Lytham Pier

Provision for a pier to be constructed for pleasure and as a boat-landing deck was first discussed during the early 1860s, leading to the formation of the Lytham Pier Company in 1861.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=80}} Plans included visitor waiting rooms at the pier head and ornamental gates at the entrance, similar to those at Brighton's West Pier. Its construction began in 1864 with the screwing in of the first iron pile, a pre-planned event designed to ensure a suitably large number of visitors would be present to witness the occasion.{{cite news |url=http://www.amounderness.co.uk/the_first_pile_1864.html |title=Screwing the first pile of the Lytham Pier |newspaper=The Preston Guardian |date=11 June 1864 |access-date=19 August 2017 |via=amounderness}} The pier did not have unanimous local support; some residents believed that Lytham had insufficient regular visitors to make a pier financially viable, or that a high tide would too easily destroy the pier.{{cite news |url=http://www.amounderness.co.uk/1865.html |title=Opening of the Lytham Pier |newspaper=The Preston Guardian |date=22 April 1865 |access-date=19 August 2017 |via=amounderness}}

File:Lytham Pier Pavilion 1892.png

Despite some reservations, building work was completed a year after the first pile had been screwed in, at a cost of £5760 ({{inflation|UK-GDP|5760|1865|r=-2|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}), raised from 1,200 shares of £5 each.{{inflation-fn|UK-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}

{{convert|300|LT|sigfig=3|spell=in|lk=on}} of iron were used in the construction of the pier. It was supported by 126 iron columns, {{convert|54|ft|m}} apart and screwed into the solid clay base beneath the beach. A shelter was erected on the pier head's dock for passengers embarking or landing from steam vessels. The pier was capable of accommodating up to 5000 people, of whom 1000 could be seated.

The pier was opened by Lady Eleanor Clifton on Easter Monday, 17 April 1865.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=81}} Clifton, of Lytham Hall, was invited to the opening by the pier's directors and she accepted their invitation "at much personal inconvenience." Also invited were the Mayor of Preston and railway officials connected with Lytham. When visitors arrived for the opening, bands of music were playing, flags were flying and riflemen were being drilled to perform a guard of honour. The pier was "bedecked with scores of flags and looked as gay as hands could make it." Immediately following the opening ceremony, there was a rush of visitors anxious to go on the pier, which accepted admissions until around 5pm. Admission was one penny and despite heavy thunder towards the end of the day, the receipts still totalled £20 1s 7d from 4,817 total visitors, in addition to several season ticket payments.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89811398/lytham-pier-opening/ |title=Opening of the Lytham Pier |newspaper=The Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser |page=6 |date=22 April 1865 |via=Newspapers.com}}

File:Lytham Pier extension 1901.png

The pier had a small renovation in 1892 when a floral hall pavilion was added half-way along the deck, at a cost of £12,000 (equivalent to £{{format price|{{inflation|UK-GDP|12000|1902}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|UK-GDP}}). A further reconstruction followed in 1901–1902 to enlarge the pavilion,{{cite web |url=http://www.lythamwindmill.co.uk/Lytham-Pier.html |title=Lytham Pier |publisher=Lytham Windmill Museum |access-date=18 August 2017}} including raising the roof to accommodate taller stage scenery and enlargement of the theatre stage; other improvements included the erection of an additional dressing room, refreshment rooms and an upper tea-room added to the pavilion's balcony.{{cite news |url=http://www.amounderness.co.uk/pavilion_extension.html |title=Pier Pavilion Improvements |newspaper=Blackpool Gazette |date=May 1901 |access-date=19 August 2017 |via=amounderness}}

The pier suffered significant damage from two separate incidents in 1903. The first occurred on 27 February, when two shelters were blown into the sea during a storm. Worse damage was caused later in the year on 6 October, when two barges driven by a gale-force wind collided with the pier despite the best efforts of the one-man crews on each boat; one caused significant damage to the central pier structure while the other got caught among the piers supporting the pavilion. Claims for compensation were made against Preston Corporation, who owned the barges, and after repairs had been undertaken the pier reopened at Easter 1904.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=84}}

During the early 1900s, George Kingston's Minstrels became an attraction on the pier and the beach, continuing through to 1910 on the pier and in the pavilion. Divers performed each season at the pier head in swimming displays, featuring Professor Stearne and Professor Payne.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=84}} A Floral Hall opened in July 1911, occasionally playing host to orchestral concerts, as well as amateur dramatic societies. By the 1920s, the pavilion was showing films and this was its primary fare income from visitors.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=85}}

By 1920 the pier was struggling to remain financially viable; JH Harrison, the manager of 32 years, stepped down the following year.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=85}} The pavilion was destroyed by fire on 29 January 1928,{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=85}} which left behind a steelwork shell that was not rebuilt. The cause of the blaze remains unknown. The cost of the damage, covered by insurance, amounted to thousands of pounds, but there were no fatalities, as the on-site caretaker who lived on the pier had only just left his residence to sound the alarm before it was engulfed by the flames.{{cite news |url=http://www.amounderness.co.uk/the_1928_fire.html |title=Lytham Pier: Pavilion reduced to a skeleton in three hours |date=January 1928 |access-date=19 August 2017 |via=amounderness}} Despite a proposal several months later to build a new pavilion at the pier's shore end,{{cite news |url=http://www.amounderness.co.uk/proposed_pavilion.html |title=Proposed new pavilion, designed by Ald. A. England |date=1928 |access-date=19 August 2017 |via=amounderness}} from a design prepared by St Anne's architect Arnold England, no work was carried out and the pier reopened on 24 May 1928 without a pavilion.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=86}}

