History of

The Saltburn Pier Company was formed in 1867. Work began in December to the design of John Anderson and it opened in May 1869. The length was 1500 feet. The pier-head landing stage and the end of the pier were destroyed by a storm in October 1875. The pier re-opened in 1877 at a reduced length of 1250 feet. In 1885, a bandstand was added to the enlarged pier-head.

On 7th/8th May 1924, the 'Ovenbeg' collided with the pier leaving a 210 foot gap. A small theatre building was built at the entrance to compensate for the isolated bandstand. The gap was repaired in 1930.

Council owned since 1938, the pier was requisitioned by the army in 1940, and sectioned for defence purposes. Rebuilt in 1947 at a cost of £20,000, it re-opened to the public in 1952. Gales damaged the pier in 1953 and rebuilding work was not completed until 1958. More storm damage occurred in 1959 amd 1961.

A pile was lost in autumn 1971 and an underwater survey in January 1973 concluded that the pier was only safe in calm weather. The loss of a pile on the west side of the pier-head that June caused the area to be closed off. It closed permanently that December after the loss of an east side pile the previous month.

Three more piles were lost in January 1974, and an interim emergency repair plan was drawn up. A storm on 29th October washed away the pier-head and badly damaged the rest of the pier. In 1975, the council requested permission to demolish the pier.

A public enquiry concluded in April 1976 that only the thirteen trestles at the end of the pier should be removed. Restoration of the remaining 681 feet was to cost £52,500. The pier re-opened on 29th June 1978. A cafe/restaurant opened in the entrance buildings in 1979. The roof was renewed and restored in 1993 to its early 20th century condition using Welsh and Westmorland slate.

However by 1996 it was again in danger, being saved 4 years later by £1. 2 million of Lottery funding. The refurbished pier opened once more in 2001. In 2005, a new lighting system was installed by Redcar Borough Council at a cost of £385,000. The new lights give the pier the appearance of being moonlit even when there is no moon.

Saltburn was voted National Piers Society 'Pier of the Year' in 2009.

In Novemeber 2010, the two famous water-powered cliff lift carriages were taken out of service for a refit and remained out of service until April 2011.

In March 2011, as part of the Party on the Pier event to herald National Tourism Week, an exhibition featuring photographs of Saltburn Pier, as well as other English piers, was held on the pier.

Further detail on the history of Saltburn Pier is available via the Saltburn By The Sea website.
 

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