Teignmouth Pier was built in 1865 by Joseph Wilson, an engineering consultant from London.

Initially, the pier was a landing stage; its purpose was to enable steamboat passengers to get to the shore.

In March 1870, a petition to wind up the Teignmouth Pier Company Limited was published in The London Gazette.

[citation needed] During the Second World War, a 60–foot section of deck was removed so that the Germans could not breach if they invaded England.

Compensation was paid out for replacement of that section but many remained in that state for a considerable period.