Britannia Pier facts for kids
The entrance to Britannia Pier in 2012
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| Design | Joseph and Arthur Mayoh |
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| Total length | 810 feet (250 m) |
| Opening date | 1901 |
Britannia Pier is a famous pier in the seaside town of Great Yarmouth. This town is located in the English county of Norfolk. Piers are long structures that stretch out over the water. They are often used for entertainment and walking.
Contents
History of Britannia Pier
Building the First Pier
People first thought about building a new pier in Great Yarmouth in 1856. Work on this first pier began in September 1857. An engineer named Alfred William Morant designed it. He later became an important surveyor for the city of Norwich.
The Original Pier
The first pier opened on July 13, 1858. It cost about £6,000 to build. The pier was originally 700 feet long. However, its length was cut short in 1859. This happened when a ship called the James and Jessie crashed into it. This crash occurred during a big storm. The pier was damaged again by another storm in 1868. Because of all the damage, this first pier was taken down in 1899.
Building a New Pier
Work on a brand new pier started on December 13, 1900. Engineers Joseph and Arthur Mayoh designed this new pier. It was 810 feet long. A temporary building, called a Pavilion, was put at the end of the pier. This new pier opened in 1901.
A larger Grand Pavilion was built and opened on June 21, 1902. Sadly, this Grand Pavilion was destroyed by a fire on December 22, 1909. A second Pavilion was quickly built in 1910. But this one also burned down on April 17, 1914. This fire was started by two women, Hilda Burkitt and Florence Tunks. They were sent to prison for their actions. A third Pavilion was built very quickly. It opened on July 27, 1914.
Damage and Closure
The pier also had a dance hall called the Floral Hall Ballroom. It opened in May 1928. But it was destroyed by fire in August 1932. A new Grand Ballroom opened in 1933. However, this building also burned down in April 1954. The third Pavilion was also lost in this fire.
During World War II, the pier was closed. Parts of it were removed on purpose. This was done to stop enemy troops from using the pier to land. The pier reopened in 1947 after important repairs. These repairs included replacing the sections that were taken out during the war.
After the War
The Pavilion you see today opened on June 27, 1958. It is home to the Britannia Pier Theatre. This theatre used to be called the Pavilion Theatre. The large dance hall, which was called the Ocean Ballroom, was never rebuilt after the 1954 fire.
What You Can Do at Britannia Pier Today
Britannia Pier was once owned by a company called First Leisure plc. In 1995, it was bought by Family Amusements Ltd. This company also owns the Wellington Pier, which is another pier nearby.
Today, Britannia Pier is still a fun place to visit. You can watch live theatre shows there. There are also many places to buy food and drinks. You can play games in the amusement arcades. There are even some fairground rides to enjoy.
