Pier Disaster

By Ron Fellows

Eugenius Birch designed the 138-year-old Hastings Pier, badly burnt on Monday night, 4th October 2010. The Earl of Granville opened it on the Bank Holiday, 5th.August 1872 and hailed it as the “peerless pier a pier without a pier.” The Pier suffered another fire in 1917, which burnt down a spectacular Pavilion. At the outbreak of  World War Two, both the Hastings and the St Leonards piers were cut in the middle and the first part that joined the Promenade removed, amid fears of a Nazi invasion. Hastings Council owned the first part of the pier, which joins the Promenade. In later years the pier was sold to the Pier Company.

I would like to see all the debris cleared away, then attend to the iron supports, making them safe and strong, so they could rebuild on top of the pier. The Pier postcards are from Ron Fellows Collection.

1910 The Hastings Coat of Arms 15th C 1427 Edward I
1910 The Hastings Coat of Arms 15th C 1427 Edward I
1919 The new Band Stand, with the old Hospital & Grand Hotel in the
1919 The new Band Stand, with the old Hospital & Grand Hotel in the
1950’s Triodome, used for Hastings Embroidery (Bayeux Tapestry)Embroidery
1950’s Triodome, used for Hastings Embroidery (Bayeux Tapestry)Embroidery
Card 1 circa 1905 shows the Pavilion.
Card 1 circa 1905 shows the Pavilion.
circa 1907 with Paddle Steamer - that operated from1884
circa 1907 with Paddle Steamer – that operated from1884
circa 1910
circa 1910
circa 1910 shows a very tidy pier
circa 1910 shows a very tidy pier
circa 1910 The new Band Stand
circa 1910 The new Band Stand
The Band Stand has gone, another smaller one, a replacement stand
The Band Stand has gone, another smaller one, a replacement stand

“Hastings Town” November 2010

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