Research Project.
Thomas Iles
Interior Architecture & Design Year 4.
N0362462
Site Research, Eastbourne Pier:
In this page, I aim to develop my knowledge about the history of Eastbourne Pier to help me understand what its future is, and past has been. I will look at what the background behind the piers development has been, from its original design in the Victorian times. I will investigate the damage caused by the fire in July 2014 and the impact it has had on the structure and materials. I will also do site analysis, researching existing drawings, the structure of the pier, its current uses and size, also investigating the materials and its context within Eastbourne.
Date of Visit:
Designed By:
Built In:
Located:
Length:
Materials/Construction:
Restored In:
Damaged -
- Fire:
- Storm:
Function:
09.12.2014
Eugenius Birch
1870
East Sussex
305m
Cast Iron/Concrete/Timber
1878, 1888, 1889-1901, 1912, 1925, 1951, 1971, 1985, 1990/01
1970, 2014
1877
Pleasure Pier
Built in 1870, Eastbourne pier was designed by Eugenius Birch. On the 30th July 2014 a fire broke out in the arcade, leaving the town without its pier, not for the first time. Like other piers around the UK, storms and fires have caused damage and destruction. Eastbourne pier now is now closed awaiting redevelopment after government funding was granted. The Arcade or Blue Room built in the 1920’s was left as a skeleton as a result of the fire, leaving the rest of the pier inaccessible.
Site Photos: (09.12.14)
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Timeline:
Eastbourne Pier History
By Date:
1865/1866:
On the 18th April 1865, The Eastbourne Pier Company Ltd was formed, with major local landowner Duke of Devonshire proposing plans for a pier. The objective “to construct a Promenade Pier, with all proper works, approaches, and other conveniences connected therewith commencing at a point on the Esplanade, opposite Cavendish Place, in the Town of Eastbourne, in the Parish of Eastbourne, in the County of Sussex” (Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk, 2015). Engineer Eugenuis Birch was asked to design the structure, a 1000 foot long pier costing £12,000. J.E. Dawson was the contractor and on 18th April 1866 the first pile was driven.
1870
The Pier was officially opened on 13th June 1870 by Lord Edward Cavendish, a Lieutenant Colonel and politician. However work on the 1000ft pier was not complete.
1872
Work on the pier was finally completed, the buildings sitting on the 1000ft pier consisted of four kiosks at the gates and four at the pier head, there was a landing stage and wind break. The pier was built with iron columns on cast iron screw piles, this structure originally supported a timber deck.
1877
New Year’s Day, 1877 a storm hit which destroyed the landward end of the pier. It was rebuilt at a higher level as it was thought to be safer, a ramp coinnected this to the existing pier.
1888
At the seaward end a pier head was added measuring 310ftx40ft with a domed theatre seating 400 people on it. This was built for the cost of £250. It was a shed like structure where stage shows were presented.
1893
Piles on the original landing stage were damaged, and the Eastbourne pier company being informed that a new bigger steam boat would also be starting to stop off at the pier, it was passed that a new larger and safer landing stage should be built. The new landing stage was completed on 3rd August 1894.
1901
Around this time, the bandstand and pierrot shows were very popular. A new theatre was added to the pier which seated 1000 people. Also two games saloons were added midway along the pier. On top of the theatre was the largest camera obscura in the United Kingdom. The theatre was used for both animated pictures and stage presentations, and it was the first place animated pictures could be viewed.
Camera Obscura – “A small round building with a rotating angled mirror at the apex of he roof, projecting an image of the landscape on to a horizontal surface inside.”
(oxforddictionaries.com, 2015)
1912
The pier was extended and three new entrance buildings were constructed. On the left, a Maynard’s Shop, the right was a tour booking point, and in the middle a toll booth. To enter the pier the fee was 2d, or a half-groat the equivalent to a two pence coin.
1922
A new music pavilion was constructed at the shoreward end of the pier keeping in the Victorian style. It was known as the blue room and later became used as a ballroom and then changed once more due to demand into an arcade, which stayed standing until July 2014.
