Weymouth Pier
Encyclopedia
Weymouth Pier is a peninsula of land between Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Beach
, in Dorset, England. It was intended to extend Weymouth's Esplanade, and consists of a theatre, pleasure pier, car parking and a cross-channel ferry terminal. The entire site is undergoing redevelopment to include new facilities in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
When built, the pier was divided into two halves. The southern side of the deck was reserved for commercial use, and was fitted out to load and unload cargo from harbour ships, including electric cranes, electrically operated capstans and two railway tracks. The pier was capable of handling one passenger vessel, three cargo vessels and two pleasure steamers simultaneously.
The northern side, fenced off from the industrial section, was a promenade area. This included shelters, a diving stage, changing rooms, and at night the whole promenade area would be illuminated, with views across Weymouth Bay
and Nothe Fort
.
.
Weymouth Beach
Weymouth Beach is a gently curving arc of sand in Weymouth Bay, beside the town of Weymouth in Dorset, England. Immediately adjacent to the beach is The Esplanade....
, in Dorset, England. It was intended to extend Weymouth's Esplanade, and consists of a theatre, pleasure pier, car parking and a cross-channel ferry terminal. The entire site is undergoing redevelopment to include new facilities in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Early history
There is little documented history to the origins of Weymouth Pier, though it is believed that a structure existed as early as 1812.The new pier
Costing £120,000 the pier was constructed in reinforced concrete, reaching a length of 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) and varying between 30 metres (98.4 ft) in width at the shoreward end and 12 metres (39.4 ft) at the seaward end.When built, the pier was divided into two halves. The southern side of the deck was reserved for commercial use, and was fitted out to load and unload cargo from harbour ships, including electric cranes, electrically operated capstans and two railway tracks. The pier was capable of handling one passenger vessel, three cargo vessels and two pleasure steamers simultaneously.
The northern side, fenced off from the industrial section, was a promenade area. This included shelters, a diving stage, changing rooms, and at night the whole promenade area would be illuminated, with views across Weymouth Bay
Weymouth Bay
Weymouth Bay is a sheltered bay on the south coast of England, in Dorset. It is protected from erosion by Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland, and includes several beaches, notably Weymouth Beach, a gently curving arc of golden sand which stretches from the resort of Weymouth, along to the...
and Nothe Fort
Nothe Fort
Nothe Fort is a fort in Weymouth, Dorset, England. The fort is situated on the shore beside the northern breakwater of the ex-military Portland Harbour, and at the mouth of civilian Weymouth Harbour. The fort was built in 1872 to protect Portland's harbour, which was then becoming an important...
.
Redevelopment
It was announced in 2006 that the Pavilion complex and 4 hectares (10 acre) of its surroundings will be entirely redeveloped from 2008 to 2011, in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
.
Key dates
- 1840: Considerable change was made to the port area when a pile-pier, filled with a mixture of Portland stonePortland stonePortland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
and shingle concrete, was built on the northern edge of the harbour; - 1860 Weymouth Pier was largely rebuilt in timber and at the same time, extended to a length of 273 metres (895.7 ft);
- 1877: A cargo stage was added;
- 1889: A landing stage and baggage handling hall were built;
- 1908: The Weymouth Pavilion opened;
- 1930s: The pier was rebuilt;
- July 13, 1933: The new Weymouth Pier officially opened; the ceremony was carried out by the Prince of WalesPrince of WalesPrince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, soon to become King Edward VIII; - 1954: The Pavilion Theatre was destroyed in a fire;
- 1961: A New Pavilion opened;
- 1993: The Alexandra Garden Theatre damaged by fire;
- 2007–2011: Redevelopment of the entire peninsula in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.