Wellington & Britannia Piers, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk
Wellington Pier (front) was designed by P. Ashcroft. The 690 ft. (210 m) wooden structure cost £6,776 to build and opened on 31st. October 1853.
In its first year the pier was a huge success and made an impressive profit for the time of £581. Five years later Britannia Pier was built which had a very large financial effect on Wellington Pier's profitability. By 1899 Great Yarmouth Corporation bailed out the failing business for the sum of £1,250 and had plans to improve the entertainment and amusement of the pier.
On 13th. July 1903 a new pavilion was opened and in 1904 a failed Winter Gardens was bought from Torquay in Devon by barge. It was rebuilt and incorporated into the design of the pier and opened in 1906.
In the early 1970s, the pier was substantially strengthened with major steelwork renovations. It was leased from the local council by the entertainer Jim Davidson in 1996. He invested around £750,000 of his own money which was spent on the inside, but the outside was left, as neither the National Lottery nor local projects would fund it. The theatre stood empty until it was partially demolished in early 2005. By late 2005 the front part of the pier has been totally re-developed as an amusement arcade. By September 2008 the old theatre at the end of the pier had been converted to become a large bowling alley and bars.
In July 2021 the Grade: II listed Winter Gardens received a £10 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to support its repair and reopening in 2027.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Britannia Pier was first proposed in 1856. Building work commencing in September 1857 with engineer and surveyor Alfred William Morant as the designer.
The pier opened on 13th. July 1858 at cost of £6,000. It was originally 700 ft. (213 m) long but this length was reduced by about 80 ft. (24 m) in 1859 when the sloop James and Jessie collided with the structure during the Royal Charter Storm. The length was again reduced as the result of storm damage in 1868. The pier was demolished in 1899
The building of a new pier was commenced on 13th. December 1900 to a design by engineers Joseph and Arthur Mayoh. Opening in 1901 it had a 810 ft. (247 m) pier deck with a temporary pavilion at the far end, which was eventually replaced with a Grand Pavilion which opened on 21st. June 1902.
The Grand Pavilion was destroyed by fire on 22nd. December 1909. A second pavilion designed by Douglass & Arnott was completed in 1910 but this too was to burn down on 17th. April 1914 as a result of an arson attack by militant suffragettes Hilda Burkitt and Florence Tunks, both of whom received prison sentences. A third pavilion was hastily constructed and opened on 27th. July 1914.
The pier's Floral Hall Ballroom opened in May 1928 but was destroyed by fire in August 1932. A new Grand Ballroom opened in 1933, but this too was destroyed by fire in April 1954, along with the third pavilion.
The pier was closed during World War II. It re-opened in 1947 after essential repairs were carried out, including replacing sections removed during wartime to prevent enemy troops using the pier as a landing station.
The present pavilion opened on 27th. June 1958..
Wellington & Britannia Piers, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk
Wellington Pier (front) was designed by P. Ashcroft. The 690 ft. (210 m) wooden structure cost £6,776 to build and opened on 31st. October 1853.
In its first year the pier was a huge success and made an impressive profit for the time of £581. Five years later Britannia Pier was built which had a very large financial effect on Wellington Pier's profitability. By 1899 Great Yarmouth Corporation bailed out the failing business for the sum of £1,250 and had plans to improve the entertainment and amusement of the pier.
On 13th. July 1903 a new pavilion was opened and in 1904 a failed Winter Gardens was bought from Torquay in Devon by barge. It was rebuilt and incorporated into the design of the pier and opened in 1906.
In the early 1970s, the pier was substantially strengthened with major steelwork renovations. It was leased from the local council by the entertainer Jim Davidson in 1996. He invested around £750,000 of his own money which was spent on the inside, but the outside was left, as neither the National Lottery nor local projects would fund it. The theatre stood empty until it was partially demolished in early 2005. By late 2005 the front part of the pier has been totally re-developed as an amusement arcade. By September 2008 the old theatre at the end of the pier had been converted to become a large bowling alley and bars.
In July 2021 the Grade: II listed Winter Gardens received a £10 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to support its repair and reopening in 2027.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Britannia Pier was first proposed in 1856. Building work commencing in September 1857 with engineer and surveyor Alfred William Morant as the designer.
The pier opened on 13th. July 1858 at cost of £6,000. It was originally 700 ft. (213 m) long but this length was reduced by about 80 ft. (24 m) in 1859 when the sloop James and Jessie collided with the structure during the Royal Charter Storm. The length was again reduced as the result of storm damage in 1868. The pier was demolished in 1899
The building of a new pier was commenced on 13th. December 1900 to a design by engineers Joseph and Arthur Mayoh. Opening in 1901 it had a 810 ft. (247 m) pier deck with a temporary pavilion at the far end, which was eventually replaced with a Grand Pavilion which opened on 21st. June 1902.
The Grand Pavilion was destroyed by fire on 22nd. December 1909. A second pavilion designed by Douglass & Arnott was completed in 1910 but this too was to burn down on 17th. April 1914 as a result of an arson attack by militant suffragettes Hilda Burkitt and Florence Tunks, both of whom received prison sentences. A third pavilion was hastily constructed and opened on 27th. July 1914.
The pier's Floral Hall Ballroom opened in May 1928 but was destroyed by fire in August 1932. A new Grand Ballroom opened in 1933, but this too was destroyed by fire in April 1954, along with the third pavilion.
The pier was closed during World War II. It re-opened in 1947 after essential repairs were carried out, including replacing sections removed during wartime to prevent enemy troops using the pier as a landing station.
The present pavilion opened on 27th. June 1958..