Shanklin Pier (Historic)

The construction of the 1,200-foot pier began in 1888, and it had to be built to a certain height so that bathing machines could easily pass under it. There were two pagoda-style toll booths at the entrance, and the steamboat Flying Falcon was the inaugural ship to land on the pier on August 18, 1890. In 1893, a terrible stand pavilion was built, and the pier head became the site of water polo matches.

The pier was transferred to the Shanklin Urban District Council in 1899, and the Grand Pavilion at its heart was constructed in 1909.

The pier was successful until the 1970s, when many ownership changes caused its downfall; by the early 1980s, it was in a terrible state of repair despite flimsy attempts at restoration. This meant that the Island was easily torn apart by the 1987 hurricane. The pier was dismantled after several failed attempts to revive it through reconstruction plans.

The pier’s former entrance is now a garden with informational plaques on the area’s history, which may be seen from the promenade.

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A507197
• http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/IOW-Piers.html#anchor3555073

• Postcards and images kindly supplied by Roy Richardson Collection