The Pier – a leisurely way into the sea

The ‘pier’ as Wikipedia states does have slightly different meanings in various parts of the world (such as in the USA where it will often refer to a working pier for shipping and cargo). However, the popular idea of the pier is that of one for leisure purposes. They are a place we remember during childhood trips to the seaside and when taking our own children to the pier it still evokes those childlike emotions of excitement and wonder.

A pier can be quite a grand structure with theatres, amusements and even rollercoasters. They can also be more modest and simple affairs but still provide a fanciful and leisurely way to ‘walk’ out over the sea.

Piers first emerged in England as a form of transport infrastructure, carrying travellers from the shore to steamers out at sea. The very first was constructed in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, in 1812, to carry passengers to and from ferries moored beyond the shallow coastline.

In this respect, Britain’s first piers were little more than a passing pitstop before the real holiday began. But over time, they grew into one of the most popular aspects of a British summer holiday.

Just as Britain’s mastery of iron had made popular rail travel possible, it made rickety wooden piers a thing of the past. Suddenly, piers could be built to last, and eventually with the strength to hold thousands of visitors, seas of slot-machines and even whole amusement rides.

Even in summer, Victorian holiday-goers would don stiff crinoline dresses and stiflingly modest suits and frocks. And there was no better way for fashion-conscious Brits to show off their regalia than by promenading along the pier.

Indeed, before the popularisation of pier-top amusement arcades, piers were primarily a place to take a peaceful stroll out above the sea.

Interesting fact – during World War II, when fears over a Hitler invasion raged, many piers [in Britain] were partly decommissioned.

Enjoy this gallery as we take a stroll on piers all around the world in yesteryear and today –

The Duke and Duchess of Teck’s visit to Southport: The tramway car on the pier. Photo: Sepia Times/UIG
View of the Bournemouth pier from East Cliff, Bournemouth, England 1900. Photo: Universal History Archive/UIG
The pier, Southend-on-Sea, England. Image shows the entrance to the Southend-on-Sea pier, the world’s longest pleasure pier, measuring 1.34 miles (2.16 kilometres). Photo: Universal History Archive/UIG
Two women on the pier at Clacton on Sea, UK. Anonymous, 1880 – 1920. Photo: Sepia Times/UIG
The pier, Blankenberghe, Belgium ca. 1890-1900. Photo: HUM Images/UIG
Girls Running, Walberswick Pier’, 1888-1894 Artist: Philip Wilson Steer, Steer made many visits to Walberswick in Suffolk, where he had friends. He completed a number of paintings of the beach. Photo: Universal History Archive/UIG
Illuminated wooden pier. Jetty. Seebrücke at seaside resort Scharbeutz at sunrise, Ostholstein along the Bay of Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Photo: Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra/UIG
Langano Lake. Ethiopia. Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/UIG
Arcachon (south western France): the Thiers Pier, white and yellow flags of the town of Arcachon, buildings along the waterfront and empty beach. Photo: Vacheron A/Andia/UIG
The street lights start to come on as the sun sets at Cromer pier. Photo: Bill Allsopp/Loop Images/UIG
A pier and a palapa on a beach on Cozumel Island. Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Photo: Sergio Pitamitz/VWPics/UIG
People play beach volleyball at Huntington Beach pier. Huntington Beach, California, USA. Photo: Photo: Sergio Pitamitz /VWPics/UIG
Aerial view over wooden fish-shaped pleasure pier at seaside resort Niendorf along the Baltic Sea, Timmendorfer Strand, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Photo: Sven-Erik Arndt/Arterra/UIG
Southwold pier reflects the early morning sun. Photo: Bill Allsopp/Loop Images/UIG
A sea gull pictured in front of Central Pier on Blackpool beach. Photo: Jason Wells/Loop Images/UIG
Woman walking on Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Pier, California, USA. Photo by: Peter Bennett/Citizen of the Planet/UIG
Pier at Sellin. Rügen Island. Baltic coast. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Germany. Photo: Peter Adams/Avalon/UIG