West pier - wikipedia West pier Coordinates : 50 ° 49 ′ 15 '' N 0 ° 09 ′ 04 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 50.82083 ° N 0.15111 ° W ﻿ / 50.82083 ; - 0.15111 This article is about the pier in Brighton, England. For the novel The West Pier by Patrick Hamilton, see Gorse Trilogy. West Pier Remains of the West Pier in 2007 Official name West Pier Type Pleasure Pier Locale Brighton Design Eugenius Birch Owner West Pier Trust Total length 1,115 feet ( 340 m ) Opening date 6 October 1866 Destruction date 1975 -- present The West Pier is a pier in Brighton, England. It was designed by Eugenius Birch, opening in 1866 and closing in 1975. The pier was the first to be Grade I listed in Britain but has become increasingly derelict since closure. The pier was constructed during a boom in pleasure pier building in the 1860s, and was designed to attract tourism in Brighton. It was the town 's second pier, joining the Royal Suspension Chain Pier of 1823. It was extended in 1893, and a concert hall was added in 1916. The pier reached its peak attendance during this time, with 2 million visitors between 1918 and 1919. Its popularity began to decline after World War II, and concerts were replaced by a funfair and tearoom. A local company took ownership in 1965, but could not meet the increased maintenance cost, and ultimately filed for bankruptcy. They could not find a suitable buyer, so the pier closed in 1975 and subsequently fell into disrepair. The West Pier Trust now owns the pier and has proposed various plans to renovate it. Some schemes have been opposed by local residents and the owners of the nearby Palace Pier, who have claimed unfair competition. The pier gradually collapsed during the early 21st century. Major sections collapsed in late 2002, and two fires in March and May 2003 left little of the original structure. Subsequently, English Heritage declared it to be beyond repair. Structured demolition took place in 2010 to make way for the observation tower i360 ; further structural damage from storms has occurred since. Contents 1 History 1.1 19th century 1.2 20th century 2 Restoration 3 Decline and damage 4 Media appearances 5 See also 6 References 7 External links History 19th century The opening of West Pier in 1866 from the Illustrated London News. The West Pier was constructed during a boom in pleasure pier building in the 1860s, during which 22 new piers were erected across Britain. It was designed by architect Eugenius Birch as a place for seaside visitors to enjoy fresh sea air. Some wealthy residents in the nearby Regency Square objected to construction, complaining that the planned toll houses at the entrance would spoil the view of the sea from their homes. It was felt that the pier would have a positive effect on property values in the town, so the pier was approved. Construction began in 1863 and the pier opened to the public on 6 October 1866. West Pier circa 1900. By this time a central bandstand and full - length weather screens had been added. A pavilion had opened in 1893. The pier had a length of 1,115 feet ( 340 m ) and a width of 310 feet ( 94 m ) at the pierhead. It was built with cast iron threaded columns screwed into the seabed. The superstructure 's ironwork was manufactured by Robert Laidlaw, featuring an `` oriental '' style. Upon opening, the pier was fitted with gas lamps with ornamental serpent designs, which had been directly influenced by similar examples inside the nearby Royal Pavilion. The pier had ornamental houses, two toll houses and glass screens at the pierhead to protect visitors from the weather. A New Scientist report covering Britain 's piers called the pier Birch 's `` masterpiece ''. In 1893, the pierhead was extended under the supervision of Birch 's nephew, Peregrine, who added a pavilion with a capacity for 1400 people. After the Royal Suspension Chain Pier was demolished following a storm in 1896, the West Pier became the only one on Brighton 's seafront until the construction of the Palace Pier. 20th century The West Pier circa 1920. The pier had gained a new concert hall in 1916, and attracted 2 million visitors between 1918 and 1919. In April 1900, seven sailors from HMS Desperate drowned in bad weather as they approached the pier. By the early 20th century, the earlier priority of good sea air on the pier had been replaced with a desire for public entertainment. The pier reached record levels of attendance in the early 20th century, attracting around 1.5 million visitors between 1910 and 1911. Attendance fell due to the onset of World War I, but resumed afterwards, with around 2 million people visiting between 1918 and 1919. Competition with the Palace Pier led to a new concert hall, designed by local architects Clayton & Black. The 19th century bandstand was demolished between 1914 and 1916. It was replaced by an eight - sided grand concert hall, constructed from cast - iron arches. It opened on 20 April 1916 with a concert by the King 's Royal