Almost every pier of note around the coast of Britain, seventy-eight all told, were built between 1854 and 1904. Clevedon pier was opened on Easter Monday, 29th March 1869, some 2 1/2 years after the first meeting to discuss the proposed scheme. The Clevedon Pier Company was formed and by July 1867 work had begun.
It was hoped that this pier would provide a rapid way for the public to travel to South Wales using steamers setting off from here. This it did, but in 1886 the Severn Tunnel was opened and Brunel's Great Western Railway took the London to South Wales traffic instead.
The new pier had to be elegant but also strongly constructed for commercial use in a fairly exposed position. The construction work was entrusted to Hamilton's Windsor Iron Works of Liverpool who had been lucky to find some large quantities of Barlow rail, discarded from Brunel's broad-gauge South Wales Railway. It was used to make superbly slender and strong supports for the pier,and approximately 370 tons of wrought ironwork were required, all manhandled before being craned into place. Gales regularly halted the work, but the structure held firm.
The design of the abutments to the pier changed from its original form and now included a Toll House with accommodation for the Piermaster. It was designed by architect Hans Price in a Scottish baronial style, much favoured at that time for bridge abutments. The entrance gates and railings were made locally in the foundry of Turner and Sons. The Toll House is now the entrance gate and ticket office.
In all, the total cost of building the pier was £10,000 and employed an average workforce of sixty men. On the 6th February 1869, the contractors were able to hand the completed structure over to the Directors of the Pier Company.
A timber landing stage was constructed at the seaward end of the pier in 1891 which involved using timber pilings of the African timber Greenheart - Ocotea rodiaei and aligned to the prevailing current in the channel. When the pier was rebuilt following its collapse (see later) the timber was recovered and has been used for various sculptures, including 'The Song of the Helix' by Pat Daw - now on display at the pier-head. The landing stage was replaced in 1913 by a concrete structure which, in my opinion, does nothing for the looks of the pier as-a-whole.
After 100 years of use the pier suffered its worst blow when in 1970 during routine load testing the no.7 span collapsed bringing down span no.8. These isolated the pierhead from the land and many people thought that would be the end of Clevedon's pier. But no - after a Public Inquiry in March 1980 the Preservation Trust was granted permission to go ahead with the restoration of the pier. The three pier-head buildings that had been 'cut-off' from the rest of the pier for so long, were dismantled and brought ashore to be stored for renovation in the Green Beach car park and by the summer of 1988, all the parts, old and new, shot blasted and heavily painted for protection against the salt seawater, were ready for collection and reassembly.
On the 27th May 1989, the pier was partially reopened, then in 1995 a further award from the Heritage Lottery Fund allowed the restoration of the landing stage, Pagoda building and two shelters to be completed.
The On 23rd May 1998 the pier was finally reopened in full by Sir Charles Elton, Bart., and Clevedon Bowler David Bryant. Sir Charles Elton is the great-great grandson of the original chairman of the Clevedon Pier Company.
The final piece in the saga was when the pier was granted Grade I listing, only the West Pier at Brighton has the same listing and that was destroyed by fire in 2002.
A walk along the pier at any time is an exhilarating experience, treading the boards along a structure built originally 140 years ago above the sea which could be 14m below you is quite something. The lamp standards are the original and show the contractor's details and date, '1868 Hamiltons Windsor Iron Works United Liverpool Contractors' and '1868 R.J.Ward & J.W.Grover Engineers'. Benches are provided along the full length on which can be placed brass plaques recording the names of donors. Commemorative plaques can also be placed into the timber planks of the decking. (Sizes and prices available on the web site). The pagoda building is the entrance to the landing stage through its lower level, and it features a cafe on its upper level. Two shelters complete the amenities.
A full summer programme of trips around the Severn Estuary is available throughout the summer months on the MV Balmoral and Paddle Steamer Waverley. These range from full day trips around the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm, or to the Penarth and Ilfracombe to shorter trips up river to see the two bridges.
It is possible to fish from the pier at any time of the year - see below, and waymark WM7JR, Clevedon Pier.
The pier is open all the year, times vary, except Christmas Day and the admission charges are:- Adults £1.50: Concessions £1.00: Children (4 - 14) £0.75: Children (3 Years and Under) FREE.
For a full history of, and events on the pier see: Clevedon Pier