Hastings Pier

Hastings Pier is a pleasure pier in Hastings, East Sussex, England.

History

The pier was opened on August 5, 1872, by the then Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Earl of Granville. It was designed by Eugenius Birch, who also designed the West Pier, Brighton and it is often seen as an innovative design considering the technical constraints of the late-Victorian period.

The original 2,000 seater pavilion was destroyed by fire in 1917. This was eventually replaced in 1922 and played host in the 1960's and 70's to legendary bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Genesis, Tom Jones and Pink Floyd.

During the 1930's, the pavilion extension buildings received an art deco facelift and a theatre rebuild. This was to be its prime era.

More renovation followed its temporary closure during WWII and it housed the famous Hastings embroidery during the 1066 celebrations in 1966.

Elements of the pier became listed in 1976 and subsequently changed hands on a regular basis with erratic structural renovation input from its subsequent owners.

The pier, along with the seafront once featured in the 1993 music video of the now-defunct UK rock band Kingmaker, titled "Queen Jane".

In 1996 it was put up for sale, but the future of the pier was put in grave doubt as interested buyers were reluctant to invest due to the serious amount of capital needed to improve the unstable structural supports. However the pier was eventually sold and reopened under new ownership in 2002.

The pier was eventually sold to its current owners in 2000. It was duly passed to an offshore enterprise in 2004.

Pier Access Removed

In July 2006, Hastings Borough Council upon discovering that part of the pier's structure was unsafe promptly closed the pier to the general public.Hastings Observer Protracted legal wranglings between the pier's owners, Ravenclaw Investments, and Hastings Borough Council followed. Finally, Stylus Sports, a pier tenant who operate the gaming attractions, in conjunction with Hastings Borough Council funded the much needed £300,000 of repairs, which enabled the court order closing the pier to be lifted. This financial uplift enabled the majority of the pier to reopen on 4 July 2007.

However, on 12 March 2008 the Hastings Observer reported to concerned locals how storm damage had caused considerable damage and that two support columns were in imminent danger of collapse. Fortunately stronger barriers restricting public access to the damaged areas were put in place and patch up repairs to the bracing prevented any disaster from occurring. Nevertheless, when the remaining major tenant closed for business, access to the pier was restricted. The failure of the owners to respond to appeals from the Council to repair the areas and the continual deterioration of the structure has led to its long-term future becoming uncertain.

Efforts to Save the Pier

The Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust has been established to raise funds through various means ranging from community fund raising: cup collecting, raffles and quiz nights etc, through to larger scale grant applications. Their long term goal is to acquire the pier and form a not-for-profit company to renovate, reopen and revitalise the pier as a community owned asset. The Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust (HPWRT)are strongly opposed to any decision to demolish and clear the site of the structure which would cost an estimated £4million of local money.

In August 2009, the Hastings Observer launched a campaign petition to Save the Pier which is available for anyone interested to sign virtually online. On Saturday 17th of October 2009 over one thousand disgruntled residents marched along Hastings seafront to the Town Hall in protest at the Hastings Borough Councils' alleged lack of impetus with regard to dealing with the pier as an eyesore and its alleged unlawful sale to a foreign business albeit no domestic interest. The march concluded with members of the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust (HPWRT) handing a Compulsory Purchase Order pack, to the council. It is now hoped by many individuals and local small businesses that a decisive outcome will err in favour of promoting the seafront as a picturesque tourist attraction once again.

In November 2009 Kerry and Michelle Michael, the siblings who own The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare which caught fire in 2008 destroying the pavilion which is now being rebuilt at a cost of more than £50million, looked along with a team of engineers at the possibility of purchasing Hastings Pier and restoring it to its former glory. However after a structural assessment it was estimated that repairs would cost in excess of £24million with a similar amount needed to restore attractions to the pier head.The engineers rather dismally commented that the pier is "one good storm away from collapse".

Moving Forward

Despite funding set-backs in 2009 such as the withdrawal of Capacity Builders grants[1]Article from Regeneration & Renewal, November 2009, Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust continues their efforts. 2010 has already seen the opening of their Pier Information Centre in the former Arthur Green shop situated at 34 White Rock. The premises, situated on the seafront just east of the Pier will provide the public with updated Pier campaign news, provide eBiz facilities and the opportunity to purchase locally designed artisan wares. All profits will go towards the Save the Pier campaign.

It is hoped in the longer term to see the transfer of this concern onto the Pier once it has been compulsorily purchased from the current offshore owners and necessary structural works are completed on the area known as the "Apron" - the section of the pier adjacent to the promenade. The Trust is also looking to develop a community share offering for which it has been successful in being granted support from the Community Shares Programme, funded by the Office of the Third Sector, in the Cabinet Office.

Hastings Pier has been deemed the most at risk pier currently in the UK by the National Piers Society. The Pier Trust believes that the pier is the most rescue-able provided action is taken in time.

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Heritage Trail website.
• History of the Architect of Hastings Pier, Eugenius Birch
• Full History of Hastings Pier is available on the Hastings Chronicle website, prepared by Steve Peak
• A Pictorial History of Hastings Pier from 1870's to 1960's by Lobbylub
• Hastings Observer Petition Online
• Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust Website A trust consisting of local residents who are battling to save the pier.
• The National Piers Society The National Piers Society of Great Britain
• On the Pier tribute song by Keith Foster
• New Battle for Hastings Pier Video A Video prepared by the Asset Transfer Unit
• The Battle for Hastings Pier Maybrick44's story of the Pier to date.
• The March for Hastings Pier Andy Mooseman's video of the March held on 17th October 2009
• More coverage of the Pier March by 1066tv
• Community Shares Programme The announcement of the successful applicants for round one funding for a Community Share offering to the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust to raise funds for the renovation of the Apron buildings once structural problems have been remedied in this area.

Categories: Buildings | Buildings in England, United Kingdom | Buildings in Hastings, England, United Kingdom