Deal Pier History
Deal's present pier was built in 1954 but there have
been two previous constructions on this particular site.
The first pier appeared in 1838 and the original plans by
engineer J. Rennie indicated that the structure was to be 445 feet
long. A budget of £21,000 was awarded to the Deal Pier Company, by
the government, to finance the project. After completing 250ft of
the main structure, at a cost of £12,000, the company ran into
financial difficulties and construction came to a halt. The
unfinished pier was consequently opened and used as a docking point
for steamers. Over the next 20 years storms and sandworms played a
major part in the decay of the structure and a large storm in 1857
threw the pier onto the beach where it was later sold as scrap for
£50.
In 1861 the Deal & Walmer Pier Company commissioned Eugenius
Birch to design a new pier and work began in the Spring of
1863.
Stone from the ruined Sandown Castle was used for the abutment
and the pier itself was built of wrought and cast iron. The full
length of the structure was 1100ft and included a 3 deck pier head
and a steamer landing stage. Seating ran the full length and a
tramway was provided for conveying goods and luggage whilst two
attractive toll houses were built at the entrance.
Deal's second pier was officially opened on 8 November 1864 but
the pier company once again discovered that they were unable to
meet the full cost of construction and the pier was handed over to
the contractors. The addition of a pavilion on the pier head led to
the pier becoming a popular venue for concerts as well as
angling.
On 19 January 1873 the barque Merle hit the pier during a storm
causing extensive damage. Repairs were carried out but on 26
January 1884 the schooner Alliance also ran into the pier during a
storm leading to further major repairs. Despite these two incidents
the pier remained a significant local amenity and it was purchased
by Deal Town Council for £10,000 in 1920.
Disaster struck with the coming of the second World War, when,
in 1940, the Dutch vessel Nora struck a fatal blow.
The Nora was anchored a mile off shore when a drifting magnetic
mine struck the stern of the vessel. Damage was extensive and after
evacuating the crew the Nora was towed to the beach, fifty years
south of the pier. Local fishermen warned the authorities of the
dangers that the vessel presented being left on the shore but the
warnings were left unheeded. Partially submerged, the rising tide
lifted the Nora from the beach and continually smashed her against
the pier. The old structure withstood the battering for sometime
but eventually the Nora was driven through the pier and brought
some 200ft of the wrought ironwork onto her decks. A visiting
Winston Churchill surveyed the devastation and gave the army
consent to demolish the broken pier to allow coastal guns a clear
line of fire. All that was left were the toll houses on the
foreshore.
Strong local pressure came to bear after the war and in 1954 the
old toll houses were removed and work began on Deal's third and
existing pier. The new pier took 3 years to build and was formally
opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on 19 November 1957. The pier was
the first seaside pleasure pier of any size to be built since 1910
and was designed by Sir W Halcrow and Partners. Constructed of
reinforced concrete the structure is 1026ft long and steel piles
surrounded by a concrete case make up the main supports. The pier
head originally had 3 levels but a miscalculation of the tides has
led to the lower deck being permanently covered by the sea. Deal
Pier continues to be a significant local landmark and public
amenity.
Owned by Dover District Council the pier has international
recognition as an angling venue and 2008 sees exciting new times, a
new-look café-bar and improvements to the pier. The chosen design
is by renowned architects Niall McLaughlin, featuring a pier-end
café-bar with timber frames, edge walls made of glass, and a range
of environmentally friendly features.
Deal Pier is currently celebrating exciting news. It has been
named Pier of the Year 2008 by the National Piers Society beating
23 other nominated piers in the twelfth annual poll of the
Society’s 600 members.
Contact Leisure Services
Tel: 01304 872448
E-mail: leisureservices@dover.gov.uk
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