Clevedon Pier
Encyclopedia
Clevedon Pier is a seaside pier
in the town of Clevedon
, on the English
side of the Severn Estuary
. It is situated next to the Royal Pier Hotel
.
The landing stage at the end of the pier is used throughout the summer season (June to September) by the Waverley
and her sister ship, the Balmoral, and is a popular spot for angling
. There is a cafe at the pierhead, and a souvenir shop at the toll house. The upper floor of the toll house is an art gallery with a different exhibition every month. The pier is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.
and Richard Ward as the engineers and Hans Price
as the architect. By August 1868 600 feet (183 m) of the pier had been built and the completed pier was opened on 29 March 1869. It was partially constructed from Isambard Kingdom Brunel
's second-hand railway lines, and is 225 metres (738 ft) long and 14.5 metres (48 ft) tall. The tidal range at this part of the estuary can reach 14 metres (46 ft) and the landing stage at the end of the pier has several levels to allow boats to dock at all stages of the tide. The paddle steamer Waverley first visited the pier to take on passengers in 1886. In 1893 the pier head was replaced in cast iron with a new timber landing stage, and the pier head pavilion was completed in 1894. The Toll House on the pier and the adjacent Royal Pier Hotel were both designed by local architect Hans Price
.
In 1899, 20 feet (6 m) of the decking was washed away by a storm. In 1910, part of the landing stage was damaged in another storm and replaced by a concrete landing stage in 1913.
On 17 October 1970, spans 7 and 8 of the pier collapsed during stress testing, which had been introduced in the 1950s to obtain insurance cover, where long polythene tanks resting on the pier were filled with water, to create a pressure of 50 p.s.i. (2.4 kPa).
In 1972, the Clevedon Pier Preservation Society was formed. In 1979, the district council applied for permission to demolish the pier but a public enquiry the following year ruled that it should be retained. In 1982, the pavilions from the end of the pier were taken ashore for storage in anticipation of eventual restoration. Sufficient funds were not forthcoming, however, and the first stage was simply to open the Toll House as an exhibition centre in 1984.
The major breakthrough came in 1984, when English Heritage
and the National Heritage Memorial Fund
granted a million pounds towards the restoration, with smaller sums from Woodspring District Council and other funding bodies. The trust also obtained a 99-year lease. The pier was dismantled in 1985 and taken to Portishead
dock for restoration, and reconstructed in 1986.
After a long campaign by local people to raise funds for restoration (supported by Sir John Betjeman
, who described Clevedon as "the most beautiful pier in England"), the pier eventually reopened. One fundraising method was "sponsored planks" — small brass plaques with names or messages are inlaid on the wooden planks and benches, recording donations. On 27 May 1989, the reconstruction of the pier spans and decking was completed and the pier was reopened to great fanfare. The pierhead was still shut, however, and it was not until 23 May 1998 that it was finally restored and opened to the public, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund
. In 2001, the pier was upgraded to a grade 1 listed building, the only other pier with this status being Brighton
's West Pier (largely destroyed by fire and storms between 2002 and 2004).
, starring Keira Knightley
were filmed near Clevedon pier during the summer of 2009. The pier also featured on the promotional posters.
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
in the town of Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
, on the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side of the Severn Estuary
Severn Estuary
The Severn Estuary is the estuary of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. Its high tidal range means it has been at the centre of discussions in the UK regarding renewable energy.-Geography:...
. It is situated next to the Royal Pier Hotel
Royal Pier Hotel, Clevedon
The Royal Pier Hotel is a Grade II listed building located in Clevedon, North Somerset, England.-History:The Royal Pier Hotel was built in 1823 by Thomas Hollyman, and originally called The Rock House. In 1868, the building was expanded by local architect Hans Price and renamed Rock House & Royal...
.
The landing stage at the end of the pier is used throughout the summer season (June to September) by the Waverley
PS Waverley
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973...
and her sister ship, the Balmoral, and is a popular spot for angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
. There is a cafe at the pierhead, and a souvenir shop at the toll house. The upper floor of the toll house is an art gallery with a different exhibition every month. The pier is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.
