Weymouth Pier

Weymouth Pier is a peninsula of land between Weymouth harbour and Weymouth Beach, in Dorset, England. It was intended to extend Weymouth's Esplanade, and consists of a theatre, pleasure pier, car parking and a cross-channel ferry terminal. The entire site is undergoing redevelopment to include new facilities in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Early history

There is little documented history to the origins of Weymouth Pier, though it is believed that a structure existed as early as 1812.

The new pier

Costing £120,000 the pier was constructed in reinforced concrete, reaching a length of convert|400|m|ft|-2 and varying between convert|30|m|ft|-1 in width at the shoreward end and convert|12|m|ft|-1 at the seaward end.

When built, the pier was divided into two halves. The southern side of the deck was reserved for commercial use, and was fitted out to load and unload cargo from harbour ships, including electric cranes, electrically operated capstans and two railway tracks. The pier was capable of handling one passenger vessel, three cargo vessels and two pleasure steamers simultaneously.

The northern side, fenced off from the industrial section, was a promenade area. This included shelters, a diving stage, changing rooms, and at night the whole promenade area would be illuminated, with views across Weymouth Bay and Nothe Fort.

Redevelopment

It was announced in 2006 that the Pavilion complex and convert|4|ha|acre|0 of its surroundings will be entirely redeveloped from 2008 to 2011, in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Key dates

* 1840: Considerable change was made to the port area when a pile-pier, filled with a mixture of Portland stone and shingle concrete, was built on the northern edge of the harbour;
* 1860 Weymouth Pier was largely rebuilt in timber and at the same time, extended to a length of convert|273|m|ft|-1;
* 1877: A cargo stage was added;
* 1889: A landing stage and baggage handling hall were built;
* 1908: The Weymouth Pavilion opened;
* 1930s: The pier was rebuilt;
* July 13th 1933: The new Weymouth Pier officially opened; the ceremony was carried out by the Prince of Wales, soon to become King Edward VIII;
* 1954: The Pavilion theatre was destroyed in a fire;
* 1961: A New Pavilion opened;
* 1993: The Alexandra Garden Theatre damaged by fire;
*2007–2011: Redevelopment of the entire peninsula in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

ee also

* Pier Bandstand (Weymouth)

External links

* [http://www.weymouthpaviliondevelopment.co.uk/ Weymouth Pavilion Development]
* [http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/weymouth%20pier.htm Weymouth Pier]