Cromer Pier (Cromer)
Cromer Pier is one of a dwindling number of English seaside piers, a fascinating and much loved institution.
It is situated at Cromer on the Norfolk coast, pointing Northwards into the North Sea.
There had been various jetties and piers serving this fishing community as far back as the 14th century.
A new wooden pier was opened in 1846, but badly damaged by the brig "Marsingale" in 1854, and although repaired was again damaged by a storm in 1897 and demolished in 1898.
The present pier was opened in 1901, with a length of 450 feet. A lifeboat station was added in 1923.
At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the pier was closed to the public, and the centre section was blown up in 1940 as an invasion precaution.
After considerable repairs, the pier was reopened to the pubic in 1951, but severely damaged in the East Coast floods of 1953.
Further damage was caused by gales in 1990, a storm in 1993 and the construction rig "Tayjack", which crashed through the pier later the same year.
In 1994, it was again reopened, this time by Rt. Hon Mrs Gillian Shepherd MP.
The lifeboat station was demolished in 1997 and removed to Southwold. A repacement was opened on the beach in 1998.
Cromer Pier remains popular with locals and holidaymakers alike, and is famous for its "end of the pier shows".