History
In November 1866, the Clevedon Pier Company was formed at a public meeting in the town and construction of the pier started at a cost of £10,000, with John William GroverJohn William Grover
John William Grover , was an early English consulting civil engineer responsible for several notable buildings in London, and railway lines in England, Wales, Mexico and Venezuela. He was the inventor of the split washer....
and Richard Ward as the engineers and Hans Price
Hans Price
Hans Price was the architect responsible for much of the development of Weston-super-Mare, in North Somerset, England, during the Victorian era.-Life:Hans Fowler Price was born in Langford, Somerset. He studied under Thomas Barry in Liverpool...
as the architect. By August 1868 600 feet (183 m) of the pier had been built and the completed pier was opened on 29 March 1869. It was partially constructed from Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
's second-hand railway lines, and is 225 metres (738 ft) long and 14.5 metres (48 ft) tall. The tidal range at this part of the estuary can reach 14 metres (46 ft) and the landing stage at the end of the pier has several levels to allow boats to dock at all stages of the tide. The paddle steamer Waverley first visited the pier to take on passengers in 1886. In 1893 the pier head was replaced in cast iron with a new timber landing stage, and the pier head pavilion was completed in 1894. The Toll House on the pier and the adjacent Royal Pier Hotel were both designed by local architect Hans Price
Hans Price
Hans Price was the architect responsible for much of the development of Weston-super-Mare, in North Somerset, England, during the Victorian era.-Life:Hans Fowler Price was born in Langford, Somerset. He studied under Thomas Barry in Liverpool...
.
In 1899, 20 feet (6 m) of the decking was washed away by a storm. In 1910, part of the landing stage was damaged in another storm and replaced by a concrete landing stage in 1913.
On 17 October 1970, spans 7 and 8 of the pier collapsed during stress testing, which had been introduced in the 1950s to obtain insurance cover, where long polythene tanks resting on the pier were filled with water, to create a pressure of 50 p.s.i. (2.4 kPa).
Restoration
The major breakthrough came in 1984, when English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
and the National Heritage Memorial Fund
National Heritage Memorial Fund
The National Heritage Memorial Fund is a non-departmental public body set up under the National Heritage Act 1980 in memory of people who gave their lives for the United Kingdom....
granted a million pounds towards the restoration, with smaller sums from Woodspring District Council and other funding bodies. The trust also obtained a 99-year lease. The pier was dismantled in 1985 and taken to Portishead
Portishead, Somerset
Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset England. It has a population of 22,000, an increase of over 3,000 since the 2001 census, with a growth rate of 40 per cent, considerably in excess...
dock for restoration, and reconstructed in 1986.
After a long campaign by local people to raise funds for restoration (supported by Sir John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
, who described Clevedon as "the most beautiful pier in England"), the pier eventually reopened. One fundraising method was "sponsored planks" — small brass plaques with names or messages are inlaid on the wooden planks and benches, recording donations. On 27 May 1989, the reconstruction of the pier spans and decking was completed and the pier was reopened to great fanfare. The pierhead was still shut, however, and it was not until 23 May 1998 that it was finally restored and opened to the public, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
. In 2001, the pier was upgraded to a grade 1 listed building, the only other pier with this status being Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
's West Pier (largely destroyed by fire and storms between 2002 and 2004).
In popular culture
Scenes from the 2010 film, Never Let Me GoNever Let Me Go (2010 film)
Never Let Me Go is a 2010 British dystopian drama film based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Mark Romanek from a screenplay by Alex Garland. Never Let Me Go is set in an alternate history and centers on Kathy, Ruth and Tommy who are portrayed by Carey...
, starring Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
were filmed near Clevedon pier during the summer of 2009. The pier also featured on the promotional posters.
External links
- Clevedon Pier website
- Clevedon Pier, Coast, BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...