Felixstowe Pier facts for kids
Felixstowe Pier in 2008, before refurbishment
|
|
| Official name | Felixstowe Pier |
|---|---|
| Type | Pleasure Pier |
| Design | Rogers Brothers |
| Owner | Stan Threadwell |
| Total length | 450 feet (140 m) |
| Opening date | 1905 |
Felixstowe Pier is a fun pier located in the seaside town of Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. It first opened in August 1905 and was once one of the longest piers in the country. It even had its own small railway station! In the past, boats would take visitors from the pier to other places.
During a war, a part of the pier was removed to help protect against invaders. This meant the pier never fully recovered its original length. In 2017, a brand new building was opened at the start of the pier. It cost £3 million and offers lots of family entertainment. This was part of a bigger plan to make the local area even better.
Contents
The Pier's Story
A Grand Opening
Felixstowe Pier opened in August 1905. It was an amazing 2,640 feet (800 m) long, making it one of the longest piers in the country at that time. It was built by a company called the Coast Development Company. What was special about this pier is that it was made of strong wood, not iron, which was common back then. They used special foreign timbers like Jarrah and Greenheart. These woods were good because they resisted worms and were more affordable.
The pier even had an electric tram service! This tram took people all the way to the end of the pier. You could also catch paddle steamer boats from the pier. These boats would take visitors to other resorts like London Bridge and Great Yarmouth for just one penny.
War and Changes
After a few years, the company that owned the pier changed. Then, during a war, the Royal Engineers (a part of the army) cut a section out of the pier. This was done to stop enemies from invading the coast. Because of this, the tram system had to stop and it never started again after the war.
The part of the pier that stretched out into the sea was not looked after during the war. After the war ended, this far end had to be taken down because it was in such bad condition. More parts of the pier were removed in the 1950s, making it even shorter.
Ideas for Fixing It
Over the years, many ideas were suggested to repair and improve the pier. For example, in 1996, there was a plan for a big repair project that would have cost about £2.5 million. Later, in 1999, a charity group was set up to try and raise £15 million for repairs. However, this plan didn't work out and was stopped in 2002. The pier owners even thought about tearing down the pier in 2004.
Today's Felixstowe Pier
A Brand New Building
Good news came in 2012 when plans to rebuild the main pier building were approved! There were some delays, mainly because of the cost and needing to get extra land. Some people worried the new building would block the sea view, but many others supported it. They felt it would help bring more visitors and improve the area.
In August 2017, a fantastic new £3 million pier building opened its doors to visitors. The official opening was in October 2017. This new building is part of a bigger plan to make Felixstowe even better. Inside, you can find a bowling alley, arcade games, and other fun activities.
The part of the pier that goes out over the sea is still there. However, for safety reasons, visitors cannot walk its entire length. This part has been closed since around 1999 because of rust and rotten wooden beams. Even though the original plan was to remove this old section, they decided to keep it as a reminder of the pier's long history.
