Thursday, September 13, 2007
25th August. Birthday treat. On the pier.
There has been a pier on Worthing sea front since 1862.
Disaster struck in a fierce storm on Easter Monday 1913 when the pier was mostly washed away leaving The Pavilion stranded as an island out to sea.
Just a year later it was reopened and after the First World War it was purchased by Worthing Council and became very popular and successful.
Visitors could pay 2d to walk along the pier and attend a concert in The Pavilion.
It is free to walk out along the pier now.
In 1933 fire destroyed The Pavilion and it was rebuilt in a beautiful art deco style in the style of an ocean liner.
Bill felt that a black and white image suited this view of the pier.
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Disaster struck in a fierce storm on Easter Monday 1913 when the pier was mostly washed away leaving The Pavilion stranded as an island out to sea.
Just a year later it was reopened and after the First World War it was purchased by Worthing Council and became very popular and successful.
Visitors could pay 2d to walk along the pier and attend a concert in The Pavilion.
It is free to walk out along the pier now.
In 1933 fire destroyed The Pavilion and it was rebuilt in a beautiful art deco style in the style of an ocean liner.
Bill felt that a black and white image suited this view of the pier.
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Two pictures of The Pavilion - looking like an ocean liner of the 1930s.
There must be deck chairs on a sea side pier.
There must be deck chairs on a sea side pier.
We noticed that visitors to Worthing must pay to use the deck chairs - in Brighton they are free to use.
The art deco clock.
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The metal walkway round the end of the pier was added after the Second World War.
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The metal walkway round the end of the pier was added after the Second World War.
When war broke out in 1939 the south coast became a fortress against possible invasion. In 1940 drastic steps were taken to hinder any enemy attack by blowing a 120-foot hole in to the Pier's decking near the South Pavilion. Worthing was used as an embarkation site on D-Day. In 1942 when fears of an invasion had lessened, the Pier became a recreation centre for troops complete with a canteen, library and billiard tables.
The art deco style steps sweeping to the upper deck of The Pavilion.
Looking east from the pier.
The art deco style steps sweeping to the upper deck of The Pavilion.
Looking east from the pier.
The beach cafe where we ate is just beyond the last white building you can see.
A Worthing postcard showing the Connaught Theatre at the land end of the pier. In the foreground is the bandstand.
A Worthing postcard showing the Connaught Theatre at the land end of the pier. In the foreground is the bandstand.
