with their classic signage style are now preserved.
A recent Sunday afternoon visit revealed a pier packed with people enjoying the sunshine; there is no toll, and the pier is open from 9am until late, subject to the weather. The landward end offers a beach shop, ice creams and takeaway facilities.
Star billing on this pier for nearly ten years is the free Musical Trail with six different features - centre stage the Seaside Chimes of 88 pipes playing I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside. After repairs and restoration, The Mermaid no longer sits at the seaward end, but the rebuilt viewing areas provides fine fishing (for an extra charge) and superb views across Poole Bay and beyond to the Isle of Wight and Durlston.
bcpcouncil.gov.uk/leisure-culture-and-local-heritage/beaches-and-quays/bournemouth-and-boscombe-piers
Weymouth Pleasure Pier
With origins in the 19th century, this pier was extended in the early 1930s and re-opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1933. It has since been joined by a large car park, ferry facilities and the rebuilt Weymouth Pavilion theatre in 1961. Although the pier walkway is rather inconspicuous, the structure is accessible but with no facilities. It offers a quieter place to enjoy fabulous views of the bay. With work recently commenced on the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project, following the loss of Channel Islands’ ferry traffic in 2015, the area is being reconfigured with new facilities for fishing and harbour businesses. The scheme intends to provide a pedestrian and cycle path around the peninsula, ultimately allowing better access to the pier itself.
Weymouth’s smaller Pier Bandstand was a late arrival on the scene in 1939. From the landward end the entrance building, with its Streamline Modern style, is a glowing reminder of pre-war seaside architecture. It still functions very much for visitors, with a beach shop, amusement arcade and public conveniences. We have enjoyed a summer wedding anniversary dinner with Italian cuisine in the upstairs restaurant, which offers stunning bay views against the setting sun. Seen from the side, the truth of this structure is revealed. Conceived as a concert venue with modest protection from the weather, the 200-foot bandstand platform had deteriorated to a dangerous state by the 1980s. Spiralling repair estimates lead to the cheaper option of the bandstand being blown up in 1986.
Re-visiting Dorset’s piers brought back the joy of these walkways over water which offer a unique view of the coast. From simple pleasures such as strolling, fishing, rock and amusement arcades, many of these piers have embraced more contemporary leisure, hospitality, education and retail facilities. These run all year, making the piers viable businesses which encourage more participation and interaction from visitors as well as residents.
‘Visiting a pier is a memorable and unique experience,’ says Dr Anya Chapman, principal Academic in Tourism Management at Bournemouth University. ‘Seaside piers were built as the showcase attraction in resorts, and amazingly, 150 years later, they are still performing this role admirably.’
I couldn’t agree more. So, if it’s been a while since you strolled along a pier, put a visit to one of these piers on your wish list this year.
Find more details at the National Piers Society website piers.org.uk
