Clarence Pier, Southsea, Hampshire

Southsea's original pier, the Clarence Pier, is now a complete contrast to the resorts later pier that was built at South Parade. Most people visiting Southsea Clarence Pier would probably not even realise the complex were in fact a pier, if it wasn't for the name. Its history is also a tale of two contrasting halves. Firstly the elegant pavilion pier, so typically Victorian in style and opened by a future king, to be replaced by a post-war amusement complex, bold and brash, in equally typical 'kiss me quick' style.

Building commenced on Southsea Clarence Pier in 1860, opening to the public for the first time on 1st June 1861. From 1866 the Landports Southsea Tramway ran directly to the pier, being superseded by the Harbour Railway Station in 1873. In 1874 Southsea Clarence Pier unusually became the centre of a local dispute when the operating company attempted to block access to the beach, between the pier and the nearby Esplanade Hotel. A crowd of local protesters, led by one Mr B Miller, broke down the offending barriers, burning them on the beach. Southsea Clarence Piers most striking addition, the stylish octagonal pavilion, was opened by the Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward VII) in the August of 1882, marking the last development of the pier until the turn of the new century. Increased steamer traffic to the resort prompted the Pier Company to build a concrete extension in 1905, and further work in 1932 saw the addition of a new café, sundeck, shops and a concourse hall.

It was during the Second World War that Southsea Clarence Pier was to suffer its saddest hour, and the country was to lose one of its great Victorian legacies. Being in such close proximity to the large ports of Southampton and Portsmouth, the Southsea resort was always vulnerable to attack and, on the night of 10th January 1941, Southsea Clarence Pier was hit by German bombs and totally destroyed.

Re-building of the pier didn't commence until 1953 when the first pile of the new substructure was driven in, the work continuing for a further six years. Unlike all other piers, Southsea Clarence Pier is unique in the fact that it runs along the beach rather than out to sea, making the whole structure much wider than it is long. In 1959 work got underway on the superstructure featuring the 60ft (18m) steel tower that still dominates the site today. Messers A. E. Cogswell & Son's, in association with local architects R. Lewis Reynish, designed the superstructure at an estimated cost of £250,000. Mouchel & Partners designed the deck and landing stage. Work was completed on the Southsea Clarence Pier ready for opening on 1st June 1961, exactly one hundred years to the day since the original pier was opened.

Love it or hate it, today Southsea Clarence Pier is often billed as the largest amusement park on the south coast and boasts all manner of amusements, rides and activities that one would expect from modern seaside complex.