Mumbles Pier facts for kids
Pier with amusement arcade and cafe in Spring 2008.
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| Official name | Mumbles Pier |
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| Type | Pleasure Pier with RNLI lifeboat station |
| Locale | Mumbles, Wales |
| Design | W. Sutcliffe Marsh |
| Owner | Amusement Equipment Co. Ltd. (AMECO) |
| Total length | 835ft (255m) |
| Opening date | 10 May 1898 |
The Mumbles Pier is a really old pier, built way back in 1898 during the Victorian era. It's about 255 meters (835 feet) long! You can find it in Mumbles, a village near Swansea Bay in Wales. It's so special that it's a 'Grade II listed' building, which means it's protected because of its history.
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Building the Pier
A person named W. Sutcliffe Marsh designed the pier. It opened on May 10, 1898, and cost about £10,000 to build. The pier was a very important stop for the Swansea and Mumbles Railway. This was the world's first railway that carried passengers! It was also a big stop for 'White Funnel' paddle steamers. These boats brought tourists from places like the River Severn and Bristol Channel.
Busy Times at the Pier
In the summer of 1899, a fun group called the White Coons started performing concerts on the pier. This group was founded by Will C. Pepper, whose sons, Harry S. Pepper and Dick Pepper, also became musicians.
Later, in 1937, a company called Amusement Equipment Company (AMECO) started running the pier. During World War II, the pier was used by the military. But AMECO bought the pier in 1957. They did a lot of work to fix it up and even added a new place for boats to dock. In 1966, a new arcade was built at the front of the pier. AMECO spent a lot of money each year to keep the pier's metal parts in good shape.
The Pier Today
The pier closed for a short time in 1987 for some repairs and then reopened in 1988.
Today, people mostly use the pier for fishing and visiting. You can see amazing views of Swansea Bay from the pier. On one side, you'll spot the Mumbles Lighthouse, and on the other, you can see Port Talbot. Halfway along the pier, there's a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station. This station helps rescue people at sea. It also keeps old records of the local Mumbles lifeboat. The Bollom family owns and runs the pier complex now.
Next to the pier, there's a fun entertainment area. It has places to eat, an ice-skating rink (which opened in 2006), and an amusement arcade.
Newer Renovations
In 2012, the pier had a big makeover. A new lifeboat station and an RNLI gift shop were built at the end of the pier. They also added special platforms for fishing.
Future Plans
The pier has needed some repairs lately, with parts of it closed off. But the owners have exciting plans to fix it up! They also want to improve the area nearby. These plans include building a new hotel and spa, a big meeting and exhibition center, and a new walkway that will connect the Knab rock to the pier.
Amusement Arcade Fun
The amusement arcade next to the pier is packed with over 100 arcade games! It even has a miniature bowling alley on its top floor, perfect for some friendly competition.
Images for kids
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Mumbles Lifeboat Station, at the end of the pier
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