Bournemouth Pier No 2

Bournemouth Pier juts out into the ocean and is a major attraction for anyone visiting the area. It is surrounded by beautiful golden sand beaches... more

by Phyllis Taylor

Title

Bournemouth Pier No 2

Artist

Phyllis Taylor

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Bournemouth Pier juts out into the ocean and is a major attraction for anyone visiting the area. It is surrounded by beautiful golden sand beaches and a asphalt walkway/drive traveling along the beach.

A 100 foot wooden jetty was completed on 2nd August 1856. It was replaced in 1861 by a 1000 foot wooden pier designed by George Rennie. This opened on 17th September 1861 having cost £3,418.
The piles were replaced in cast iron in 1866 and the ‘T’ shaped head was swept away by a gale in January 1867. In 1876, a storm rendered the structure unfit for steamers. It was demolished and replaced by a temporary construction in time for the 1877 season.
Eugenius Birch designed the 838 foot iron pier at a cost of £21,600. It opened on 11th August 1880. Covered shelters and a bandstand were added to the pier-head in 1855, followed by extensions in 1894 and 1905. The new landing stage increased the pier’s length to 1,000 feet.
Breached as an anti-invasion measure in 1940, the repaired pier was re-opened by 1946. The pier-head was reconstructed in 1950 and a concrete substructure was built in 1960 to carry the new pier theatre.
A council report (the pier is local authority owned), in November 1976, found serious corrosion damage. Rebuilding was estimated at £1,000,000. A scheme was authorised in 1977 and work commenced in 1979. It was completed in 1981 having actually cost £1.7 million. The refurbished pier had a two-storey, octagonal entrance building/leisure complex and facilities including shops, kiosks, an amusement arcade, a show-bar and a multi-purpose hall. The old shoreward end construction was demolished. A new concrete neck was built at this time.

Uploaded

February 28th, 2018