THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

THE GREAT PIER DISASTER OF 1913

Copyright Valerie Martin 2006

There was rainy and rather stormy weather to contend with in Findon on Thursday, 4th July 1861.  This was when the first pile was ceremoniously sunk into the chalk seabed for Worthing's first pier.   The event was watched (in spite of the inclement conditions  by Hugh Dennett the Worthing Pier Company's solicitor;  Sir Robert Rawlinson the pier's designer;  and Mr. J. Cliff of Bradfords, the contractors.     Everything went according to plan.   They had even thought of a time capsule.   This was a bottle containing an inscribed parchment and bronze coins (put together by a Miss Susannah Fowler) buried under the first pile.   I guess it must still be there today.

This Worthing Pier was built at a cost of £6,500. and was 960 ft. long with a 16 ft. wide promenade deck and a simple iron jetty and a toll hut.   It stood 10 ft. above the sea at the high water mark.    It was officially opened 10 months later on 9th April 1862 with a certain amount of anticipation.     The entrance was made very distinctive with an archway dressed with bright flowers and the adorning words "Success to Worthing Pier" spelt out in the colourful blooms.

Approximately 3,000 participants packed the pier for the big day.    There were coastguards on parade (with cutlasses drawn) lined up with military contingents (including the Juvenile Rifle Corps, headed with its fife and drum band).

Between the opening day at the beginning of April and 31st December 1862, an amazing total of 62,406 people clicked their merry way through the turnstiles and parted with a penny for the privilege of being able to walk over the water and look back to view the shore.

Although very popular from the start, entertainment on the Worthing pier was not considered until 1874 when a 9-piece orchestra was engaged to play for three hours each day "weather permitting".

Some years later, in 1881, a German band from the Rhine was contracted to play daily and conditions were improved for the audience (and grateful band alike) with the construction of two shelters.

The Worthing pier was then substantially improved, or should I say reconstructed ,in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee at a further cost of £12,000..   A southern pavilion and a landing stage were incorporated as well as widening the pier.     The pier was re-opened

In 1897 the idea of Worthing having a second pier was muted.   This was suggested as being near Grand Avenue, overlooked by the Metropole Hotel (now Dolphin Lodge).

After this the South Coast Steamboat Company (and others) organised steamer trips and genteel Worthing's popularity greatly increased and it was very soon  playing host to busy steamer traffic.  However, thing did not run smoothly as the shallow depth of water at low tide seriously hampered schedules.

An extension to the pier was thought to solve all problems in 1909 so that steamers could dock during both high and low tides.    This was almost immediately abandoned after engineers decided that even if the length of the pier were doubled, the depth would only increase by a further 6ft.

After this the South Coast Steamboat Company (and others) organised steamer trips and genteel Worthing's popularity greatly increased and it was very soon playing host to busy steamer traffic.  However, thing did not run smoothly as the shallow depth of water at low tide seriously hampered schedules.

An extension to the pier was thought to solve all problems.    This was almost immediately abandoned after engineers decided that even if the length of the pier were doubled, the depth would only increase by a meagre 6ft.

c. 1820/21 Worthing Borough Council purchased the Worthing Pier (previously owned by a private company) for £18,000. and it has been maintained by the taxpayers ever since.

In 1926, the Mayor and Mayoress of the town staged a grand ball to celebrate the opening of the new £40,000 Pier Pavilion.

Continue if you would like to read about when Findon Sees the Pier Fire of 1933.

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.