Shanklin Pier facts for kids
Shanklin Pier on 9th September 1964
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| Type | Pleasure |
|---|---|
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Locale | Shanklin |
| Total length | 1,200 feet (370 m) |
| Opening date | 18 August 1890 |
| Destruction date | October 1987 |
| Coordinates | 50°37′46″N 1°10′20″W / 50.629309°N 1.172259°W |
Shanklin Pier was a fun pier located in the town of Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, England. It opened in August 1890 and was about 1,200 feet long.
Over its first few years, the pier added exciting things like a bandstand and a special stage for swimming. A large building called a pavilion was also added in 1901.
During World War II in 1940, part of the pier was taken apart. This was done to stop enemies from using it if they tried to invade. Later, it was fixed using strong concrete poles.
In October 1987, a huge storm badly damaged the pier. It was so broken that it had to be taken down in 1993. This demolition cost a lot of money, around £250,000.
Contents
The Story of Shanklin Pier
Planning the Pier
The idea for a pier in Shanklin first came up in 1864. A company called the Shanklin Bay Pier Company even got official permission for a 1,200-foot pier. However, they quickly gave up without building anything.
In 1877, another group, the Shanklin Pier Company, also tried to plan a pier, but their efforts didn't work out either. Finally, on December 22, 1885, the Shanklin Esplanade & Pier Company succeeded. They had £12,000 to start their project.
They leased the land for the pier on November 11, 1885, for a small yearly rent of £5.
Getting Permission and Starting Work
An Act of Parliament (a special law) was passed on March 11, 1886. This law allowed the pier to be built. The plans for the pier were drawn by F. C. Dixon and M. N. Ridley.
The pier was designed to be 1,200 feet long. It would be made with iron poles and wooden planks. There would be shelters on the deck and small shops at the entrance. The end of the pier, called the pierhead, would be 90 feet by 60 feet. There would also be a 150-foot long wooden landing stage for boats. Building work began in August 1888.
How the Pier Operated
The pier officially opened on August 18, 1890, at its planned length of 1,200 feet. In its first few years, many new features were added for visitors.
In 1893, a bathing stage was built for swimming. The next year, restrooms were added. By 1897, a bandstand was ready, big enough for 500 people to sit and enjoy music.
Early 1900s at the Pier
On July 28, 1901, a new pavilion opened. It cost £9,000 to build and was made by Alfred Thorne. This building had a special maple wood floor. This floor allowed people to go roller skating during the quieter winter months.
The pavilion was very successful, especially with concerts. In its first year, it made nearly £561, with expenses of £353. Roller skating also made money, but it became less popular by 1911.
Storms and Fires
In 1915, the landing stage was badly damaged by a big storm. Most of it had to be taken down. Then, on June 29, 1918, a fire caused a lot of damage to the pavilion. The pier was left in a bad state because the company said they didn't have enough money for repairs.
The Pier's Comeback
In 1925, H. Terry Wood bought the pier. He rebuilt the pavilion, keeping the same design, and named it the Casino. It opened on June 4, 1927, using the strong metal beams (called girders) that were left from the old pavilion.
The Casino was a cinema with 1,000 seats. It was very popular for concerts and shows. Famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova was one of its early visitors.
The landing stage was rebuilt and opened in May 1931. It was used often throughout the 1930s for fun boat trips. The pier was at its best in the 1930s. It even competed with places like Butlins by offering many attractions. A dancing pavilion was added in 1933.
World War II and Repairs
When World War II started, the pier closed. Its wooden deck was taken apart in sections. This was a safety measure to stop enemy forces from landing there during an invasion.
After the war, the damaged deck was replaced. It was supported by new concrete poles. These new poles looked a bit different from the rest of the pier. In the 1950s, the pier owners hired painters to use special paints. They were told the paint would last up to 10 years. However, the paint didn't last long, and the pier owners later sued the paint company.
Later Years and the Final Storm
The pier closed for a short time in 1975. It reopened in 1976 under a new owner, Fred Sage. A group called the Shanklin Pier Preservation Society was started to help raise money for repairs.
In October 1987, a massive hurricane-force storm hit the pier. The winds were so strong that weather instruments couldn't even measure them. This storm destroyed the pier.
Before the storm in 1986, a company called Leading Leisure had bought the pier. They had plans to turn it into a big fun complex. But after the storm, the company went bankrupt. This left the broken parts of the pier in a very bad state.
Demolition of the Pier
The South Wight Borough Council bought the pier in late 1992 for about £25,000. They then paid £250,000 to have it taken down. It would have cost around £1.5 million to fix the pier, plus ongoing costs to keep it up.
The materials from the pier were recycled. For example, its concrete was used in building new roads.
