List of piers in the United Kingdom

Last updated

Brighton Palace Pier at dusk Brighton Pier at dusk.jpg
Brighton Palace Pier at dusk

This is a list of extant and former coastal piers in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man and piers on the river Thames. [1]

Contents

Coastal piers

England

NamePlaceCeremonial countyOpenedLengthPier of
the Year
Listed
grade
DescriptionImage
Central Pier Blackpool Lancashire30 May 18681,118 feet (341 m)Originally 1,518 feet (463 m) long. Central Pier - geograph.org.uk - 528111.jpg
South Pier Blackpool Lancashire31 March 1893492 feet (150 m)Contains a theme park. South pier, Blackpool - DSC07077.JPG
North Pier Blackpool Lancashire21 May 18631,318 feet (402 m)2004II Eugenius Birch's earliest surviving pier. Originally 1,410 feet (430 m) long. North Pier, Blackpool.jpg
Bognor Regis Pier Bognor Regis West Sussex5 May 1865350 feet (110 m)1985 Bognor Regis Pier - geograph.org.uk - 1751557.jpg
Bournemouth Pier Bournemouth Dorset17 September 18611,000 feet (300 m)Zip wire installed in 2014, spanning between the pierhead and the beach. Original pier consisted of a wooden jetty opened in 1856. Bournemouth pier 2021.JPG
Boscombe Pier Bournemouth Dorset29 July 1889720 feet (220 m)2010 Boscombe Pier 2021.JPG
Palace Pier Brighton East Sussex20 May 18991,722 feet (525 m)1998II* Brighton Pier 2006.jpg
Burnham-on-Sea Pier Burnham-on-Sea Somerset185890 feet (27 m)Claims to be Britain's shortest pier. It is not recognised by most authorities as it is simply a beach pavilion. Burnham Pier from north.jpg
Clacton Pier Clacton-on-Sea Essex27 July 18711,180 feet (360 m)2020II Clacton pier 700.jpg
Cleethorpes Pier Cleethorpes Lincolnshire4 August 1873335 feet (102 m)2016 Cleethorpes Pier.jpg
Clevedon Pier Clevedon Somerset29 March 18691,020 feet (310 m)1999, 2013, 2021I Clevedon Pier from beach.jpg
Cromer Pier Cromer Norfolk8 June 1901495 feet (151 m)2000, 2015II Cromer Pier, Cromer, Norfolk, England-2Jan2012.jpg
Deal Pier Deal Kent19 November 19571,026 feet (313 m)2008One of the last pleasure piers to be built in the UK. Pre-dated by two original piers, built in 1838 and 1864. Deal Pier.JPG
Eastbourne Pier Eastbourne East Sussex13 June 18701,000 feet (300 m)1997II* Eastbourne Pier - geograph.org.uk - 1478224.jpg
Prince of Wales Pier Falmouth Cornwall5 May 1905 Falmouth Town Pier - geograph.org.uk - 197888.jpg
Felixstowe Pier Felixstowe SuffolkAugust 1905450 feet (140 m)Major redevelopments in 2017, involving construction of a new amusement building. There are currently no plans to re-open the seaward end. The Pier, Felixstowe - geograph.org.uk - 1467954.jpg
Folkestone Harbour Arm Folkestone Kent19041,600 feet (490 m) [2] II(lighthouse) [3] First used from 1904 as a port pier for ferries to Boulogne, France. Re-opened in 2016. Used as a pleasure pier, and for fishing.
Gravesend Town Gravesend Kent1834172 feet (52 m)On the Thames, and not a seaside pier recognised by most authorities. GravesendThames3370.JPG
Royal Terrace Gravesend Kent1844On the Thames. Royal Terrace Pier and London River House, Gravesend.JPG Not recognised as a seaside pier by most authorities.
Britannia Pier Great Yarmouth Norfolk13 July 1858810 feet (250 m) Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth - geograph.org.uk - 346438.jpg
Wellington Pier Great Yarmouth Norfolk31 October 1853700 feet (210 m) Wellington Pier at night.jpg
Ha'penny Pier Harwich EssexJuly 1853Not a seaside pier recognised by most authorities.
Hastings Pier Hastings East Sussex5 August 1872912 feet (278 m)2017Pier of the Year following extensive restoration. Beach and Pier, Hastings - geograph.org.uk - 1563686.jpg
