Passenger Buildings, Victoria Pier, Douglas, Isle of Man

The Harbour Commissioners have awarded the premium of £60, offered for the best plan of buildings to be erected on the Victoria Pier, to Mr Henry A. Cheers, of Twickenham, architect. Thirty-two designs were furnished (three locals). Amongst recent public works of Mr Cheers, are the following: Scarborough Constitutional Club Buildings, opened hy the Marquis of Salisbury last Christmas; Doncaster Free Library and School of Art; Ludlow Town Hall and Public Market; Jubilee Clock, Margate; St Ann's Church, Bagshot Park, for H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught; Bedford Town and Country Clubs; a large Wesleyan Chapel at Swinton, Wilts; St Mary's Church, near Maidstone. [Mona's Herald, Wednesday, December 11, 1889; Page: 4 ]

DOUGLAS - In the recent competition open to architects for designs to provide increased accommodation for the passenger traffic at Douglas, Isle of Man, the plans of Mr. Henry A. Cheers, of Twickenham, have proved successful, and he has been commissioned to obtain tenders from builders forthwith. The accommodation to be provided embraces luggage and ticket offices for the steam packet companies, ladies and gentlemen's waiting-rooms with extensive cloak-rooms, lavatories, etc, police and cabmen's shelter, a large public arcade 60ft. by 50ft., large refreshment rooms, and twelve lock-up shops. The whole will be on the ground floor level, and covered with a flat roof which will form a spacious promenade overlooking the landing pier. [Building News 13 December 1889 page 824]

TO BUILDERS. THE ISLE OF MAN HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS invite TENDERS for the ERECTION of BUILDINGS on the VICTORIA PIER, Douglas, to comprise Luggage and other Offices, Waiting Rooms, Lavatories, Police and Cabmen's Shelters, Arcade, Refreshment Room, and a number of Shops, etc. Tenders endorsed " Building Victoria Pier," and addressed to the undersigned at the Commissioners' Office, 22, Athol-street, Douglas, will be received up to the 17th March, 1390; but the Commissioners do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any Tender The Plans and Specifications can lie inspected at the Commissioners' Office on and after the 3rd March. In the meantime, quantities and other particulars can be obtained from the Architect, Henry A Cheers, Esq., Twickenham., London W WM. J. ANDERSON, Receiver-General. 14 February, 1890. {Isle of Man Times 1 March 1890 page 10]

THE PROJECTED NEW BUILDINGS ON VICTORIA PIER - The Harbour Commissioners have accepted the tender of Messrs Macadam and Moore, Cattle Market-street, Douglas. for the construction of these buildings, the plans of which have been designed by Mr Henry A. Cheers, architect, of Twickenham, London. The estimated cost is about £7,000, but it is expected that in practically working out the designs, alterations will be made which will reduce the cost to less than the estimated sum. The enclosure on the pier on which the buildings are to be erected is in the form of a triangle, with the angles rounded off. The buildings, which will be in the Romanesque style, arc to be one storey high, with level roof from end to end of the enclosure. This roof, which will be 200 feet long, is to be paved with asphalte. and will form a public promenade. At the south-east end of the buildings there will be a handsome tower, 40 feet high, in the face of which will be a clock. The buildings will be faced with Bath stone and Ruabon brick, and the roof supported by iron girders, with granite pillars. The segment of a circle forming the eastern end, or what may be termed the apex of the enclosure, will be occupied entirely by offices, behind which will be a store for left luggage, and behind which again will be a general waiting-room, and then a passage. At this point, in the plans, the shops begin on the northern side. On this side there are seven shops, and on the southern live. Opposite to the first shop on the northern outlook is a ladies' waiting room, and bet ween them there is a ladies' lavatory. It should be remembered that in this description we are passing down the enclosure from the cast to the westward end, and that as we proceed it gradually widens. The ladies' lavatory and waiting room extend the length of the first and half the length of the second shop on the northern face. Next to the ladies' waiting room comes the first of the shops having a southern aspect, and they extend from this point to the edge of the base of the enclosure. Opposite, along the northern frontage, are shops also. Between, there is first a gentleman's lavatory, and then conies an arcade, which may be more correctly described as a covered promenade, or shelter place in rough or rainy weather. Its area is 58 feet by 48 feet, with a Venetian Mosaic pavement and a glass roof. There are passages leading into the gentlemen's lavatory and into the arcade both from the southern and the northern side. At the base or western end of the enclosure is a refreshment room, stairs to the roof, and a cab drivers' shelter. The best material is to be used on these buildings throughout, and whatever may be the view taken as to old-established shopkeepers being forced in competition by the authorities with new rivals more favourably situated, the projected buildings, so far as can be judged by the designs, will be an ornament to the town and the promenade, and will be. no doubt, one of the most popular resorts during the season, especially as there is a shelter place in showery weather. [Isle of Man Times 29 March 1890 page 5] Page 13?

Reference        Mona's Herald, Wednesday, December 11, 1889; Page: 4 – competition
Reference        Building News 13 December 1889 page 824 – competition
Reference        Isle of Man Times 1 March 1890 page 10 - tenders
Reference        Manx Sun, Saturday, February 22, 1890; Page: 16 - tenders
Reference        Isle of Man Times 29 March 1890 page 5 Page 13 - proposed work