1940
During the war the pier was closed, it was considered a security risk and therefore nearly blown up, instead a central section of the wooden decking was removed, guns were installed on the theatre to guard the coastline from enemy invasions. An anti-aircraft gun was also installed half way along the pier. In 1942 the pier was damaged by a mine.
“The middle of the pier was blown up and there were Bofor guns on the pier and at the wish tower.”
(Bbc.co.uk, 2015)
1945
The pier was reopened once the war had finished and the missing section on wooden planks were placed with a concrete deck. Although the remaining wooden decking on the seaward end left remaining as they are thought to allow slight movement during storms.
1951
A new entrance building was constructed.
1968
The pier was brought by Trust House Forte.
1970
A fire started at the seaward end of the pier, caused by an arsonist, it burnt down the theatre at the pier head. It was rebuilt as a ‘Dixieland’ showbar and was used for discos and cabaret.
“Back in January 1970 the fire ripped through the theatre at the end of the structure – where last week it took out the arcade next to the entrance.”
(Theargus.co.uk, 2015)
1985
A New arcade was installed, costing £250,000.
1987
On 15th October a hurricane described as the worst storm to hit Eastbourne for around 300 years destroyed the landing stage.
1991
A new entrance building was opened on 15th June by the Duke of Devonshire, it cost £500,000.
2003
The Camera Obscura was eventually restored to its previous best and reopened to the public.
2009
English heritage reviewed the pier and as a result upgraded it from being a Grade II listed building, to a Grade II*.
2010
The Ocean Suite and the terrace were redeveloped which gave visitors a 360 degree sea view. The works cost £250,000 and were opened in July.
2014
On the 30th July 2014 Eastbourne pier set on fire once more, the effects of this left only the iron structure of the blue room remaining, built in 1925 it housed the arcade. Firefighters managed to stop the spread of the fire leaving the seaward end and the middle saloons unharmed.
Time will tell whether the redevelopment of the pier will remain traditional in regard to function and design, or look to adapt to remain a profitable and popular attraction.
BBC Reporting on
Eastbourne Pier:
Visiting The Keep:
“The Keep is a world-class centre for archives that opens up access to all the collections of the East Sussex Record Office (ESRO), the Royal Pavilion & Museums Local History Collections”
(The Keep, 2015)
I had the chance to visit the new local archive in Brighton. Here I could access many drawings, photos and books about Eastbourne and the Pier. Original records of the drawings are still kept here. I could see the piers development from its original design, and drawings of the buildings which have since been added to it. Books gave me a detailed history of the Pier as well as pictures of the piers development, and also information on Hastings and Brighton Wests Piers.
Photo's: (23.12.14)
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Visiting Eastbourne Pier:
From a distance you can notice the large cranes and visible scar of what was the Blue Room and arcade on the pier. The entrance to the pier was closed, although the fish and chip shop at the entrance was open to customers, but not busy, probably due to the time of year. The promenade wasn’t very busy and most of the people I spoke to were local, and of the older age demographic. I think peoples reaction to the fire, was that they were shocked and were excited to know hear of the development plans and to see the pier open to the public again. Locals were keen on a similar style and function but this is based on a limited age graphic. I think the arcade would be used by a younger age group, it may have suited the people I spoke to when they were that age. I feel it should now be looking to the future and moving forward with this development. Everyone I spoke to agreed the design needs to make sure it accommodates for people in the future to keep itself a popular and profitable attraction for locals and visitors.
Infographic:
Uses:
Timelapse Video:
- Night Club
- Fishing deck/Angling Club
- Camera Obscura
- Roof Terrace
- Shops - Ice Cream
- Fish & Chips
- Souvenirs/Sweets
- Tea Room/Coffee Shop
- Conference (hireable) Room
- Bar
- Arcade
- Gallery/Museum
As the pier is currently not open, conducting a time-lapse proved difficult in capturing how people truly use and interact with the pier. Instead, I think that this time-lapse shows the number of people passing the entrance of the pier is high, even when it’s off season. People are often having a look to see what’s going on and so showing interest in the development of the site. Having also visited Hastings Pier I think it is a shame that there is no information about plans for the redevelopment.