Rifles silver band, made up of war veterans. The concert hall had its own in - house orchestra by November, and ticket sales for concerts accounted for 43 % of the pier 's revenue by 1920. The West Pier was favoured by locals, while the Palace Pier was used more by day trippers. A top - deck entrance was added to the hall in 1932. The pier 's central decking was removed during World War II to prevent enemy landings, and its popularity began to decline. On 26 November 1944 a Royal Air Force Hawker Typhoon fighter hit the pier, crashing onto the beach. The pilot sustained head injuries. The Typhoon was one of four aircraft escorting a VIP flight. The West Pier in 1973. The pierhead was closed in 1970 due to safety concerns and the whole structure needed urgent repairs. The concert hall was converted into a tea room and the theatre redesigned as a restaurant in the early 1950s. A funfair was added around the same time. By the 1960s, the pier was suffering from serious financial difficulties. In 1965, it was bought by a company that owned some seafront hotels and entertainment venues. They had ambitions for the pier but were unable to cope with increasing maintenance costs. Some portions of wood and iron from the pier fell on the beach, and the pierhead was closed in 1970 due to safety concerns. The pier was Grade II listed in 1969 and the council served compulsory repair notices, but the company was unable to afford them and opted for voluntary liquidation. The remainder of the pier was closed in 1975 when the Brighton Corporation declined to buy it, passing control to the Crown Estate Commissioners. Restoration Remains of the pier in 1995 After 1975, various attempts were made to restore the pier. Supporters complained that the council was more interested in developing Brighton Marina. In 1982, the pier became the only one in Britain to be awarded Grade I listed status. The West Pier Trust was formed to save the pier, and bought it from the council in 1983 for a peppercorn fee of £ 100, though the council also demanded £ 800,000 required for immediate repairs before it could be opened to the public. A proposal to restore the pier with a 60 - metre ( 200 ft ) ferris wheel failed after the backer went bankrupt. The pier suffered structural damage due to the Great Storm of 1987, and access from the shore was removed for safety reasons in 1991. The West Pier Trust continued to offer regular tours of the pier throughout the 1990s. In 1998, the National Lottery pledged £ 14 million to restore the pier, but the West Pier Trust was unable to find a suitable partner to help with restoration. The owners of the Palace Pier, who had become financially self - sufficient under their own means, claimed unfair competition. In 2001, English Heritage identified the pier as the most at - risk Grade I listed structure in the United Kingdom. Decline and damage The West Pier on fire in March 2003. In December 2002, the pier partially collapsed during a storm, when a walkway connecting the concert hall and pavilion fell into the sea. The following month, the concert hall in the middle of the pier fell over, leaving the entire structure close to total collapse. On 28 March 2003 the pavilion at the pierhead caught fire. Fire crews were unable to save the building from destruction because the collapsed walkway prevented them from reaching it. The cause of the fire remains unknown, since fire investigators were unable to access the site for safety reasons, although it is thought to have been arson. A more severe fire burned through 11 and 12 May 2003, consuming most of what was left of the concert hall. On 23 June 2004, high winds caused the middle of the pier to collapse completely. The following month, English Heritage declared the pier to be beyond repair. Play media Short video of the West Pier burning Despite these setbacks, the West Pier Trust remained adamant that they would soon begin full restoration work. Retired boxer Chris Eubank criticised the delays in restoring the pier, saying he could raise the money himself in six months. In December 2004, the Trust confirmed the restoration would not be going ahead after their plans were rejected by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The pier was partially demolished in February 2010, partly to make way for the planned i360 observation tower. In February 2014, due to stormy weather, the pier split in half and a large part of the centre fell into the sea. Waves swept away the eastern side of the damaged metal skeleton, which remained after the 2003 fire. A selection of artefacts rescued from the pier is exhibited in the Brighton Fishing Museum. A further section of the pier collapsed in 2016. The arrival of the i360 has revived interest in building a new West Pier on the site of the original, it would be a contemporary design reflecting the elegance of the original Pier. The West Pier Trust was hopeful that it could be in place by 2026 in time for the pier 's 160th anniversary. By