Suffolk - Ferries, Excursions, Ports, Piers - Ferry Photographs




This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Suffolk town of Southwold. There is also a list of other Suffolk pages on this site.


Sections on this Page:-
Southwold - Original Pier
Southwold - New Pier
Southwold - Views from the Pier
Southwold - Lighthouse
Southwold - Walberswick - ferries on the River Blyth

Suffolk Pages:-
Suffolk Ferries & Excursion Boats
Suffolk Piers
Felixstowe Ferry - Bawdsey
Harwich-Shotley-Felixstowe ferry: Brightlingsea
Harwich-Shotley-Felixstowe ferry: Explorer 12
Lunch Cruise on Lady Florence - Orford restaurant boat
Orford - Excursion boats and ferries from Orford Quay to Orford Ness and Rivers Alde, Ore and Butley
Orwell River Cruises
Shingle Street - Suffolk costal hamlet
Southwold - Photo Diary - 4th December 2009
Southwold - Photo Diary - 30th March 2008
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
- Simplon Postcards facebook page

References:-
www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/southwold - Pier history
www.trinityhouse.co.uk
Rivers Alde, Ore & Blythe - Robert Simper - Creekside Publishing 1994
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
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powered by FreeFind Southwold All images link to larger copies opening in a new window/tab Original Southwold Pier

The Coast Development Company, who operated the Belle Steamers fleet between London and East Anglian resorts, built Southwold Pier (along with Lowestoft and Felixstowe). Construction was authorised in 1899, and a design from W Jeffrey was accepted. Opened in the summer of 1900, the wooden pier extended to a length of 810ft (245m), and had a T-shaped landing stage at the head. A wooden pavilion with refreshment rooms was later erected at the shoreward end. Despite offering these basic facilities, Southwold Pier (and the other Coast Development Company piers) were always designed with the functional purpose of bringing visitors from London to disembark at various places along the East Coast on route to Great Yarmouth. The Amusement Equipment Company took control of Southwold Pier in 1906 when the Coast Development Company was succeeded by the Coast Development Corporation Ltd. Belle Steamers continued to operate the London to Great Yarmouth service until the early 1930s. The T-shaped landing stage at the head was swept away in a violent storm in 1934 and was never replaced. In 1936 the timber buildings at the shoreward end were replaced with the two-storey modernist pavilion that remains today.

In common with the majority of piers on the east and south coasts of England, Southwold Pier was sectioned in 1940 for fear of invasion. A drifting sea mine subsequently struck the pier, destroying a further section. Southwold Pier was repaired in 1948, at a cost of £30,000. In October 1955 a storm isolated the seaward end, and a further gale in February 1979 reduced the piers length to only 150ft (45.4m).

The pavilion building has performed many roles during its time - in the 1960s it was a public house. Purchased by the Iredale family in 1987, the pavilion's first floor theatre and function rooms were completely restored, the former cafeteria re-opened as Flippers Diner, and a fitness studio replaced the old Neptune bar. Part of the ground floor remained as an amusement arcade, with a bar to the rear. Access to the surviving section of the pier neck was from the bar, and served as a beer terrace. A fund raising campaign, started in 1999, secured sufficient money to extend Southwold Pier to its former length. This was officially opened on 3rd July 2001. The T-shaped head has also been restored, and when the Balmoral pulled alongside in June 2002 it was the first ship to do so in nearly half a century. In 2005, the pier was bought by Stephen Bournes and remains a family-run business.

This early photograph is captioned 'Building Southwold Pier', but I have no other information Presumably one of the harbour breakwaters if actually at Southwold Belle steamer approaching the original Southwold Pier Postcard of Southwold Pier Postcard of the view north from Southwold Pier Postcard of the view north from Southwold Pier New Southwold Pier

In 1987, the Pier was bought by Chris Iredale and work to rebuild it started in 1999 making new legs with the latest piling techniques. In 2001, the work was completed with the pier reaching its current length of 623 feet. It was named Pier of the Year in 2002 and is Britain’s only 21st Century Pier. In 2005, the Pier was bought by Stephen Bournes and remains a family-run business. A variety of different shops, cafes and bars are open along the length of the pier, which is extremely popular. The next development phase appears to be the restoration of the 1936 pavilion, partially to provide apartments to let. The new Southwold Pier in 2007Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd October 2007 On the new Southwold Pier in 2007Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd October 2007 The new Southwold Pier - Balmoral weather vanePhoto: © Ian Boyle, 23rd October 2007 The new Southwold Pier in 2007 Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th October 2007 Southwold Pier from Balmoral in 2007Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th June 2007 Southwold Pier in 2008 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 31st March 2008 Southwold Pier - detail of seat Photo: � Ian Boyle, 31st March 2008 Southwold Pier, seen from the MV Balmoral in 2009 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 7th July 2009 Southwold Pier in 2009 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 4th December 2009 Southwold Pier in 2013 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 5th December 2013 Views from Southwold Pier The view from the new Southwold Pier Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd October 2007 View from Southwold Pier towards Sizewell nuclear power station Photo: � Ian Boyle, 4th December 2009 Southwold Lighthouse Southwold Lighthouse is a coastal mark for passing shipping and guides vessels into Southwold Harbour. The lighthouse is situated near the centre of the seaside resort of Southwold. Construction of Southwold Lighthouse began in 1887 under the supervision of Sir James Douglass, Engineer in Chief to Trinity House. The lighthouse replaced three local lighthouses which were under threat from severe coastal erosion at Orfordness to the South. While the masonry tower was built a temporary light was shown from a wooden structure which was first lit on 19th February 1889. The present lighthouse came into operation on 3rd September 1890. The light was originally provided by an Argand burner, this was replaced by a Matthews incandescent oil burner in 1906. A Hood 100mm petroleum vapour burner was installed in 1923 and remained until the station was electrified and demanned in 1938. Two red sectors mark shoals to the north and the Sizewell Bank to the south, the main navigation light is white. Southwold Lighthouse in 2008 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 30th March 2008 Southwold Lighthouse in 2008 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 31st March 2008 Southwold lighthouse, seen from the MV Balmoral Photo: � Ian Boyle, 7th July 2009 Southwold lighthouse, in a painting by Matthew Emeny based on the image shown Southwold Lighthouse in 2009 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 4th December 2009 Southwold Lighthouse in 2009 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 5th December 2009 Southwold Lighthouse in 2013 Photo: � Ian Boyle, 5th December 2013 Southwold-Walberswick Ferry River Blyth
A rowing ferry had existed near the mouth of the River Blyth for many years. A floating bridge chain-ferry was started between Southwold and Walberswick in 1885. The initial hand-cranked ferry was later replaced by a steam ferry. The ferry ran until 1942. 1937 harbour improvements had created a funnel mouth which often made the river too rough for ferry operation. Frank Palmer then restarted the old rowing ferry. He has been succeeded by Bob Cross and David Church.
The Southwold-Walberswick steam ferry
In 2006, the Southwold-Walberswick ferry (a traditional rowing boat) operated daily from June to September and weekends only in April and May. Contact: 01502 478615. The Southwold-Walberswick ferry arriving at Walberswick. Photos: © Ian Boyle, May 1999 The Southwold-Walberswick ferry leaving Walberswick Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th October 2007 UK Excursion Ships - Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page �1999-2013 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site) All Rights Reserved