Image: Herne Bay Pier 006

Description: Herne Bay pier in the 1960's. Looking towards the seaward end of the pier, which at one time was a landing stage for visiting steamers. This was the third pier to be built at Herne Bay, opened in 1897. Estimates of its length vary from 1097m to 1147m, putting it second to the one at Southend-on-Sea. The length was sufficient to justify the provision of a small electric railway, the rails of which are visible in the photo. Steamboat services from the end of the pier ceased in 1963 and public access to the pier was denied in 1968 when it was considered to be in a dangerous state. Winter storms in 1978 and 1979 caused the collapse of the central section leaving the landing stage as it is now, adrift at sea. The landward stub of the pier now houses a sports centre. The full length pier made an appearance in Ken Russell's first feature film French Dressing in 1964. Best estimate for the date of this photo is 1965-1967.
Title: Herne Bay Pier 006
Credit: From geograph.org.uk
Author: G H Clarke
Permission: Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes