By Harry Mottram: I was one of the last people to walk around Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare back in the early1990s – even after it was closed on safety grounds. In 1994 the near derelict pier which is actually an island joined by a pier to the mainland was closed to the public as the owners allowed it to fall into disrepair. For a few weeks I worked at Weston College as a teacher of graphics in a Victorian building overlooking the pier. The RNLI could still use the pier but the public had been shut out. It didn’t take much effort to hop over the fence after work and walk across the rotting floor boards to the island pier to have a nose around.
It was a pretty sorry sight with not only the weather having battered the buildings but also vandals adding their mark. Opened in 1867 the pier was a popular attraction in the town with a fun fair, tea rooms, bars and docking facilities for steamers to bring day trippers from down the coast or from Wales. Over the decades it changed hands a number of times and despite storm damage, a fire in 1897 and even taken over by the admiralty during the war, it remained in use until 1992. A succession of property owners bought and sold the pier allowing it to visibly fall apart until North Somerset Council made a compulsory purchase under pressure from the campaign to save and restore the pier taking ownership in 2023.
Finally on 13th December 2024 North Somerset Council’s chosen architects for the restoration project put in outline planning permission. With the help of the RNLI who will again be able to station a lifeboat there once work is complete the pier will be back in public use in the next four years. The Council gave this timeline:
- autumn 2024 to winter 2024 – island sea wall repairs and stabilise 1888 boat house
- autumn 2024 to winter 2024 – landside cliff face stabilisation
- spring 2025 to winter 2025 – repair and renovation of the landside buildings
- summer 2025 to summer 2026 – pier deck construction and repair work to strengthen the pier
- summer 2026 to summer 2027 – repair and renovation of the island buildings
- autumn 2026 to spring 2028 – building work to create a new RNLI lifeboat station and visitor centre
The Council issued this statement: “Studio Four Architects and engineers were appointed by the RNLI to develop proposals for the pier restoration and creation of a new lifeboat station. We appointed Haverstock Associates Architects to develop proposals for the island, landside restoration and associated buildings. As owner of the pier, we will lease an area of the island to the RNLI for a new lifeboat station to be built. A formal agreement sets out how we will work with the RNLI to return public access to the pier as quickly as possible and reinstate the RNLI’s vital lifesaving service from the island. We are working closely with the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, who it is anticipated will manage the site. This will be in a staged process once restoration works are complete, starting with the opening of the restored Pier Master’s Cottage. Work has already started with some safety works in preparation for the main restoration work which is due to start in spring 2025.”
Funding for the multi million pound project comers from a number of sources including the National Lottery, RNLI, the Government’s Levelling Up fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England. All added to by the work of local people and those with an interest through the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Friends of the Old Pier Society.
It was designed by Eugenius Birch and is the only pier in the country to link to an island. It is an outstanding example of Victorian engineering and is Grade II* listed. It used to be a very popular visitor attraction with funfairs, rides and steamer ferries.
During World War II it was taken over by the Royal Navy and used as a secret base for weapons testing.
I wrote a time line of the pier here: https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/strawberry-line-times/features/birnbeck-pier-a-brief-history/
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
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Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk
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