Sussex Piers - East Sussex - West Sussex - Ports, Piers - Ferry Photographs


This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Eastbourne Pier in East Sussex.

Eastbourne Pier was officially opened by Lord Edward Cavendish on 13th June 1870, although it was not actually completed for a further two years. Designed by Eugenius Birch, the piles that supported the superstructure sat upon specially made cups that rested on the rock bed. This ingenious arrangement allowed the pier structure to 'move' in bad weather. The relatively unscathed Eastbourne Pier is testimony in itself to the substantial core of the construction.

At 1000ft (303m) long, Eastbourne Pier in common with most of that era was built purely as a promenade, with six small kiosks along its length, and a pair of tollbooths at the entrance. The shoreward end was washed away in a violent storm on New Years Day 1877 and was subsequently rebuilt at a much higher level. The domed 400-seater pavilion was constructed at a cost of £250 at the seaward end in 1888. A 1000-seater theatre, bar, camera obscura and office suite replaced this in 1899/1901. At the same time two saloons were built midway along the pier.

Either side of the Great War saw the shoreward end of the pier remodelled with a new entrance building being added in 1912 and the 'blue room' a 900-seater pavilion in 1922. This pavilion was predominantly used as a ballroom before playing host to the now modern favourite leisure facility of seaside piers, an amusement arcade.

During the Second World War the wooden decking was removed and machine gun platforms were installed in the theatre providing a useful vantage point from where to repel any attempted enemy landings. In 1951, now back in peacetime, the entrance buildings were again replaced. The theatre was destroyed by fire in January 1970, a new nightclub and bar being built in its place. Entrance buildings were again replaced in 1991. In 2003 the Camera Obscura, located in the dome above the nightclub, was reopened to the public. Restoration of this Victorian projector has provided Eastbourne Pier with a unique visitor attraction. This is a charming pier, which although modernised many times still retains much of its Edwardian splendour.


Sections on this Page:-
Eastbourne Pier Postcards
Eastbourne Pier Images

Other Eastbourne Pages:-
Allchorn Pleasure Boats - Eastbourne-Beachy Head Services

Other Sussex Pages:-
Sussex Piers
Bognor Pier - Additional 2007 images
Worthing Pier - Additional 2007 images
Sussex Excursion Vessels
Bodiam Ferry Company - Newenden Bridge-Bodiam Castle service
British Railways/Sealink - Page 6 - Newhaven Services
Chichester - Chichester Canal & harbour cruises
London Brighton & South Coast Railway - LBSC Newhaven-Dieppe Services
Southern Railway - Page 2 - Newhaven Services
Transmanche Ferries - Newhaven-Dieppe Services

Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships, Ports & Piers
Essex Piers
Kent Piers
Suffolk Piers
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page

References:-
Guide to British Piers - by Tim Mickleburgh - Piers Information Bureau 1988/1994
www.theheritagetrail.co.uk
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted

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Eastbourne Pier

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Eastbourne Pier Postcards
Eastbourne pier was opened in June 1870, and fully completed in 1872. A storm in 1877 washed away the shoreward end, which was rebuilt. The first theatre was built in 1888, and a steamer landing stage in 1893. A replacement theatre was completed in 1902, followed in 1912 by the extension of the landing stage and a new entrance building. The latter was replaced by the current entrance in 1951. There was a fire in the theatre in 1970.
Postcard of Eastbourne Pier Salmon postcard of Enchantress at Eastbourne Postcard of William Allchorn of Allchorn Pleasure Boats at Eastbourne Scan: Ivo Batricevic Eastbourne Pier Images Eastbourne Pier images Photo: © Ian Boyle 3rd July 2006 Eastbourne Pier Pavilion from William AllchornPhoto: © Ian Boyle 3rd July 2006 DUKW on Eastbourne beach, 3rd July 2006 Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards On Eastbourne PierPhoto: © Ian Boyle 3rd July 2006 Eastbourne Pier pavilionPhoto: © Ian Boyle 4th September 2007 Eastbourne Pier from William AllchornPhoto: © Ian Boyle 4th September 2007 DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with William Allchorn On this first attempt, the boat grounded before coming alongside the DUKW Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007 Eastbourne Pier and William AllchornPhoto: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007 UK Excursion Ships, Ports & Piers - Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards
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