LOWESTOFT PIER
MUMBLES PIER
PAIGNTON PIER
PENARTH PIER
RAMSEY QUEENS PIER
RYDE PIER
SALTBURN PIER
SANDOWN CULVER PIER
SKEGNESS PIER
SOUTHAMPTON ROYAL PIER
SOUTHEND PIER
SOUTHPORT PIER
SOUTHSEA CLARENCE PIER
SOUTHSEA PARADE PIER
SOUTHWOLD PIER
ST ANNES PIER
SWANAGE PIER
TEIGNMOUTH PIER
TORQUAY PIER
TOTLAND BAY PIER
WALTON ON THE NAZE PIER
WELLINGTON PIER
WESTON SUPER MARE PIER
WEYMOUTH PIER
WEYMOUTH BANDSTAND
WORTHING PIER
YARMOUTH PIER

For centuries, the sea has held a certain fascination and people have been drawn to coastal resorts. The British seaside appears to have retained a special magnetism, and this may have something to do with the fascinating structures made fashionable by the Victorians. Piers were designed to be as individual as the character of the particular resort where they were placed, but the primary function of most of them was to provide an area for 'promenading' or 'taking the air'. Later they were adapted to incorporate landing stages for the increasing paddle steamer trade. At the beginning of the 20th century there were some 100 piers dotted around our coastline, but the number surviving today has dwindled to 54, and the condition of these varies enormously.

During the last 10 years some have been splendidly restored, others are awaiting funds for restoration work, and some are sadly disappearing slowly with dereliction. The framework of many piers show incredible engineering skills, and this was coupled with a certain panache that the 19th century entreprenurs had for embellishing and ornamenting the structures. These are a unique legacy, quintessentially British, and oozing with nostalgia.