Plymouth Pier

At Plymouth the pier will be of an important character, its length being 610 feet, by 60 feet in breadth, the pier-head extending to 210 feet in width. A handsome and commodious pavilion will be erected upon the pier-head, capable of holding 2,500 persons, and the whole design will be of a graceful character, due regard being paid to solidity and strength. A drawing showing the intended pier is enclosed. …. A contract dated 29 July 1880 has been entered into with Messrs Laidlaw Sons and Caine of Glasgow for the construction of the Plymouth Pier (exclusive of the pavilion, to be afterwards erected) the works for which have already been commenced. The pier can be constructed sufficiently to be opened for public use by the summer of 1881, and it can be entirely completed by the spring of the following year. [Times 9 August 1880 page 13]

The pier is 465 feet long, and the pier-head 190 feet wide; it is built on iron columns, embedded in the rock foundation in a most substantial manner, from designs of the late Mr Eugenius Birch, of Westminster Chambers, Westminster, the well-known pier engineer, and has been constructed as to the first portion by Messrs Laidlaw and Sons, of Glasgow, and completed by Mr C E Daniel of Victoria Street Westminster SW. It is lighted by electricity fitted up by the Great Western Electric Lighting Company Limited and may be considered one of the most attractive piers in the kingdom. [Times 22 September 1884; page 14]

In later years, the pier struggled financially. Steamers stopped calling in 1922 and, in 1934, a loss of £1,276 was posted. Receivers were appointed in 1938 to protect the interests of the company's debenture holders. The pier was bombed in March 1941 and the War Damage Commission made a payment enabling debenture holders to be bought out. They also agreed to pay the £4,754 cost of demolition in 1953.

Reference           The Times, Monday, 22 September 1884; page 14