Alterations: Central Pier, Blackpool

PIER IMPROVEMENTS, BLACKPOOL. At a meeting of the Blackpool Jetty Company recently, the designs submitted by Mr R Knill Freeman FRIBA in a limited competition for the extension of the Central Pier and the erection upon it of a pavilion and other buildings was adopted. The engineering works in connection with the sub-structure will be carried out from the designs of Mr Thomas Dryden, engineer, Preston [Builder 21 August 1897 Page 153]

BLACKPOOL - At a meeting of the directors of the Blackpool Jetty Company held last week the design submitted by Mr R Knill Freeman FRIBA in a limited competition for the extension of the central pier and the erection upon it of a pavilion and other buildings, was adopted. The engineering works in connection with the substructure will be carried out from the designs of Mr Thos Dryden, engineer, Preston, who has just completed extensive works of a similar character on the North Pier. The leading feature of the design submitted by Mr Freeman is an absence of square ends and elevations which would offer great resistance to the winter gales. Four toll houses are proposed, with turnstiles at each face, and sliding gates allow of the pier being quickly cleared. The other buildings are for a board-room, secretary’s office, retiring-rooms, ladies’ lounge, reading room, and shops. The widening of the structure is proposed, with a new dancing pavilion or concert hall. The pavilion is Indian in style. There will be accommodation on the ground floor for 2,000, and for 500 in the gallery. There is provision for two corner shops at the westerly end, two refreshment buffets at the easterly corners (approached from without and within), and a dozen other shops each 10 feet deep, at stated positions round the pavilion. The intervening spaces will be taken up with lavatories, side exits, toll offices, shelters, etc. The angles of the building are treated as turrets, and inside are foyers at each corner; two domes rise from the centre of the roof, four lounges are built in the sides to back the shelters outside and the ceiling is flat and specially designed for decorative effect. Behind the orchestra is a balcony for open air concerts and dancing, so devised that it could be added to the stage. Mr Freeman estimates the cost of the pavilion at ,6,350. So far as the treatment of the present pier head is concerned, the architect proposes a revolution of the existing accommodation. An open-air dancing platform would be left; but on each side a width would be covered in like a verandah, where the festivities could be carried on during inclement weather. Provision is also made for a large circular bar facing the sea, with private, smoking and cloak rooms, and five shops, with kiosks at each corner of the deck overlooking the jetty. [Building News 20 August 1897 Page 255]

An improvement is shortly to be effected by the Fylde Pier Company at the Central Pier which is to be widened to double its present width. Mr R K Freeman ARIBA of Bolton is the architect for the work, and the engineers for the ironwork are Messrs Dryden, Preston. The Town Council have passed the plans, contracts will soon be let, and it is expected that the work will be completed in time for next season. The total cost is estimated at £12,000. A new toll house and a glass roofed arcade with shops and offices is also to be built. A remarkable feature will be a promenade on the roof of the arcade at the suggestion of the manager, Mr Robert Bickerstaff. [British Architect 1902]

PIER, BLACKPOOL - The Blackpool Promenade widening project having necessitated the setting back of the Central Pier entrance, the directors decided on what is practically the reconstruction of the shore end of the pier, and the various works are now approaching completion. The main frontage and deck have been widened from about 60 feet to 110 feet, the turnstiles and toll-offices have been set back 60 feet, and the waist of the pier has also been doubled in width from 22 feet to 43 feet. Forty feet from the main entrance have been erected the new entrance buildings and arcade, with an elevation of 90 feet to the promenade front. In the centre is placed the arcade, or shelter, with a promenading space of So feet by 50 feet, which also serves as the main approach to the pier, and on each side of this arcade, extending for a distance of 80 feet, are placed new shops, offices, etc. The central arcade is covered by a circular hipped and boarded roof. Along each side and end of the new building has been formed, by means of a flat roof over the shops and ends of the arcade, a continuous promenade, 18 feet wide, and approached by spiral staircases fixed in the angle turrets at each corner of the main front to the promenade. The new buildings have been carried out from the designs and under the supervision of Messrs. R. Knill Freeman and F. Freeman, architects, of Bolton. The engineer for the iron and steelwork in the superstructure is Mr. Walter Tester, C.E., of Manchester, and for the substructure ironwork, Mr. Thomas Dryden, of Preston. The total cost of the extensions is about £12,000. [Builder 30 May 1903 page 570]

For the past two or three years, Messrs R. K. Freeman and Frank Freeman have been employed as architects for the reconstruction and extension of the shore end of the Central Pier at Blackpool, with a widening of the main frontage and deck, and new entrance buildings, pavilion, arcade and pier promenade, for which Mr R K Freeman’s designs were chosen by the Blackpool Jetty Company in a limited competition in 1897, the new works forming a portion of a scheme for the improvement of the shore promenade etc. (Builder Obit)

From Blackpool Now and Then p172
1903    On Central Pier, the eastern style White Pavilion, designed by R Knill Freeman of Bolton with ironwork by Mr Dryden of Preston, was added at the landward end.

Reference    Builder 21 August 1897 Page 153
Reference    Building News 20 August 1897 Page 255 (Competitions)
Reference    British Architect ** 1902 CHECK REFERENCE
Reference    Builder 30 May 1903 page 570
Reference    Lynn Pearson Database of Seaside Architecture