It’s difficult to picture it now, but Minehead was once home to a bustling pier. Constructed during the Victorian period, this pier served as a gateway for tourists and locals alike to board steamboats bound for North Devon and Cardiff.
Despite its popularity, the large seaside attraction was eventually torn down. Despite numerous efforts to construct a new one, Minehead remains without a pier.
Here’s a quick look back at the history of Minehead Pier and the story of its disappearance.
What was the Minehead Pier?
The Minehead Pier in its heyday
(Image: Minehead Online)
Construction for the Minehead Pier near where the RNLI station is based commenced in 1899 at a cost of £12,000.
Opened by Mr Luttrell on May 25, 1901, the 700-foot-long pier was 24ft wide and expanded to 76ft at its end.
From it, tourists could travel to North Devon, coastal areas of Somerset and to Cardiff or stay to enjoy music and events.
Local historians state the pier played an “essential part in the town’s development as a holiday resort” in an era of the paddle-steamer and pleasure trips.
Lynne Cleaver, in her book, A-Z of Minehead and Dunster, wrote about the pier’s history.
She said: “It had four landing stages at different levels to take differing tide heights and was offering daily trips to Cardiff, with Ilfracombe and other North Devon resorts several times a week.
“Campbell’s White Funnel Fleet ran steamships during the early years.
“Entertainments also took place on the pier for which a pier admission fee of 6d was due.
“The Military Mummers, a costume concert party, appeared during the 1909 season.”
Why was the pier demolished?
Minehead beach and seafront
(Image: Getty Images)
During the Second World War, it was decided that the pier should be removed to give a clear field of fire for two guns mounted on the old stone quay.
The structure, demolished in 1940, was the only pier to be completely demolished during the war.
Tragically, this was all for nothing – the guns were never used as Minehead was not targeted during the war.
The owners, Campbells, were awarded £90,000 compensation and used the money to improve their steamer fleet.
Plans for a new pier for its centenary
An artist’s impression of a traditional pier on Minehead’s seafront
(Image: Minehead Pier 2000 Association)
Ahead of its centenary, the Minehead Pier 2000 Association announced plans in 1997 to build a new pier.
The futuristic new 700ft long pier was designed to include a pavilion and other attractions and controversially, an 328ft high mast.
It was projected to cost £5 million to build and would have relied heavily on a successful £2.5M grant application from the Millennium Commission and £1.6M from European Development Fund.
The association originally won public support and was backed by the then West Somerset District Council, who claimed the new attraction could bring in as many as 300,000 extra visitors every year.
Artist’s sketch of a futuristic pier in Minehead
(Image: Minehead Pier 2000 Association)
But things took a turn after families in Minehead realised that hundreds of passengers a day would be using the pier – not to mention the four years of construction work.
Minehead Residents Association protested the scheme was “too grand and out of keeping with the historic quayside area”.
Other local residents argued the conservation area would be wrecked by the influx of tourists.
Its bid for £1.6 million from European Development Fund was turned down, with the money going instead to the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The Millennium Commission also rejected Minehead Pier 2000 Association’s application.
The plans were left dead in the water.
What is the site like now?
Tourism Minister, Janet Anderson, urged councillors in July 2000 to re-submit their lottery application for a new pier but no further plans were submitted.
There were numerous attempts to revive the ferry link – which a pier or jetty would have been vital to – but nothing of yet has some to place.
While the main structure is long gone, the concrete bases remain and can be seen at a low tide near to the lifeboat station.
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