The next ten years saw a plan by then owners Lytham Pier & Amusements Ltd to convert the pier into the shape of a ship, but it came to nothing.{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=86}} As its popularity dwindled, the pier closed to visitors in 1938 and it subsequently deteriorated throughout the mid-20th century, remaining in use by anglers only. It changed hands in 1942, with the new owners intending on spending £12,000 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK-GDP|12000|1942|r=-3}}|0}} in {{inflation-year|UK-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|UK-GDP}}) on alterations, but they failed to be granted a license and it was subsequently put up for auction.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97479282 |title=Pier to be auctioned |newspaper=The Guardian |via=newspapers.com |date=26 August 1949 |page=6}} In October 1949, it was sold for £6,250 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK-GDP|6250|1949|r=-3}}|0}} in {{inflation-year|UK-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|UK-GDP}}) when it was purchased at auction by Mr. Harry Kamiya,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97478858 |title=Lytham Pier sold for £6,250 |newspaper=The Guardian |via=newspapers.com |page=7 |date=13 October 1949}} with improvement works reported to start shortly after, following the closure of the pier due to structural concerns several months prior.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97478687 |title=Mr. K. plans pier 'like Blackpool' |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |via=newspapers.com |page=6 |date=13 October 1949}} The pier's revenue was £620 which was predominantly derived from its entrance cafe.

From around 1952, the pier had been declared as unsafe with considerations about its future discussed through to 1957. By then, the high cost of repairs was the primary reason for the delay in deciding its future. Various schemes were proposed to get the pier back into use, such as one involving the construction of a sea wall and redecking the pier at a cost exceeding £40,000 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK-GDP|40000|1957|r=-3}}|0}} in {{inflation-year|UK-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|UK-GDP}}).{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89819848/lytham-pier/ |title=Lytham Pier's Future May Be Decided Soon |newspaper=The Guardian |page=14 |date=22 October 1957 |via=Newspapers.com}} Despite the kiosks at the pier's entrance remaining in use, the council decided in 1959 that they were unwilling to provide the £5000 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK-GDP|5000|1959|r=-3}}|0}} in {{inflation-year|UK-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|UK-GDP}}) then required for the pier's restoration. By that time, the pier was owned by Mrs Nellie Lister, executrix of the late owner Harry Kamiya and was used only by lifeboat and fisher men. A demolition order was confirmed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government on 1 December 1959 following an eight month inquiry.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89819424/lytham-pier/ |title=Lytham Pier to be demolished |newspaper=The Guardian |page=16 |date=2 December 1959 |via=Newspapers.com}} It was subsequently demolished in March 1960 at a cost of £7320 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK-GDP|7320|1960|r=-3}}|0}} in {{inflation-year|UK-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|UK-GDP}}) including £4000 ({{inflation|UK|4000|1960|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-3}}) in compensation to the estate of former owner Harry Kaniya,{{sfn|Easdown|2009|p=86}} despite a petition opposed to the plan from local residents, which gathered almost 2600 signatures.{{cite news |url=http://www.lythamstannesexpress.co.uk/news/fylde-s-missing-heritage-lytham-pier-1-805586 |title=Fylde's Missing Heritage: Lytham Pier |work=Lythan St Annes Express |date=23 September 2005 |access-date=18 August 2017 |archive-date=18 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818134538/http://www.lythamstannesexpress.co.uk/news/fylde-s-missing-heritage-lytham-pier-1-805586 |url-status=dead }}

It was reported in May 2007 that local Conservative councillors were investigating the possibility of securing a grant to reconstruct the pier. Councillor Richard Fulford-Brown believes that if the circumstances regarding the pier's demolition were an issue today, it would be considerably more difficult to follow through with it and takes the view that a pier visitor attraction offers something interesting for residents and visitors alike. A similar suggestion had previously been made by a local architect, who proposed an eco-friendly boardwalk complete with a viewing station. As of 2007, Lytham St Annes Civic Society were opposed to any reconstruction proposal on the grounds that the town centre should be protected, especially as there are already piers in nearby Lytham St Annes (St Anne's Pier) and Blackpool (North Pier, Central Pier and South Pier) respectively.{{cite news |url=http://www.lythamstannesexpress.co.uk/news/grant-hope-so-town-can-have-a-pier-1-807046 |title=Grant hope so town can have a pier |work=Lytham St Annes Express |date=29 May 2007 |access-date=19 August 2017}}

Notes

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Citations

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Sources

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• {{cite book |last=Easdown |first=Martin |title=Lancashire's Seaside Piers: Also Featuring the Piers of the River Mersey, Cumbria and the Isle of Man |publisher=Wharncliffe Books |edition=1st |year=2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hrAecpdGB4oC |isbn=978-1-84563-093-5 }}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Lytham Pier}}

• [https://www.francisfrith.com/uk/lytham/lytham-pier-1913_66439a Lytham Pier at Francis Frith]

{{Piers in the United Kingdom}}

{{Borough of Fylde buildings}}

{{good article}}

Category:Piers in Lancashire

Category:Lytham St Annes

Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Lancashire

Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1960

Category:Buildings and structures in the Borough of Fylde