History of
Paignton Pier
The Paignton Pier Act received Royal Assent on June 3rd 1874,
although work did not commence until October 1878, to the design
of Geoge Soudon Bridgeman. The pier opened in June 1879. In 1881,
the pier-head was enlarged and a billiard room was built which
connected to the pavilion. The pier’s length was 780 feet.
The pier-head and pavilion
were destroyed by fire in June 1919. A period of decline followed.
Local council plans to buy the structure were thwarted by local
opposition. In 1940, the pier was sectioned as a defence measure
but repaired after the war. Alterations were made in 1968.
In 1980/81, £250,000 was spent
on widening the shoreward end to give the pier a uniform neck
width and replacing the buildings on that section.
Mitchell Leisure became owners
in June 1994. A re-opening ceremony was held in June 1995 to mark
the completion of phase one of a major restoration programme. This
included the complete reconstruction of the open decking as far as
the column capitals.
Emergency work became
necessary in 2008 after a major structural fault was found in one
of the supporting columns. Two thirds of the pier had to be closed
while repairs were carried out.
Nowadays the pier comprises of
an entrance building at the shoreward end along with a series of
individual pavilion buildings along the neck, which in fact form a
single large amusement arcade. At the pier-head there is now an
open amusement area containing several rides, a cafe and shops,
together with the usual electronic amusements.
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