Shanklin Pier

As part of the war effort in 1940, the pier was sectioned to prevent an enemy invasion and later restored using concrete piles.

[2] An Act of Parliament to allow construction was passed on 11 March 1886 and plans for a traditionally designed pier were drawn by Messrs F. C. Dixon and M. N. Ridley.

[4] The pier, which cost £18,000 (equivalent to £2,418,100 in 2023) to build, was put up for auction at the start of 1897, in which it was described as being of "handsome and substantial construction and elevation".

[6] On 28 July 1901, a £9,000 (equivalent to £1,169,200 in 2023) pavilion, built by Alfred Thorne, was opened and fitted with a maple floor to allow roller skating during the off-season winter period.

[9] Upon the outbreak of World War II, the pier closed and the decking was sectioned to prevent it being used as a point of entry for an enemy invasion.

Following the war, the damaged decking was replaced and supported using concrete piling, which looked out of place in contrast to the rest of the pier.

[1] In October 1987, the pier was destroyed by a hurricane-force storm, with winds so strong that the coastguard said their instruments were unable to measure it.

The pier and esplanade, c1910
The pier in July 1986, 15 months before the storm of October 1987