October 2016, the trust concluded that restoration of the original West Pier was beyond any practical means. Media appearances The pier can be seen in several films, including Oh ! What a Lovely War ( 1968 ) and Carry On Girls ( 1973 ) which was filmed on the pier and in locations nearby in Brighton. It was also prominently featured in the French comedy La Course à l'échalote ( 1975 ), starring Pierre Richard and Jane Birkin. In Nick Cave 's novel The Death of Bunny Munro, Bunny 's son speculates on a reason for the 2003 fires. The band James filmed the video for `` Just Like Fred Astaire '' on and around the West Pier. See also National Piers Society List of piers in the United Kingdom References Notes Jump up ^ `` Brighton West ''. National Piers Society. Retrieved 5 August 2017. ^ Jump up to : Dobraszczyk 2014, p. 143. Jump up ^ Arscott 2012, p. 116. Jump up ^ Dobraszczyk 2014, pp. 137,144. Jump up ^ `` Brighton West Pier ''. Engineering Timelines. Retrieved 29 April 2015. ^ Jump up to : Bainbridge 1986, p. 188. Jump up ^ Dobraszczyk 2014, p. 144. ^ Jump up to : `` The End of the Pier Show ''. New Scientist : 299. 4 February 1982. Jump up ^ Salzman, LF, ed. ( 1940 ). `` The borough of Brighton, in A History of the County of Sussex ''. 7. London : 244 -- 263. Jump up ^ `` Disaster to Bluejackets -- Boat Swamped at Brighton -- Seven Seamen Drowned ''. News of the World. 15 April 1900. Jump up ^ `` HMS Bittern ''. Index of 19th Century Naval Vessels and a few of their movements. Retrieved January 13, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Mansfield, Paul ( 24 June 2000 ). `` Brighton : Oh what a lovely pier ! ''. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Concert on the West Pier, Brighton c. 1916 - 8 ''. Camden Town Group. Tate Modern. Retrieved 29 April 2015. Jump up ^ `` Original West Pier design drawing goes on sale ''. Brighton Argus. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` West Pier Factfile ''. Brighton Argus. Retrieved 29 April 2015. Jump up ^ Longstaff - Tyrell, Peter ( 1999 ). Destination Fowington -- East Sussex military airfields & Allied aircraft incidents. Gote House Publishing Company. ISBN 0 - 9521297 - 4 - 4. ^ Jump up to : `` West Pier ''. Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Brighton 's West Pier collapses ''. BBC News. 29 December 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` West Pier destroyed by fire ''. BBC News. 28 March 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Brighton 's Piers - the West Pier ''. This is Brighton. Retrieved 20 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` West Pier arson probe ''. Brighton Argus. 28 March 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pier fire flares up again ''. BBC News. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` The West Pier -- Introduction ''. Brighton Argus. Retrieved 29 April 2015. Jump up ^ `` Eubank wants to rebuild West Pier ''. BBC News. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ Clarke, James ( 16 February 2005 ). `` What now for Brighton 's West Pier ? ''. BBC News. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Clean - up operation for West Pier gets under way ''. BBC News. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Large chunk of Brighton 's West Pier falls victim to the sea ''. The Argus. Retrieved 5 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Brighton 's ruined West Pier Pavilion split in two by storm ''. The BBC. Retrieved 5 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Museum Gallery ''. Brighton Fishing Museum. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Part of Brighton 's West Pier collapses after storm ''. BBC News. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` West Pier 's 150th birthday to be celebrated in style ''. Brighton Argus & Gazette. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` West Pier Trust : ' No hope of saving skeletal remains ' ''. Brighton Argus & Gazette. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` The West Pier in the arts ''. Brighton Argus. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Films made in the Brighton & Hove area ''. Brighton on Film. Retrieved 1 May 2015. Jump up ^ Cave, Nick ( 2009 ). The Death of Bunny Munro. Canongate Books. p. 61. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84767 - 376 - 3. Bibliography Arscott, David ( 2012 ). Brighton, A Very Peculiar History. Andrews UK. ISBN 978 - 1 - 908 - 75929 - 0. Bainbridge, Cyril ( 1986 ). Pavilions on the Sea -- A history of the seaside pleasure pier. Robert Hale, London. ISBN 0 - 7090 - 2790 - 7. Dobraszczyk, Paul ( 2014 ). Iron, Ornament and Architecture in Victorian Britain : Myth and Modernity, Excess and Enchantment. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978 - 1 - 472 - 41898 - 2. