At last we are seeing the restoration of the Birnbeck Pier starting to take shape. I have long lamented the neglected state of this lovely old pier that holds so many memories for me.

Built between 1864 and 1867 this grand old Victorian lady was the only British seaside pier to link an island with the mainland.

In 1881 a lifeboat station was added with a boathouse built in 1889

Over the years the pier has seen steam ships taking visitors to Cardiff, Ilfracombe and Lundy Island and I can still remember taking a trip on the Waverley from the end of this pier when I was a child. There was a tramway carrying baggage from the steam ships.

Birnbeck island has also housed amusements and a beer cellar. A new pavilion and fire station were built following a fire but in 1902 but a year later severe gales damaged the pier. Then in 1933 the Grand Pier opened in Weston resulting in the loss of the amusements business.

After a spell being run by the Admiralty during the second world war it was sold and steam ships continued to use the pier up until 1972. It was later sold, changing hands a number of times but plans to restore it never amounted to anything.

The pier closed to the public in 1994. The lifeboat crew continued to use it and a walkway was built along the pier but it later became too unsafe for them.

This year has finally seen the start of the restoration work and the PiP shows the state of disrepair before work started.


At Last - listen here to Etta James

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZag0E32is0