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Worthing Pier
West Sussex
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Worthing Pier in West Sussex.
Designed by Sir Robert Rawlinson and commissioned by the Worthing Pier Company, the first pile of Worthing Pier was driven 6ft (1.8m) into the chalk seabed on 4th July 1861. Opening some 10 months later on 12th April 1862 Worthing Pier consisted simply of a 960ft (291m) long by 15ft (4.6m) wide promenade deck, with a landing stage at the seaward end. In 1888 substantial improvements were made at a cost of £12,000. The pier neck was increased from 15ft (4.6m) to 30ft (9.2m) and the head was increased to 105ft (32m) to facilitate the construction of a 650-seater pavilion. Two new kiosks, one for tolls and one a bazaar, replaced the previous central tollgate. Viscount Hampden opened the revitalised Worthing Pier on 1st July 1889. In 1897 a steam ship began operation between Worthing Pier and the
Chain Pier
in Brighton, twelve miles to the east. This was not without its problems since the shallow depth of water at low tide seriously hampered schedules. An extension was proposed, but abandoned after engineers reported that doubling the length would only increase the depth by a further 6ft (1.8m).
On Easter Monday 1913 gale force seas once again proved how vulnerable man's structures can be. At around midnight the wooden neck of the pier collapsed into the sea leaving the pavilion isolated, later to be affectionately named 'Easter Island'. Over a year later on 29th May 1914 the repaired Worthing Pier was re-opened by the Lord Mayor of London. The Worthing Corporation purchased the pier for £18,978, in 1920. Several years later improvements were made that included extensive repair work to the existing structure and the construction of a new shoreward end pavilion designed by Adshead & Ramsey. Opening on 26th June 1926, having cost the Corporation £40,000, the 1,000 seat pavilion was to become the permanent home for the Worthing Municipal Orchestra, one of the earliest, full time, all-year-round orchestra's at a seaside resort. The final remnant of the 1888 Worthing Pier was to disappear on 10th September 1933 when a blaze destroyed the seaward end pavilion. Hundreds of trippers, many still in their bathing costumes, assisted fire crews in trying to stop the blaze spreading along the pier neck, by ripping up the timber decking with crowbars and pickaxes. The pavilion was replaced two years later at a cost of £18,000. In addition a central amusement pavilion was opened midway along the neck in 1937, and windshields were erected down the piers length.
Worthing Pier was sectioned in 1940 for fear of German invasion after the retreat at Dunkirk. The shoreward end pavilion was adapted as a recreation centre for troops, providing concert parties and cinema shows. The pier pavilion re-opened in June 1946 but a shortage of materials meant the remainder of Worthing Pier remained closed until April 1949. In March 1958 the shoreward end pavilion was refurbished and in 1959 the adjacent Denton Lounge was added. In 1963 an information kiosk at the shoreward end caused considerable local controversy as its style was not in keeping with the other buildings. The shoreward end buildings were closed between 1979 and 1982, as major restoration work on the substructure was required. Worthing Pier is still owned by Worthing Borough Council (formerly Worthing Corporation).
Sections on this Page:-
Worthing Pier Postcards
Worthing Pier in 2007
Other Sussex Pages:-
Sussex Piers
Bognor Pier
- Additional 2007 images
Brighton Piers
- The three Brighton Piers
Eastbourne Pier
- Additional 2006 & 2007 images
Sussex Excursion Vessels
Allchorn Pleasure Boats
- Eastbourne-Beachy Head Services
Bodiam Ferry Company
- Newenden Bridge-Bodiam Castle service
British Railways/Sealink - Page 6
- Newhaven Services
Chichester
- Chichester Canal & harbour cruises
London Brighton & South Coast Railway
- LBSC Newhaven-Dieppe Services
Southern Railway - Page 2
- Newhaven Services
Transmanche Ferries
- Newhaven-Dieppe Services
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships, Ports & Piers
Essex Piers
Kent Piers
Suffolk Piers
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards
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Recent Updates
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Home Page
References:-
Guide to British Piers
- by Tim Mickleburgh - Piers Information Bureau 1988/1994
www.theheritagetrail.co.uk
Trip Out Guides
- Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
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Worthing Pier Postcards
Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Postcard of Worthing Pier
Postcard of Worthing Pier
Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Tuck's postcard of Worthing Pier, posted 1907
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Postcard of Worthing Pier, wrecked on March 22nd 1913
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Postcard of Worthing Pier, wrecked on March 22nd 1913, posted 1914
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Postcard of Worthing Pier, wrecked on March 22nd 1913
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Postcard of Worthing Pier, wrecked on March 22nd 1913
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Postcard of the wrecked Worthing Pier, photographed on March 23rd 1913
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Postcard of Worthing Pier
Postcard of Worthing Pier
Postcard of Worthing Pier
Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Photochrome postcard of Worthing Pier with Southdown coach
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Photochrome postcard of Worthing Pier
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Postcard of Worthing Pier
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier - shoreward pavillion opened 1926
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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Worthing Pier in 2007
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
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