You can save me.....

The most endangered Pier in Britain, Hastings Pier, in the early hours of October 5th 2010, a devastating fire swept through the pier, destroying most of the super-structure. Two men were subsequently arrested on suspicion of arson and bailed pending further action.

Some History

Work on the 910 foot pier, designed by Eugenius Birch, began in December 1869 and it was opened on the first ever August Bank Holiday (1872). It had cost £23,250 and incorporated a very handsome 2000-seat pavilion at the seaward end. One of the tollhouses was damaged by a storm in 1877 but was repaired.

In 1885, a £2,000 landing stage was built. In 1910/11, a small building housing a shooting gallery, 'animated pictures' and slot machines was added, followed in 1912, by a rifle range/bowling alley. This shoreward end of the pier, known as the 'parade extension', was sold to the council in 1913 to finance a new arcade, shops and a tea-room.

The pavilion was destroyed by fire on 15th July 1917 but was replaced in 1922, albeit in a less elaborate style. A shoreward end pavilion was built in 1926. An Art Deco facade was added in the 1930s. The pier's seaward end was damaged by storms in 1938, closing the pavilion and costing £22,000 to repair. The pier was sectioned during World War Two and was taken over by the armed forces. It suffered some bomb damage during the conflict. It reopened in 1946. The West View and East View solaria were added in 1951 and 1956 respectively.

Mrs BM and I had a drive out, as it was her turn to buy Dinner, hahaha, a quick blip or two of the Pier, and then off to the Buull's Head just outside Hastings for a meal, I can recommend this pub to everyone, great meals and even better Beer.

BTW, Hastings council have stepped in to try and save the pier and even applied for Lottery funding, we wait and see.