pier situated super mare england approximately miles south west bristol pier country links mainland island linking hectares acres rocky island west grade listed pier designed opened gothic toll house buildings designed local architect pier closed public second half 19th early 20th centuries pier popular locals tourists town boarding point trade underwent extensions modifications years world war pier commissioned hms admiralty research new weapons pier reopened war number visitors steamer passengers declined final excursion visited pier today pier home super mare station closure ownership passed hands times subject series proposals redevelopment proved fruitless pier remains largely derelict state pier collapsed storms december history island originally called derived old english words burn means spring brook island pronounced locals corrupted current rock limestone giving rise geological term limestone formation prior construction pier accessed natural causeway low tide proposal connect mainland western end work commenced suspension bridge years later design architect victoria bridge bath patented principle based chains cables common suspension bridges bridge design considered significant relatively short lived phase suspension bridge development strike little built damaged storm bringing end suspension bridge scheme construction new proposal build pier island funded shares raised year old son lord manor laid foundation stone october public holiday declared town celebratory dinner held town hall main pier originally feet long feet wide construction low water damaged storm rebuilt finally dismantled meaning pier feet long architectural features end pier pier resembles bridge pleasure piers groups piles support continuous set comprising piles river bed angle adjacent pair fitting screw blades iron piles opposed accepted wooden pile created deeper far base support innovations brought birch enabled piers designed survive problems structure bands marched pier opening day result horizontal cross added piles law passed banning marching pier gothic toll house buildings designed local architect allow bring day super mare ports english welsh landing extended west island highest tidal ranges world second eastern canada estuary funnel shape tidal range underlying geology rock gravel sand produce strong tidal streams high giving water notably brown tidal range means legs pier largely exposed low tide hidden high tide operation pier opened june cecil hugh people super mare given holiday banquet held town hall toll walk pier old penny quickly raised maximum fee permitted general pier harbour act people paid toll months system installed carry passengers arriving pier new wooden northern added allowed removal original western landing place built south west corner reached deep water low tide allowing use pier states tide damaged gale rebuilt closed dismantled northern damaged storm replaced present steel structure second pier known grand pier opened centre super mare capacity accommodate seldom difficult currents structure electric ran pier approach road visitors arriving left pier housed cafe pavilion destroyed fire december replaced present buildings altered years attractions included shooting gallery merry round park swings theatre wonders licensed bar telephone installed months installed town amusement area expanded extension iron supports south island built proper specifications demolished larger concrete platform added place pier taken admiralty outpost commissioned hms secret weapons development storage testing bouncing bomb tested fort opposite bay war pier resumed role tourist attraction business declined competition grand pier opened amusement arcades sold pier campbell steamer operators withdrawal ships sold redeveloped victorian pleasure centre special permission issue currency visitors proposals pier commercial success including converting hotel casino residential use centre marina successful steamer company serving campbell white funnel fleet operations suspended second world war number passengers decreased availability cheap foreign holidays opening bridge 1960s regular ferries ceased serving final excursion october pleasure operate calls connecting tender million damage caused pier drifting equipment engineering work north pier damage quickly repaired despite fears like nearby pier time severed collapsed span pier badly damaged storms closed safety reasons daily trips summer months cardiff suspended indefinitely decline english_heritage placed heritage risk register station installed walkway pier allow safe access island cost pier sold new owners launched competition august inviting people submit ideas regeneration pier island time repair work required estimated million entries competition world winner design competition announced march winning design included dozen luxury apartments room hotel august announced campaign redesign buildings island designs submitted designs removed existing buildings piers replace walking paths added large concrete building island design called windows building create large surrounding september urban splash placed pier sale citing downfall business caused recession reason september reported bought undisclosed sum awarded planning permission new development nearby royal pier hotel site yards pier august reports suggests sale proceeded owners bought chairman director included pier list endangered buildings north pier collapsed storms december station extreme tidal range finding suitable launching site proved task installed pier enabling lowered water low tide new larger stationed built north east island feet pier facility replaced new built south east island feet enabled launched states tide longest england closed poor condition launched north east island crews continued use kept launch open air april new temporary erected cover structure cost designed dismantled permanent facilities built transported reused announced seek planning permission permanent station harbour deep water anchorage facilities pier closed super mare busiest station south called times historically largest number people rescued time september passengers taken got difficulties leaving pier
Birnbeck Pier