Eastbourne Pier....

Mrs BM and I decided that we would have Dinner out tonight, so I killed two birds with one stone and visited Eastbourne to take the pier there.

The Eastbourne Pier Company Ltd was formed in 1865. The first pile was driven on April 18th 1866. Lord Edward Cavendish officially opened the pier, designed by Eugenius Birch, on 13th June 1870. However, work on the 1000 foot pier, landing stage, kiosk and windbreak was not finally completed until 1872. A storm washed away the shoreward end on New Year?s Day 1877. It was rebuilt at a higher level.

A new landing stage was constructed in 1893 and two saloons mid-way along the pier were built in 1901. In 1912, new entrance buildings were added and, in 1925, a 900-seat music pavilion was constructed at the shoreward end. This was used as a ballroom before becoming an amusement arcade.

Trust House Forte bought the pier in 1968.

The theatre was destroyed by fire in January 1970. It was rebuilt as a ?Dixieland? showbar and was used for discos and cabaret. A £250,000 facelift, in 1985, gave the pier a major new arcade.

Hurricane damage in October 1987 wrecked the landing stage. The Duke of Devonshire opened a new £500,000 entrance building on 15th June 1991.

Work today was Kack, and as I was passing Beachy Head I wasn't tempted to end it all, hahaha.