Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - Even More Moments Captured in Time - [vintage photo and postcard album] . . .


'A Weston Wave' - A postcard from the Vaughan Collection held at the Bristol Archives and post-dated 8th August 1911. [Archive Reference Number : 43207/9/18/110] [1264]


Old Pier - Weston-Super-Mare - The Birnbeck Pier, as illustrated in this postcard dated June 1910, the landing stage for the P & A Campbell, White Funnel Fleet. Weston was probably the most popular watering place for passengers and steamers from Penarth and Cardiff until the advent of the package holiday. Another postcard from the Vaughan Collection held at the Bristol Archives. [Archive Reference Number : 43207/9/18/70] [1264]


Old Pier - Weston-S-Mare - A Viner's Series postcard view of the Birnbeck Pier as illustrated c.1910. The unique feature of this pier is that it linked the mainland with the island of Birnbeck which is simply an off-shore rocky outcrop. The structure was designed by Eugenius Birch (1818-1884) a naval architect and pier engineer and it opened in June 1867. Construction commenced in 1862. Mr Birch also worked locally on the Devon and Somerset Railway and the Ilfracombe Harbour ; he also designed and built 13 other piers! The ironwork for the pier was cast over at Newport (Gwent) at the Isca Foundry Company. The pier was 1,150 feet in length with a 20 foot wide timber decking and was supported upon eight piles. It was erected by Messrs Toogood from parts prefabricated at the Isca Foundry. The total cost was £67,775. A 250 feet long structure extends from the island in a northerly direction at the end of which is the landing stage for pleasure steamer passengers. The Birnbeck Island also housed the RNLI lifeboat station and slipway from 1882 until 2013, when by that date, the pier was deemed unsafe for their staff and volunteers. A proposal to construct a suspension bridge to span the mainland with Birnbeck Island predated the pier. The proposal was rejected in favour of the pier! Another postcard from the Vaughan Collection held at the Bristol Archives. [Archive Reference Number : 43207/9/18/71] [1264]


c.1900 - Weston-super-Mare - The Birnbeck Pier - A lovely postcard view from around the turn of the century and prior to expansion of rides and amusements. I have fond memories of our family trips on the paddle steamers to Weston as a child. A heritage postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]


Old Pier Amusements - The RLNI lifeboat station, the Switchback Railway, the Skating Rink and the Bioscope Theatre entertained the visitors at the Birnbeck Pier. - [1276] [Historic England Archive Ref : PC48002]


Birnbeck Pier, designed by the renowned Victorian pier engineer Eugenius Birch, was constructed in 1864–7. Further additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th century, by which time the island was home to fairground rides. In decline since the late 1970s, by 1994 the pier was in such a dangerous condition that it had to close. The image was borrowed from an extremely informative booklet published by Historic England and entitled Weston-super-Mare - The town and its seaside heritage. [Image Reference : DP218683] [1282]


Royal Pier Hotel - Weston-Super-Mare - The Most Comfortable & Best Furnished Hotel in Weston - Sanitary Certificate - Nearest the Pier - Billiard Saloon - L. S. Crowe Proprietor - A lovely advertisement taken from the book 'Cardiff, Penarth and Environs' published in 1897. Another heritage document held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]

	The Old Pier (Birnbeck Island) - Daily Service by the White Funnel Fleet Pleasure Boats - Rambles on the Rocks where the Sea is always in. - Use of Deck Chairs Free. - Shelter any weather. - Extensive Views of the Woods, Channel, Somerset, Devon, Glamorgan and Monmouth Coasts from elevated Platform. - Refreshment Pavilion - Cafe & Licensed Premises. - Best Quality. - Moderate Charges. - Large Parties Accommodated. - Trips by Magnificent Speedboat (Hydroplane). - Ex Royal Naval Lifeboat (Twin Screw). - Fast Motor Launches. - Promenade Toll 2d. - Weston-Super-Mare Pier Co. (Tel. 274) - Ask for Old Pier - Tram or Bus. An advertisement from the Bristol Channel District Guide - Official Handbook to the Marine Trips of P. & A. Campbell Ltd. (The White Funnel Fleet) - first published 1893 - from the 1934 Edition. [1332]