North Pier, Blackpool facts for kids
Blackpool's North Pier,
viewed from the top of Blackpool Tower |
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| Official name | North Pier |
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| Type | Pleasure Pier with Landing Jetty |
| Design | Eugenius Birch |
| Construction | Blackpool Pier Company |
| Total length | 550 yards (500 m) |
| Opening date | 21 May 1863 |
| Coordinates | 53°49′08″N 3°03′33″W / 53.8190°N 3.0593°W |
 North Pier
Location in Blackpool
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North Pier is the oldest and longest of the three piers in Blackpool, England. It was built way back in the 1860s! This pier is the most northern one along the coast.
At first, North Pier was just a place for people to walk and enjoy the sea air. But soon, other piers were built, and North Pier added theatres and bars. Unlike the other piers, which were busy with dancing and games, North Pier was known for being a bit more peaceful. It offered concerts and polite comedians, attracting visitors who wanted a quieter experience. Until 2011, you usually had to pay to go onto North Pier.
Today, North Pier is a special historic building. It's still used regularly, even after facing fires, storms, and even boats crashing into it! You can find bars, a theatre, a carousel, and an arcade there. A very old Sooty puppet is even on display, celebrating where the famous puppet was first bought.
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Where is North Pier?
North Pier is located at the end of Talbot Road. This is where Blackpool's first train station was built. Its name tells you it's the most northern of Blackpool's three piers.
The pier stretches about 550 yards (500 m) (or 500 meters) straight out into the Irish Sea. It's about 450 yards (410 m) (or 410 meters) north of the famous Blackpool Tower. The coastline here is very flat and straight.
How North Pier Was Built
Building Blackpool Pier, which later became North Pier, began in May 1862. Strong storms in October 1862 showed that the pier needed to be taller. So, its height was increased by 3 feet (0.91 m) (about 1 meter).
North Pier was the second of 14 piers designed by a famous engineer named Eugenius Birch. It's the oldest of his piers that is still standing today. The pier cost about £11,740 to build.
The main part of the pier was made from cast iron. A wooden deck was placed on top. The iron piles that hold up the pier were twisted into the sand until they hit solid rock. This made building the pier much faster and stronger.
Opening Day Fun
North Pier officially opened with a big party on May 21, 1863. Even though the last part of the pier wasn't finished, everyone celebrated! Shops in the area closed and were decorated with flags.
The opening ceremony included a parade and a cannon salute. More than 20,000 visitors came to see it! In its first year, 275,000 people visited the pier. The next year, that number grew to 400,000.
The pier was mainly for fun, not for boats. For a small fee, people could walk out over the sea. This fee was meant to keep the pier a bit quieter. In 1866, the government allowed a second pier to be built.
Changes Over the Years
A landing jetty was added to the end of North Pier between 1864 and 1867. This made the pier its current length of 550 yards (500 m). The pier company used this jetty for pleasure boats that took trips to nearby areas.
In 1874, a pavilion was added to the pier-head. It opened in 1877 and was known as the "Indian Pavilion" because of its decorations. It was the main place for indoor shows in Blackpool for a while.
To be different from the new Central Pier, North Pier focused on a more relaxed atmosphere. It charged for entry and offered orchestra concerts. The Central Pier, on the other hand, had open-air dancing and music.
Storms and Shipwrecks
On October 8, 1892, a storm-damaged ship called Sirene crashed into the pier. Four shops and part of the deck fell onto the beach. Luckily, all eleven crew members were saved! The pier was quickly repaired.
Later, in 1897, Nelson's old warship, HMS Foudroyant, was docked next to North Pier for an exhibition. But a big storm on June 16, 1897, caused it to break free and crash onto the shore. This damaged part of the pier's jetty. The ship then broke apart in December storms.
The pier was closed during the winter of 1895–96 because it was unsafe. It was then made wider, and electric lights were added.
20th Century Additions
In 1903, an Arcade Pavilion was added at the pier's entrance. It had many different games and amusements. More changes were made in 1932-33, when an open-air stand was replaced with a stage and sun lounge.
In 1936, a pleasure boat crashed into the pier, creating a 10 feet (3.0 m) (3 meter) gap. Some people were stuck at the far end of the pier!
The Indian Pavilion was badly damaged by fire in 1921. It was fixed, but then a second fire destroyed it in 1938. In 1939, a new theatre was built in its place, designed in the Art Deco style.
In the 1960s, the Merrie England bar and an amusement arcade were built near the shore end of the pier. The 1939 theatre is still used today. It almost caught fire in 1985, but a performer named Vince Hill noticed the fire early.
In the 1980s, a Victorian-style entrance was built. In 1991, the Carousel bar was added. A small tramway was also built to help people get to the end of the pier. The Christmas Eve storm of 1997 destroyed the landing jetty.
North Pier is a special example of old pier design. It is a Grade II Listed building, which means it's protected for its history. It was even named "Pier of the Year" in 2004!
What You Can Do There
North Pier has lots of fun things to do. You can find a palm reader and an ice cream shop. There's also the North Pier Theatre and a Victorian tea room. You can also visit the Carousel and Merrie England bars. The arcade, built in the 1960s, sees millions of coins pass through its machines each year!
One of the very first Sooty bear puppets is on display at the pier. Harry Corbett bought the original Sooty puppet on North Pier for his son, Matthew. When Harry took the puppet on TV, he marked its nose and ears with soot so they would show up on black and white televisions. That's how Sooty got his name!
The Carousel bar at the end of the pier has a beautiful old iron roof. Its outdoor sun-lounge is the biggest outdoor seating area in Blackpool. Next to the bar is a two-level carousel called the "Venetian Carousel." It's protected by a glass wall from the sand and sea spray.
The theatre, built in 1939, has 1,564 seats. Many famous performers have played there, including Morecambe and Wise, Paul Daniels, and Bruce Forsyth.
In 2002, a heritage room with old photographs was opened. A lift was also added for people with disabilities. In 2013, a live organ player was brought back to play music in the sun lounge.
Who Owns North Pier?
The Blackpool Pier Company built and first owned North Pier. This company was started in 1861. In 1998, a company called Leisure Parks bought the pier.
In 2009, the pier was sold to the Six Piers group. This group already owned Blackpool's other two piers. They hoped North Pier would be a quieter choice for visitors. The new owners opened the Victorian-themed tea room. They also added a small shuttle that runs the length of the pier.
In April 2011, a Blackpool family business called Sedgwick's bought the pier. Peter Sedgwick, the owner, said he proposed to his wife on North Pier 40 years ago. He promised to buy it for her one day! He wants to bring back the pier's old Victorian style and restart the pier's tram. The Sedgwicks also stopped charging a small fee to walk onto the pier.
