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CzinZumerzet · 07-31-2008, 06:58 PM

The Pier was opened in 1904 and was a Victorian/Edwardian Music/Concert Hall which also hosted boxing and wrestling matches etc, and the pavilion part was only a section of the mile long boardwalk which allowed some boats to dock at the end, permitting visitors from Wales (across the water from here about 60 miles) to visit Weston the easy way.

Then two things happened. In 1930 the Pavilion burned down and later in the thirties we had WW11, and the longest stretch of the pier was dismanted as a means of discouraging invasion. The long arm of the pier was anyway a problem because we have the 2nd highest tidal rise and fall in the world, and when the tide goes out it's gone for miles and miles, so the pier was pretty useless to ships getting caught as the tide left them on the mudflats.

The destroyed pavilion re-opened as an amusement arcade, or covered fairground which has remained pretty much unchanged in some respects, although modernisation has permitted its owners to upgrade some of the games and attractions, but they were always confined to the space available. It was owned by several generations of one local family until in the Spring of this year they sold it to two young entrepeneurs, also a local family, Kerry and Michelle Michael
who since April this year have already spent about a million pounds on renovations including indoor go-carts on a new floor built into the existing roof. To put the finances in perspective, the owner has suggested that a rough estimate of cash lost in the fire included 'probably' half a millilon pounds, most of that in pound coins. I would say he isn't exagerating, its a money pit.

Then came the fire on Monday which destroyed completely the very beautiful pavilion.

The Michaels will re-build and it will be fantastic and loads of people are already saying that the fire might be a blessing in disguise, but the pier held wonderful and special memories for so many people that lots of us feel quite bereaved, and it will take time for the sense of loss to ease.

So there we go, and ever since Monday we have had prolonged squalls and thunderstorms, typical English summer.

07-31-2008, 06:58 PM	#2280
CzinZumerzet .....short for Caz Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The West Coast of England Posts: 358	The Pier was opened in 1904 and was a Victorian/Edwardian Music/Concert Hall which also hosted boxing and wrestling matches etc, and the pavilion part was only a section of the mile long boardwalk which allowed some boats to dock at the end, permitting visitors from Wales (across the water from here about 60 miles) to visit Weston the easy way. Then two things happened. In 1930 the Pavilion burned down and later in the thirties we had WW11, and the longest stretch of the pier was dismanted as a means of discouraging invasion. The long arm of the pier was anyway a problem because we have the 2nd highest tidal rise and fall in the world, and when the tide goes out it's gone for miles and miles, so the pier was pretty useless to ships getting caught as the tide left them on the mudflats. The destroyed pavilion re-opened as an amusement arcade, or covered fairground which has remained pretty much unchanged in some respects, although modernisation has permitted its owners to upgrade some of the games and attractions, but they were always confined to the space available. It was owned by several generations of one local family until in the Spring of this year they sold it to two young entrepeneurs, also a local family, Kerry and Michelle Michael who since April this year have already spent about a million pounds on renovations including indoor go-carts on a new floor built into the existing roof. To put the finances in perspective, the owner has suggested that a rough estimate of cash lost in the fire included 'probably' half a millilon pounds, most of that in pound coins. I would say he isn't exagerating, its a money pit. Then came the fire on Monday which destroyed completely the very beautiful pavilion. The Michaels will re-build and it will be fantastic and loads of people are already saying that the fire might be a blessing in disguise, but the pier held wonderful and special memories for so many people that lots of us feel quite bereaved, and it will take time for the sense of loss to ease. So there we go, and ever since Monday we have had prolonged squalls and thunderstorms, typical English summer. __________________ ..down by the zea zippin' zider Last edited by CzinZumerzet; 07-31-2008 at 07:03 PM.