Herne Bay Pier Herne Bay Kent1899Majority of pier destroyed in a storm in 1978. The shoreward 'stub' is still open, and the pier head remains isolated 1 km (0.6 mi) into the sea. 3rd Herne Bay Pier 1899-1908 001.jpg
Hythe Pier Hythe Hampshire1 January 18812,100 feet (640 m)IIOldest continually running pier train in the world. [4] Hythe pier from a red funnel ferry.JPG
Claremont Pier Lowestoft Suffolk1903600 feet (180 m)Pier decking not open for public use. Claremont Pier 2016.jpg
South Pier Lowestoft Suffolk18461,320 feet (400 m)
St Annes Pier Lytham St Annes Lancashire15 June 1885600 feet (180 m)II St Anne's Pier - geograph.org.uk - 95732.jpg
Paignton Pier Paignton DevonJune 1879780 feet (240 m) 20190505 145903 corel 4 cr2.jpg
Ryde Pier Ryde Isle of Wight26 July 18142,234 feet (681 m)IIThe UK's oldest pleasure pier. Island Line runs along entire length. Ryde Pier.JPG
Saltburn Pier Saltburn-by-the-Sea North YorkshireMay 1869681 feet (208 m)2009II* Saltburn Pier - geograph.org.uk - 1776103.jpg
Culver Pier Sandown Isle of Wight29 May 1878870 feet (270 m) Sandown Pier Isle of Wight England.jpg
Skegness Pier Skegness Lincolnshire4 June 1881387 feet (118 m)Seaward section destroyed in a 1978 storm. Skegness Pier. - geograph.org.uk - 15134.jpg
Royal Pier Southampton Hampshire8 July 1833900 feet (270 m)IIClosed 1980. Currently in very poor condition. Now classified as a Lost Pier. Lighting up the evening gloom, Royal Pier, Southampton - geograph.org.uk - 1715333.jpg
Southend Pier Southend-on-Sea Essex18306,900 feet (2,100 m)2007IIThe longest pleasure pier in the world, extending 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) into the Thames Estuary. Southend Pier Autumn 2007 - crop.jpg
Southport Pier Southport Merseyside2 August 18603,536 feet (1,078 m)2003II Southport Pier 1.JPG
South Parade Pier Southsea Hampshire26 July 1879600 feet (180 m)Re-opened 2017. South Parade Pier 2011.JPG
Clarence Pier Southsea Hampshire1861203 feet (62 m)Three times wider than it is long, going along the beach rather than out to sea. The full pier is an amusement park. Clarence Pier Amusement Park - geograph.org.uk - 1702589.jpg
Southwold Pier Southwold Suffolk1900623 feet (190 m)2002Includes a collection of modern coin-operated novelty machines. Southwold Pier1 KevinScottNL 2005.jpg
Swanage Pier Swanage Dorset29 March 1897643 feet (196 m)2012 Swanage Pier at Dusk.jpg
Grand Pier Teignmouth Devon1867696 feet (212 m) Mini-dodgems, on Teignmouth Pier - geograph.org.uk - 1425295.jpg
Princess Pier Torquay Devon1890 Princess Pier, Torquay - geograph.org.uk - 830062.jpg
Totland Pier Totland Bay Isle of Wight1880 Totland Pier in May 2007.jpg
Walton Pier Walton-on-the-Naze Essex18712,610 feet (800 m)Originally built to a length of 530 feet (160 m) in 1871. The pier was extended and re-opened in August 1898. Walton Pier - geograph.org.uk - 880081.jpg
Grand Pier Weston-super-Mare Somerset11 June 19041,201 feet (366 m)2011 2011 at Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier - pavilion.JPG
Birnbeck Pier Weston-super-Mare Somerset5 June 18671,150 feet (350 m)II*Closed since 1994. One of the few surviving Eugenius Birch piers. Restoration underway. Birnbeck Pier and Island.jpg
Weymouth Pier Weymouth Dorset1860787 feet (240 m)Weymouth Stone Pier is a breakwater. Weymouth Pleasure pier is described as a "man-made peninsula". The Stone Pier, Weymouth - geograph.org.uk - 23221.jpg
Worthing Pier Worthing West Sussex12 April 1862960 feet (290 m)2006, 2019II Worthing Pier at sunset, low tide.JPG
Yarmouth Pier Yarmouth Isle of Wight1876610 feet (190 m) Yarmouth Pier in October 2011.JPG

