The Pier
Designed and built by Sir Robert Rawlinson, Grade II listed Worthing Pier was opened on April 12th 1862.
The Pier was built at a cost £6,500 with the money raised through the purchase of £1 shares by local residents
Originally built with a 5 metre wide deck with seating down both sides and a simple landing stage for steamers, it was widened in 1889 and a Southern Pavilion was added. Two kiosks were were erected at the landward end, one being a bazaar, and the other a ticket booth.
Easter Monday 1913 saw the collapse of the centre section due to severe storms.
With repairs completed the Pier was reopened on 29th May 1914 with a public holiday declared to celebrate the event.
On 10th September 1933 disaster struck again when fire consumed the Southern Pavilion.
The Pavilion rose from the ashes and was reopened in July 1935 with an amusement pavilion and central windshield added in 1937.
The central section was blown up in 1940 to deny a landing stage to invading Germans following Dunkirk
David Pateman
www.worthingsociety.org.uk
