Ref Number: 00120
Parliament approved yes another pier for Ventnor in July 1884, work began in late 1881 on the 650ft pier stretching out into the bay in the shape of a horseshoe.
Ref Number: 00120
In July 1884, the Ventnor Local Board approved a proposal for a third effort to construct a pier in the town. Construction on the pier began in 1885 and was finished in July 1887. It was 650 feet in length and had a horseshoe-shaped pierhead.
The pier saw a significant increase in steamboat traffic as Ventnor gained a reputation as a great spot to rest and recharge. Additional modifications and additions were made to the pier, including a pavilion in 1906 and a new bandstand near the pier’s beach entrance in 1913. Concert parties continued to be held in the pavilion adjacent to the bandstand during World War I.
In 1939, the pier was divided so that it couldn’t be used by the Germans as a landing strip for an invasion. After the war, 100 feet of the pier had to be demolished because it was so badly damaged, but in the 1950s, funds became available to restore the rest of the structure.
The mainland’s bucket and spade brigade brought economic success to the pier during the 1950s and the early 1970s. As a result of a lack of maintenance funding and subsequent safety concerns, the pier remained closed for some time. Destroying it at a cost of £239,950 was the only option as the prices continued to rise.
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