Scotland

NamePlaceOpenedLengthPier of the YearListed
grade
DescriptionImage
Dunoon Pier Dunoon 1889370 feet (110 m)Not recognised a seaside pier by most authorities. Built as a working pier rather than a pleasure pier. Harbour at Dunoon - geograph.org.uk - 49147.jpg
Helensburgh Pier Helensburgh 1860804 feet (245 m)Not recognised a seaside pier by most authorities. Category C listed structure. [5] Closed to marine traffic since October 2018. [6] Helensburgh Pier - geograph.org.uk - 2108405.jpg
Kilcreggan Pier Kilcreggan 279 feet (85 m)Not recognised a seaside pier by most authorities. Passenger-only ferry to Gourock. [7] Kilcreggan Pier.jpg
Rothesay Pier Rothesay 433 feet (132 m)Not recognised as a seaside pier by most authorities. Serves as a ferry terminal and small marina rather than a pleasure pier. Rothesay Pier from Rothesay Bay - geograph.org.uk - 2556582.jpg
Fort William PierFort William1,538 feet (469 m)Not recognised as a seaside pier by most authorities. Fort Willam Pier - geograph.org.uk - 140945.jpg

Wales

NamePlaceOpenedLengthPier of the YearListed
grade
DescriptionImage
Royal Pier Aberystwyth 1865794 feet (242 m) Aberystwyth Pier - geograph.org.uk - 1166324.jpg
Garth Pier Bangor 14 May 18961,510 feet (460 m)2022II*Reopened in 1988. BangorPier7143293.jpg
Beaumaris Pier Beaumaris 1846570 feet (170 m)Refurbished 2011–2012. Beaumaris Pier - geograph.org.uk - 693339.jpg
Llandudno Pier Llandudno 1 August 18772,295 feet (700 m)2005II* Another angle of Llandudno Pier. - geograph.org.uk - 57921.jpg
Mumbles Pier Mumbles, Swansea 10 May 1898835 feet (255 m)II MumblesPier.jpg
Penarth Pier Penarth February 1895650 feet (200 m)2014II Penarth Pier 2013.jpg

Isle of Man

NamePlaceOpenedLengthPier of the YearListed
grade
DescriptionImage
Queen's Pier Ramsey, Isle of Man 22 July 18862,241 feet (683 m)Closed June 1990; restoration started 2016; first three bays reopened July 2021. [8] The Queens Pier Tram, Ramsey, Isle of Man - geograph.org.uk - 262557.jpg

