2013
TG5307 : Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
taken 11 years ago, near to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Britannia Pier is the second of Great Yarmouth's Piers. The original wooden structure was designed by A.W. Morant and was opened in July 1858.
The Pier when constructed measured 700ft long but was badly damaged by the schooner 'James and Jessie' only a year later. This damage resulted in the pier being reduced in length by 50ft.
In the 19th century the pier was often used for evening band performances and open air concert parties. In 1880 a properly enclosed area was built to allow all-weather use.
At the turn of the 20th century, Great Yarmouth was becoming quite a prosperous seaside resort. With this in mind, the Pier's wooden structure was replaced with a wooden/steel construction and a grand 2000-seat pavilion was built. This development work commenced in December 1900 and the Pier officially opened again in June 1902.
It would seem that the buildings on the Pier were to be plagued by fires. Only 7 years after the pavilion opened, it suffered the first of its fires.
A second pavilion opened one year later but burned to the ground in 1914. Local gossip believed this to be an act of arson.
The 'Floral Hall' Ballroom, which opened in 1928, was to survive only four years. This was rebuilt and opened again in 1933.
Ironically, both the ballroom and pavilion survived the war only to be both destroyed by yet another blaze in 1954.
The fourth pavilion was the only one to be rebuilt, and opened in 1958. Thankfully this construction has survived and is home to our present theatre.
The pier was purchased from First Leisure PLC in 1995 by the present owners Family Amusements Ltd.
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