Southend-on-End, Essex - end of pier 1949 - Museum repro postcard c.1980s

• Postcard

   

• Picture / Image:  Southend Pier from the Air, 1949
• Publisher: Southend Pier Museum Foundation 
• Postally used: no
• Stamp:  n/a
• Postmark(s): n/a
• Sent to:  n/a
• Notes / condition: older image on more recent card published by museum

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Image may be low res for illustrative purposes - if you need a higher definition image then please contact me and I may be able to send one. No cards have been trimmed (unless stated).

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Text from the free encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA may appear below to give a little background information (internal links may not  work) :

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Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending 1.33 miles (2.14 km) into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world.[1] The bill to build the new pier, to replace a previous timber jetty, received Royal Assent in May 1829 with construction starting in July 1829. The timber pier was replaced by an iron pier that opened to the public in August 1889. The Southend Pier Railway, opened in the early 1890s, was the first pier railway in the country.

The pier played a role through both of the world wars, such as during World War I when ships housing German prisoners of war were moored off the pier head. In the Second World War, the pier was taken over by the Royal Navy and was renamed HMS Leigh, closing to the public in September 1939. The pier has experienced several fires, notably in 1959, 1976, 1995 and 2005, with the latter causing significant damage to the old pier head and surrounding structures.

Sir John Betjeman, English poet and broadcaster, once said that "the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier".[2] The pier is a Grade II listed building.[3]

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Post-war

Following World War II, the pier reopened for visitors and saw nearly 6 million visitors during 1949, exceeding pre-war levels.[26] The pier railway trains were replaced in 1949 with stock similar to those used on the London Underground[13] and around 5 million passengers travelled on the railway in its first year after reopening.[27] In the 1950s, more attractions on the pier opened including the Dolphin Café, Sun Deck Theatre, the Solarium Café and a Hall of Mirrors.[26] In 1959, a fire destroyed the pavilion located at the shore end, trapping over 500 people on the other side of the fire who had to be rescued by boat.[28][29] The pavilion was replaced by a ten-pin bowling alley in 1962[30] at a time when Southend was reaching its heyday.[31]

The use of the pier slowly began to decline and with it the structure began to deteriorate. In 1971, after a child was injured on the pier, a survey was undertaken resulting in repairs and replacement to much of the pier railway throughout the decade. In 1976, a fire destroyed much of the 1908 pier head.[13] Early efforts to fight the fire were hampered by a limited supply of water, requiring additional water in the form of crop-spraying light aircraft.[32] The investigation into the cause was inconclusive, with the official reason recorded as unknown, although a discarded cigarette end was considered likely. In the early stages of the fire, many bystanders observed but did not call the fire brigade. Conditions for fighting the fire were unfavourable, with strong winds and a low tide.[33] In November 1977, another fire badly damaged the bowling alley and in October the following year, the pier railway was deemed unsafe and had to be closed.[34] By then, British holidaymakers were turning to package holidays abroad.[35]