Ref Number: 0053
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Ref Number: 0053
As the Ryde sandbanks stretch out to sea for about a mile, ships may only reach the Promenade Pier when the tide is high. As a result, many ships that sail to Ryde have historically been forced to deal with difficulties. In the year 1812, a group of merchants from Ryde discovered a solution to the problem, and they recommended the construction of the first promenade pier in Great Britain.
The Build
Subsequently an Act of Parliament authorising the construction of the pier was enacted in July of 1812, and by 1814, the pier was completed, measuring a total of 1,740 feet in length. When the pier was finally made accessible at all tides, tremendous development occurred in Ryde, and it quickly became a popular resort. This was because it had become the quickest route to get onto the island. In 1817, the ship Britannia was the vessel that made the first scheduled departure from Ryde Pier. In 1818, a severe storm caused part of the 750-foot pier to be destroyed. Despite this, the pier continued to be popular, and in 1824, it was extended to 2040 feet. Three years later, in 1827, the head of the pier was lengthened so that it could accommodate two steamships at the same time. Additionally, a set of additional tiny landing stages was constructed. You could go to Portsmouth or Southampton on a regular basis from the pier, or you could take day trips to other nearby cities like Lymington, Bournemouth, or Brighton.
In 1833, the pier was fitted with a navigational aid known as a “octagon lamp,” but in 1838, a brig collided with the pier during a storm, causing 50 feet of wood and piles to be destroyed.The late 1830s and early 1840s saw the beginning of the first phase of railway construction, which led to improvements in travel throughout the nation. Gosport to Ryde service began in 1842 when trains were first introduced to Gosport. After the construction of Albert Pier1 in Portsmouth, steamers were able to sail between Ryde and Portsmouth at any time of the tide.
The fact that the pier was a half mile long was the primary issue that needed to be addressed since it was necessary to have some kind of conveyance along the pier in order to get to the esplanade, the town, and the station. As the first of the major pleasure piers to be constructed, the pier at Ryde, which is located on the Isle of Wight, is in a category all by itself when compared to the other piers in Britain.
The Tranway
For a good number of years, Ryde Pier was served by not one but two trains. The earliest mode of transportation was a horse-drawn tramway, which was then replaced by steam, electric and petrol in 1927, before being upgraded to diesel in 1958/1959. It was found to be illegal in 1968, and on January 26, 1969, it was shut down.
Steam & Stations
The second steam operation to open in 1880 was a railway that had been jointly built by the LBSCR and the LSWR. This railway ran down the pier and linked with the Isle of Wight Railway at Ryde Esplanade. The Isle of Wight Railway would subsequently become the Isle of Wight Central Railway. After steam service on the British Railways main line was discontinued, the Ryde Pier portion of the Island line was one of the last to be electrified so that it could be used by former London and Provincial Railway Company (LPTB) tube train equipment.
Not only was Ryde Pier particularly well-liked for strolling along its boardwalk, but it also saw a steady and active stream of people disembarking from steamers on a regular basis. The pier head was expanded once again between the years 1856 and 1860. In August of 1864, Ryde received its first railway station, which was named Ryde St John’s and was located on the route to Shanklin.
The pier images are reproduced by kind permission of Simplonpc – From 1863 to 1876 the trams conveying passengers down Ryde Pier were drawn by horses.
Tramway / Pier head 1990’s
The tramway pier, being the middle one, is no longer in use and has been partially dismantled, it used to server the peddestrians who would use the pier as a walk or promenade and maybe a tea dance at the end in the dance hall. This entertainment complex at the pier head was very much in use until the 1950’s, but this as well fell as wel as the tramway fell into disuse and has now been demolished and replaced by a car park.
2010 repairs
Due to deterioration and aging fundamental structural repairs were called for in late 2010, the car and the foot thoroughfare was closed and the only access was by train to the head of the pier. A temporary footpath was constructed along the lines of the old tramway as can be seen by the pictures below.
Over the coming decade variios minor updates and reapirs were undecken to the cafe, car parking and general to meet the present days needs with a catamaran service running hourly to Portsmouth Harbour.
2023 Repairs and Modernisation
Further modernisation and investment with new walkways have now been introduced, the old tram way has given way to a pedestrian walkway easing the mian pier by moving the people off it completly. Coupled with this is the new Ryde Interchange a two million pound project to revitalise the area and the trafic managemnt.
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