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Yarmouth Pier
Yarmouth Pier is the responsibility of Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners and is a Grade II listed structure. It was built in 1876 to allow not only ferries from Lymington to dock, but also to be a landing stage for steamers from other ports and piers on both the Isle of Wight and the mainland (also known as the North Island by locals!). In the nineteenth century it was quicker to travel by steamer from Yarmouth to Cowes than to go by carriage. These days we have few vessels using the pier, notably the steamship Waverley in September, and also Balmoral earlier in the year, as well as ferries from Poole, Swanage, Weymouth and Christchurch occasionally during the summer. In 2012 we also hope to attract some superyachts to berth on the pier. It is also used for promenading and fishing.
The pier has changed slightly in length and shape over the years but still looks largely the same as when it was first constructed.
It is reputedly the longest wooden pier in the UK. In early 2008 we replaced 54 of the wooden piles along the length of the pier; these had been eaten away by gribble. We were lucky enough to win a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £350,500, and a Pier Appeal Fund headed by Alan Titchmarsh raised over £40,000 towards the refurbishment. The total project cost was £450,000 and included a gribble seat which is situated near the RNLI lifeboat, an interactive seat sited at the entrance to the pier, and a pier archive. In early 2012 we expect to replace two of the piles at the Pier head that have worn badly.
So please visit our pier, have a look at the sponsored planks and take in the views of the Solent. Please make sure that you put 30p in the honesty box.
The upkeep of the pier is an ongoing issue. For example the piles, despite being greenheart hardwood, only last 15-20 years. Restoration is never ending. We expect to have to replace the remaining piles (more than fifty), many under the pier head before 2020. During the winter 2011/12 we have re cut the names into the planks and marked them in white. The names get worn away by the promenaders who walk over them and the weather.
If you’d like to make a donation to help with the continuing restoration of the pier please make your cheque payable to Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Commissioners and leave it at the Harbour Office Reception.