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Pier. The West Pier Trust, charity which owns the West Pier History of the West Pier and its Theatre Photos of the West Pier 1980 to 2004 Piers in the United Kingdom England Blackpool ( Central ) Blackpool ( North ) Blackpool ( South ) Boscombe Bournemouth Brighton ( Palace ) Brighton ( West ) Clacton Cleethorpes Clevdon Cromer Deal Eastbourne Felixstowe Gravesend Great Yarmouth Hastings Herne Bay Hythe Lowestoft Paignton Portsmouth ( Clarence ) Portsmouth ( South Parade ) Saltburn - by - the - Sea Skegness Southampton Southend Southport Southwold St Anne 's - on - the - Sea Swanage Teignmouth Western - super-Mare ( Birnbeck ) Western - super-Mare ( Grand ) Weymouth Worthing Wales Aberystwyth Bangor Beaumaris Colwyn Bay Llandudno Penarth Swansea Off - shore Ryde Sandown St Julian 's Yarmouth Former piers England Brighton ( Royal Suspension Chain ) Fleetwood Lytham Scotland Portobello Trinity Off - shore Ryde ( Seaview Chain ) National Piers Society Buildings and architecture of Brighton and Hove Heritage Conservation areas Listed buildings : Grade I Grade II * Grade II : A -- B C -- D E -- H I -- L N -- O P -- R T -- V W -- Z Places of worship List of places of worship ( see list for links to individual articles ) List of demolished places of worship Houses, flats and mansions Adelaide Mansions Chartwell Court Courtenay Gate Embassy Court Fife House French Convalescent Home Grand Ocean, Saltdean Gwydyr Mansions 75 Holland Road Marine Gate Marlborough House Moulsecoomb Place New England Quarter Ovingdean Grange Ovingdean Rectory Patcham Place Pelham Institute Percy and Wagner Almshouses Portslade Manor ( ruined ) Preston Manor Regency Town House Southdown House Stanmer House Sussex Heights Tower House Van Alen Building Western Pavilion Crescents, squares and terraces Adelaide Crescent Arundel Terrace Bedford Square Belgrave Place Bloomsbury Place Brunswick Town Eastern Terrace Hanover Crescent Kemp Town Lansdowne Square Marine Square Montpelier Crescent New Steine Norfolk Square Norfolk Terrace Old Steine Oriental Place Palmeira Square Park Crescent Pelham Square Powis Square Regency Square Roundhill Crescent Royal Crescent Russell Square Vernon Terrace Wykeham Terrace Commercial buildings Amex House Churchill Square Citibase Brighton, 95 Ditchling Road Gothic House, 95 -- 96 Western Road Hanningtons 20 -- 22 Marlborough Place 155 -- 158 North Street 163 North Street 2 -- 3 Pavilion Buildings Princes House, 166 -- 169 North Street 9 Pool Valley Institutional and civic buildings BHASVIC Brighton General Hospital Brighton Town Hall Hove Town Hall Jubilee Library Kings House Ovingdean Hall School Preston Barracks Royal Alexandra Children 's Hospital Royal Sussex County Hospital The Keep The Montefiore Hospital University of Brighton University of Sussex Varndean College Schools : List of former board schools Blatchington Mill School Brighton Aldridge Community Academy Brighton and Hove High School Brighton College Brighton College Preparatory School Cardinal Newman RC School Deepdene School The Dharma School Dorothy Stringer High School Hove Park School King 's School Longhill High School Ovingdean Hall School Patcham High School Portslade Aldridge Community Academy Roedean School St Aubyns School Varndean School Hotels and inns Hotels : Bedford Grand ( 1984 bombing ) Metropole Old Ship Norfolk Royal Albion Royal York Inns and pubs : The Cricketers Freemasons Tavern Hangleton Manor Inn King and Queen Royal Pavilion Tavern Entertainment and leisure Astoria ( former ) Brighton Centre Brighton Dome and Studio ( Pavilion ) Theatre Brighton Hippodrome ( former ) Brighton Marina Brighton Wheel Duke of York 's Picture House Falmer Stadium Komedia King Alfred Centre Marlborough Pub and Theatre Medina House Old Market Regent Cinema ( demolished ) Royal Pavilion Saltdean Lido Theatre Royal Withdean Stadium Museums : Booth Museum Brighton Fishing Museum Brighton Museum and Art Gallery Brighton Toy and Model Museum British Engineerium Hove Museum and Art Gallery Piers Brighton Palace Pier Royal Suspension Chain Pier ( demolished ) West Pier Windmills Beacon Mill, Rottingdean Waterhall Mill, Patcham West Blatchington Windmill Miscellaneous Anthaeum ( demolished ) Barford Court Chattri Clock Tower 11 Dyke Road Foredown Tower Hove War Memorial i360 Patcham Pylons Pepper Pot Ralli Hall St Dunstan 's Sassoon Mausoleum Steine House ( YMCA ) Waste House Whitehawk Hill transmitting station Related topics Ammonite order Bungaroosh Cemeteries and crematoria Landmarks Mathematical tiles Regency architecture Architects : Charles Busby Clayton & Black John Leopold Denman Thomas Lainson John Nash Gilbert Murray Simpson Thomas Simpson Basil Spence Amon Henry Wilds Amon Wilds Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Pier&oldid=818297552 '' Categories : Buildings and structures in Brighton and Hove Piers in Sussex Grade I listed buildings in Brighton and Hove Burned buildings and structures in the United Kingdom 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Question: what happened to the west pier in brighton
Answer: collapsed during the early 21st century