Monument record MDO29440 - Bournemouth Pier

Bournemouth Pier began as a 100 foot wooden jetty built in 1856. It was replaced by a 1000 feet, wood-piled pier in 1861. The present pier was built between 1878 and 1880 by Bergheim & Co., London, to a design by Eugenius Birch. It was extended in 1894 and 1909. Between 1979 and 1981, a redevelopment project replaced and refurbished part of the pier to provide a two-storey octagonal entrance building, shops, kiosks, an amusement arcade, a show-bar and a multi-purpose hall.

Bournemouth Pier began as a 100 foot wooden jetty built in 1856. It was replaced by a 1000 feet, wood-piled pier in 1861 at a cost of £3,418. The architect was George Rennie. The present pier is therefore the third on the site and was built between 1878 and 1880 by Bergheim & Co., London, to a design by Eugenius Birch. Its length was 838 feet (255.4 metres) and was extended in 1894 and 1909 to over 1000 feet (304.8 metres). A landing stage 1060 feet in length was constructed at a lower level around the exterior of the head and part of the neck. A bandstand and covered shelters were added in 1885. During the Second World War, the pier was breached as an anti-invasion measure by the Army Demolition Team. The pier-head was reconstructed in 1950, inserting a concrete substructure, and again in 1960 to carry the new pier theatre. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) made an unsuccessful attempt to bomb the pier in the late twentieth century. Between 1979 and 1981, a £1.7m redevelopment project replaced and refurbished part of the pier to provide a two-storey octagonal entrance building, shops, kiosks, an amusement arcade, a show-bar and a multi-purpose hall. <1>

Record last edited

Jan 17 2024 9:50AM