Piers in London on the River Thames

Former piers

NamePlaceOpenedLengthPier of the YearListed gradeDescriptionImage
West Pier Brighton 6 October 18661,115 feet (340 m)IClosed in 1975 and subsequently fell into disrepair. Now classified as a lost pier. West Pier, Brighton - geograph.org.uk - 809050.jpg
Victoria Pier Colwyn Bay 1 June 1900750 feet (230 m)IIClosed since 2008. Partial collapse in 2017, leading to the demolition of the seaward end. Victoria Pier, Colwyn Bay - geograph.org.uk - 527462.jpg
Leith Trinity Chain Edinburgh 14 August 1821627 feet (191 m)Effectively closed in the 1850s and described as "deserted and ruinous" then destroyed by a storm on 18 October 1898. [9]
Portobello Pier Edinburgh 18711,250 feet (380 m)Designed by Sir Thomas Bouch, engineer who also designed the infamous Tay Bridge. Demolished in 1917 after repairs to storm damage bankrupted the owner. [10] The pier Portobello Scotland.jpg
Fleetwood Pier Fleetwood 16 May 1910492 feet (150 m)Destroyed by fire in 2008, hence a lost pier. Fleetwood Pier - geograph.org.uk - 1237426.jpg
Lytham Pier Lytham 17 April 1865914 feet (279 m)Closed to the public before World War II following a period of decline. Demolished in 1960 despite protests from thousands of local residents. Lytham Pier C1920.jpg
Central Pier [11] Morecambe 25 March 1869912 feet (278 m)Demolished 1992. Morecambe Central Pier pavilions c1900.png
West End Pier [12] Morecambe 18961,800 feet (550 m)Demolished 1978. West End Pier, Morecambe, England-LCCN2002697087.jpg
New Brighton Pier New Brighton 1867600 feet (180 m)Demolished 1978. New Brighton Pier, c1914.jpg
Aberavon Pier Port Talbot 1898900 feet (270 m)Owned by British Transport Commission after being lost in 1962. Now a breakwater.
Redcar Pier Redcar 2 June 18731,300 feet (400 m)Closed and demolished in 1980. Redcar, the pier, Yorkshire, England-LCCN2002708316.jpg
Rhos-on-Sea Pier [13] Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales18951,300 feet (400 m)Lost in 1954.
Rhyl Pier Rhyl 19 August 18672,355 feet (718 m)Demolished in 1973. Rhyl, View From The Pier (8513049573).jpg
Scarborough North Pier Scarborough 18681,000 feet (300 m)Lost in 1905.
Shanklin Pier Shanklin 18901,200 feet (370 m)Demolished in February 1993. Shanklin Pier 9sep1964.jpg
St Leonards Pier [14] St Leonards-on-Sea 1891950 feet (290 m)Damaged by bombing, gales and fire during WW2. Demolished 1951–55. St.Leonards Pier. St.Leonards on sea (15454717136).jpg
Royal Victoria Pier [15] Tenby 1899330 feet (100 m)Constructed as 230 feet (70 m) structure and later extended. Lost in 1953.
Weymouth Pier Bandstand Weymouth 25 May 1939200 feet (61 m)Majority of pier demolished in 1986; only the entrance building remains on 48 feet (15 m) of the pier. [16] Thus not a seaside pier any longer. The Pier Bandstand, The Esplanade, Weymouth.JPG
Withernsea Pier [17] Withernsea August 18771,196 feet (365 m)Partial destruction by storm in 1882 and ship collisions in 1890 and 1893. Last remaining section removed in 1903.

See also

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References

  1. "(Surviving Piers)". National Piers Society . Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  2. "PROPOSED FOLKESTONE HARBOUR REVISION ORDER 2016 - Section 4.3" (PDF). Government Publishing Assets Service. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. "Folkestone Harbour Seafront Development Co. - Folkestone's New Social Hub". Folkestone Harbour Seafront Development Co. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. "Historic England: Seaside heritage sites given listed status". BBC News. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  5. "Helensburgh pier given listed status by Historic Environment Scotland". Helensburgh Advertiser. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  6. "New plans for Helensburgh pier repairs get the green light". Helensburgh Advertiser. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  7. "Rosneath: Gourock - Kilcreggan". CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  8. "Isle of Man's Queen's Pier opens as restoration moves forward". BBC News. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  9. "Leith Trinity Chain - National Piers Society". 19 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  10. "Portobello - National Piers Society". 19 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  11. "Morecambe Central Pier – National Piers Society". Piers.org.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  12. "Morecambe West Pier - National Piers Society". Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  13. "Rhos-on-Sea Pier". National Piers Society. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  14. "St Leonards Pier". The Hastings Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. "Royal Victoria Pier". National Piers Society. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  16. "Weymouth Pier Bandstand - National Piers Society". 28 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  17. "Withernsea". National Piers Society. Retrieved 19 April 2021.