Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Walton-on-the-Naze Pier (Walton-on-the-Naze)

Walton-on-the-Naze Pier is one of a dwindling number of English seaside piers, a fasconating and much loved institution.

It is situated in the Essex seaside town of Walton-on-the-Naze, pointing out into the North Sea.

This pier is the second longest in the world, being only shorter than the famous one at Southend.

The first pier here was built in 1830 and was only the fourth in England, following piers at Ryde, Brighton and Southend.

Its original length was 150 feet, but was found to be too short to receive steamers, its original purpose, so in 1839 it was extended to 350 feet. When the length had reached 680 feet in 1848, it could still only be reached by steamers at high tide.

Construction of a new pier was started in 1869, and after severe storm damage in 1881 the original pier was demolished. In 1898, there was a rebuild of the new pier, extending its length to 2600 feet, and providing an electric tramway, 750-seat pavilion and shooting gallery.

Before it could, like most other piers, be breached during the Second World War, the pier was severely damaged by fire in 1942. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1948, and a narrow gauge railway continued in use until 1977.

There is an amusement arcade at the pier entrance, and the lifeboat and anglers at the pier head.

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