Totland Pier

The 450ft iron girder Totland Bay Pier was completed in 1880, with a small shelter at the pier head and a small amusement arcade as the shore side.  The owners of the Totland hotel had raised the funds to build the pier which was one of the most fashionable and exclusive hotels in the Western Wight.

In the Victorian days the pier enjoyed many visits from steamers from Lymington and Yarmouth who were on day cruise around the Island. Latterly there were also the possibility to travel on these steamers to the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth, with the opening of the extended Newport Freshwater line the pier became even more popular as a social and tourism destination.

The pier was privately owned by the Artisd Derek Barran and was used as his own personal studio. The pier head has its own mooring along with a 13ft x 34ft separate bunkroom/kitchen with water and electricity. The piermaster has his / her own storage room on the east side of the pier.

In 2019 the Pier had extensive repairs and a new cafe / bistro added and reopened in 2021. However, the future at present in 2023 is less uncertain and new ideas have been presented to planning.

• https://piers.org.uk/piers/totland-bay/
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A507151
• http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/IOW-Piers.html#anchor3555918

• Postcards kindly supplied by Roy Richardson Collection