Designed by James Brunlees and opened in August 1867 at a length of 2,355 feet (718 m), it was the town's central attraction for the ensuing years.

In 1897, celebrity diver Tommy Burns fatally dived 100 feet (30 m) off the pier, observed by around 3,000 people and was declared dead shortly after being brought out of the sea.

Following years of dereliction, the pier was purchased by Rhyl Council by auction in 1913 and was operational from the 1930s until the mid-1960s, at which point it was declared unsafe and closed.

Despite reports in October 1966 that the council were prepared to consider offers to reconstruct the pier, this did not materialise and it was subsequently demolished in March 1973.

[8] After revised plans were put to the board, a public meeting was held to ascertain the feelings of the local population and determine support for a new pier near the town centre.

[5] On 10 October 1863, the foreshore for the site of the proposed pier was leased by the Crown, with a provisional order for construction granted in January 1864 and royal assent gained later that year.

[9] Many difficulties were experienced during the pier's construction, with the most disastrous set back washing away the first part of the structure, caused by rough sea conditions.

[11] It was the first pier to be built in North Wales and became a productive asset to Rhyl, with excursions from Liverpool and other Welsh seaside resorts.

[15] The new Grand Pavilion was opened on 12 September 1891 by Lady Fiorentia Hughes, having taken just 14 weeks to erect and capable of holding around 3000 people.

[16] Early film maker Arthur Cheetham presented his 'living pictures' to a full audience in the Grand Pavilion in 1898 and by the following year, pier attractions included a water carnival, diving competitions and greasy poll walking.

[19] However, when inspected by Mr A Gillespie, who was also a manager of the firm that constructed the pier, he remarked that he found the supporting piles to be free of corrosion and rigid, suggesting that the under structure showed evidence of having been cared for.

[20] In late 1901, a "powerful syndicate of Manchester gentlemen" purchased the pier, beating Rhyl Council who were also in negotiations, with intentions upon extending the structure and building a pavilion.

A key drawback for the pier was that boats could not dock at low tide, which hindered the town's ability to encourage visitors regardless of the tidal state.

[23] Following storm damage in the early hours of 29 December 1909, around 30 yards (27 m) of pier was washed away from the point where a steamboat had collided around 25 years prior.

[1] In October that year, it was reported the council were prepared to consider offers to reconstruct the pier in keeping with the promenade's character.

[1] Shortly after, various lengths of pine pier timber, ranging from 10–35 feet (3.0–10.7 m), were made available for sale by Hughes & Son in Conwy at 5 pence per foot.

[36] In 2010, plans were under consideration to construct a new pier in Rhyl that would have tidal energy creating capabilities, as part of a multi-million pound project.