Totland Bay Pier

Totland Bay Pier on the western side of the Isle of Wight is a similar landing stage pier to that of Yarmouth Pier, further up the coast. Totland Bay Pier pier was constructed of a light girder framework on cast iron piles and a timber deck. It was built, like many other piers, to encourage tourists to the area by providing a safe and convenient steamer landing stage. By the 1870s regular steamer services were running between Lymington and Yarmouth and, with the arrival of a new road connecting towns along the north west of the island in 1873, the popularity of the bay increased.

The Totland Bay Hotel that was by far the most exclusive hotel in the area saw an opportunity and commissioned the building of Totland Bay Pier in 1879. Designed by S H and S W Yockney the 450ft (136m) structure opened the following summer, its facilities being no more than a small wooden shelter at the head and a small amusement pavilion at the shoreward end. Initially Totland Bay Pier only received steamer traffic from both Lymington and Yarmouth, but services were later extended to include excursions around the island, and to mainland destinations like Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth.

By the beginning of the 20th century the island was starting to suffer quite badly from coastal erosion and Totland Bay Pier had to be extended in 1916, in keeping with the position of the new shoreline. With the outbreak of the Great War pleasure cruises ceased but the Lymington ferry service continued from Totland Bay Pier until 1918. A 'once a day' ferry service did run in the early 1920s but this was eventually stopped in 1927. Pleasure cruises recommenced after the war and continued until 1931 when the condition of Totland Bay Pier made them untenable.

Along with most other piers on the island, Totland Bay Pier was sectioned in 1940 for fear of German invasion. Repairs were carried out after the war including the replacement of some decayed iron piles with timber, and the reinforcing of the shoreward end in concrete. The pier-head shelter was also reconstructed. Totland Bay Pier re-opened on 17th June 1951, the occasion being marked by the arrival of the 'Lorna Doone' the first steamer to disembarked passengers for some twenty years. Once all works had been completed the official re-opening took place a year later in 1952. Regular visits by pleasure craft continued for many years until finally ceasing in 1969.

1971 saw the sale of Totland Bay Pier to Trinity House for the sum of £10,000, to be used as a base for pilot boats and operators. In 1975 the National Physical Laboratory installed data collection equipment to monitor wave and weather activity. The shoreward end amusement arcade was damaged by fire in 1978 and Totland Bay Pier was subsequently closed. From then on, to the early 1990s a succession of different owners, none of whom could provide the required funds to properly maintain the structure, led to the pier's inevitable decay. Sufficient repair work was carried out to enable the MV Balmoral to berth at Totland Bay Pier in 1993, but continued restoration work was hindered by vandalism. Currently this privately owned pier is still in a dilapidated state and its long-term future seems insecure.