seaside pier town somerset england east shore described sir beautiful pier england designated grade listed building pier built 1860s attract tourists provide ferry port rail passengers pier long consists spans supported steel rails covered wooden pavilion pier head pier opened served point steamer exactly years spans collapsed stress testing demolition proposed local fund raising heritage grants allowed pier dismantled restoration reopened years later awarded pier year civic trust award pier offers landing stage popular attraction tourists location pier projects separates pier toll house entry fees collected adjacent originally known built shore mixture beaches low rocky cliffs old harbour western edge town mouth river rocky beach designated geological site special scientific interest fault runs east west adjacent pier forms small cliff feature north containing cream pink minerals identified site include secondary alteration produced copper nearest parking pier entrance rocky beach history construction victorian era popular seaside town having previously agricultural village improving transport links branch line able cater late 19th century bathing sea adjacent pier demolished foundations seen bathing machines main beach english seaside resorts built piers 1850s attract tourists tourism grew following opening branch line railway station connected bristol exeter line enabling travel rest country proposed pier form route london use cross enabling act submitted parliament november pier company formed public meeting town directors included sir construction pier started cost engineers architect erection iron pillars undertaken liverpool legs constructed rail previously south wales railway wood august pier built final section completed february engineering pier long high water spans long legs rails rails separates main support close deck forming transverse joining rail opposite leg pier longitudinal provided rails supporting piles cast iron diameter total approximately tons wrought iron 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 landing stage end pier levels allow boats dock stages tide opening operation pier officially opened march parade bands cannon volley somerset artillery number rail passengers crossing envisaged reduced opening tunnel linked west england south wales estuary steamer visited pier passengers sister ships belonging campbell provided ships fleet including regularly called companies including cardiff based edwards eventually taken visited pier head replaced cast iron new timber landing stage pier head pavilion completed pier adjacent royal pier hotel designed local architect washed away storm landing stage damaged storm replaced concrete landing stage pier continued flourish second world wars 1960s visited frequently campbell bristol queen regular visitors collapse october spans pier collapsed stress testing introduced 1950s requirement obtaining insurance cover tests involved placement tanks long wide deep filled depth created pressure kpa simulated required load agreed tanks span left place hours tanks total allowed spans tested simultaneously end hours tanks emptied dragged deck test spans spans passed problems load seventh span collapsed bringing eighth final span leaving pier head pavilion standing restoration pier preservation society formed started campaigning restoration pier district council applied permission demolish pier public following year ruled retained end pier taken ashore storage anticipation eventual restoration insufficient funds available complete restoration stage open exhibition centre major breakthrough came english_heritage granted million pounds restoration smaller sums funding bodies trust formed preservation society obtained year lease pier dismantled taken dock restoration reconstructed long campaign local people raise funds restoration supported sir described beautiful pier england pier eventually reopened funds raised sponsored small brass plaques names messages wooden benches recording donations reconstruction pier spans completed pier reopened great enthusiasm shut finally restored opened public result funding awarded title pier year won civic trust award pier designated grade listed building pier status brighton largely destroyed fire storms landing stage end pier summer season june september sister ship popular spot cafe shop toll house upper floor toll house art gallery different exhibition month pier open day year christmas day scenes film let starring filmed near pier pier featured promotional posters direction music video single filmed pier appeal launched raise million new visitor centre educational facility additional grants applied cover cost legs structure december announced pier received funding improve visitor centre
Clevedon Pier