IMG_8788
Brighton West Pier is now just a burnt out shell and is all that is left of what was a major attraction built in a period during a boom in pleasure pier building in the 1860s. The chronology of the pier is as follows; construction starts in 1863 lead by Eugenius Birch, opened in 1866 by Mayor Henry Martin, 1893 pier head widened and pavilion built to be used as concert hall seating 1400, 1896 pier damaged by Chain Pier and landing stage constructed for steamer excursions, 1903 Pavilion converted to theatre with seating for 1000, 1916 pier widened further at centre and a concert hall built marking the end of major changes to the pier, 1919 highest ever recorded figure of paying visitors (2,074,000), 1936 pier closed for security reasons, 1968 used as location for the film “Oh, What a Lovely War!”, 1969 Pier made Grade II listing to protect it, 1975 entire pier closed to public, between 1983 and 2002 various projects and plans towards restoration, 2003 partial collapses of the concert hall followed by arson attacks which destroy the Pavilion and Concert Hall.
IMG_8788
Brighton West Pier is now just a burnt out shell and is all that is left of what was a major attraction built in a period during a boom in pleasure pier building in the 1860s. The chronology of the pier is as follows; construction starts in 1863 lead by Eugenius Birch, opened in 1866 by Mayor Henry Martin, 1893 pier head widened and pavilion built to be used as concert hall seating 1400, 1896 pier damaged by Chain Pier and landing stage constructed for steamer excursions, 1903 Pavilion converted to theatre with seating for 1000, 1916 pier widened further at centre and a concert hall built marking the end of major changes to the pier, 1919 highest ever recorded figure of paying visitors (2,074,000), 1936 pier closed for security reasons, 1968 used as location for the film “Oh, What a Lovely War!”, 1969 Pier made Grade II listing to protect it, 1975 entire pier closed to public, between 1983 and 2002 various projects and plans towards restoration, 2003 partial collapses of the concert hall followed by arson attacks which destroy the Pavilion and Concert Hall.