Bognor Pier Built

1865

Bognor Pier was constructed in 1865, one year after the railway arrived, as part of the drive to develop the town as a credible seaside resort. The pier extended roughly 1,000 feet into the sea and provided the promenade, entertainment, and sense of occasion that Victorian holidaymakers expected from any self-respecting resort. At its peak, the pier featured a pavilion at the seaward end, landing stages for paddle steamers running coastal excursions, and the usual seaside attractions of amusement stalls and refreshment rooms. Steamer services connected Bognor to other south coast resorts and to the Isle of Wight, giving visitors an additional reason to walk the pier. The structure was the centrepiece of the resort, the place where visitors went to promenade, to enjoy the sea air, and to watch the boats passing in the Channel. Like many English piers, Bognor Pier suffered storm damage over the years and required repeated repair and rebuilding. The original wooden structure was vulnerable to heavy seas from the south-west, and sections were lost in storms in 1899 and again in the early twentieth century. Each time, the pier was rebuilt, though not always to its original length. The pier represented a significant investment in Bognor's future as a resort and, for the decades when it was intact and functioning, it served as the town's most recognisable landmark.