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Built between 1911-1914, it is one of the UK's oldest illuminated seaside piers and was the first concrete structure of its kind in Europe. When it was first built engineers from around Britain came to marvel at it.
According
to the British Heritage Trust, the design of Burnham-On-Sea pier has
associations with the famous Bristol engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel
(1806-1859), showing some similarity with the railway stations at Bristol
Temple Meads and Bath Spa. The original purpose of the pavilion and why no promenade deck and landing stage ever came to fruition, still remains largely unknown. Most of the shipping in the area and the pleasure boats used the piers along the coast at Weston-super-Mare or Birnbeck. Some believe it was simply an experiment and was never really designed for any commercial puropose. It was left to decline over the years and at one stage there were even calls for it to be pulled down - but a public outcry saved it for posterity.
Today, the pier entrance comprises of a selection of small shops selling food and refreshments, with the main building featuring an amusement hall. More information Burnham-On-Sea Pier is one of five such buildings jutting out in the Bristol Channel - all of which can be seen at once from Steep Holme Island in the middle of the channel on a clear day using a good telescope or binoculars. The four other piers are at Birnbeck, Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Penarth. Burnham's
pier continues to attract thousands of visitors throughout the year
and is well worth a visit - summer or winter. Contact
details: Related
Links: Historical photos of Burnham pier and seafront Map showing Burnham-On-Sea Pier's location
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Although
Burnham-On-Sea Pier is Britain's shortest pier and comprises no more
than a shoreward end pavilion on concrete piles, it is still a lovely
structure that, unlike a lot of its bigger counterparts, still retains
its Edwardian features and elegance.
Many
locals thought that the huge tides in Bridgwater Bay would soon sweep
it into the sea - but they were to be proven wrong. The concrete is
extremely strong and is largely made up from Granite chippings shipped
from Penryn in Cornwall. This same material is used in maintenance work
to this day.
The
pavilion stands in the centre of the esplanade and is, quite rightly,
very much the central feature of Burnham-On-Sea's pleasantly uncluttered
seafront.