Deal Pier facts for kids
The 1957 Deal Pier
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| Type | Pleasure |
|---|---|
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Locale | Deal, Kent |
| Owner | Dover District Council |
| Total length | 1,026 feet (313 m) |
| Opening date | 19 November 1957 |
| Coordinates | 51°13′26″N 1°24′26″E / 51.22375°N 1.40710°E |
Deal Pier is a super cool pier located in Kent, England. It's special because it's the only complete pleasure pier left in the whole area! This pier is actually the third one built in the town of Deal. It first opened its doors in November 1957.
Over the years, the pier has been looked after and repaired. For example, in 1997, many parts of its concrete structure were fixed. Later, in 2008, a brand new restaurant was built at the very end of the pier. It opened in December of that year.
The Story of Deal's Piers
Imagine the seafront at Deal with not one, but three different piers over time! The first pier was built in 1838. It was designed by a famous engineer named Sir John Rennie. This pier was made of wood.
Sadly, a big storm in 1857 completely destroyed the wooden pier. So, a new pier, made of iron, was built in 1864. This iron pier was very popular for fun and entertainment. It lasted for a long time, even through the start of World War II.
However, in January 1940, a Dutch ship called the Nora accidentally hit the pier. The ship had a mine attached to it, which caused a lot of damage. This wasn't the first time the pier had been hit by a ship. It also needed big repairs after being hit in 1873 and 1884.
The Third and Current Pier
The pier you see today is the third one in Deal. It was designed by Sir W. Halcrow & Partners. The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened it on November 19, 1957.
This pier is mostly made of steel covered in concrete. It is 1,026 ft (313 m) long. That's about the length of three football fields! At the end of the pier, there's a special three-level area. It has a cafe, a bar, a lounge, and even places for fishing. The lowest level sometimes goes underwater when the tide is high, so it's not used much anymore.
Deal Pier is a very popular spot for sport fishing. Many people come here to enjoy catching fish.
In 2018, the pier got another big makeover. This cost about £500,000! Workers resurfaced the pier, replaced and repainted railings, and improved the drainage system. They also fixed the pier's gas supply. All these repairs happened around the time of the pier's 60th birthday!
Images for kids
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The pier from the south at sunrise
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Embracing the Sea (1998) by Jon Buck at the entrance to the pier
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