Herne Bay Pier

Herne Bay's 3rd Pier
Herne Bay Pier
Herne Bay Pier landing stage in 2006
TypePassenger steamer landing stage; tourist attraction
CarriesSteamer passengers; tram; pedestrians
LocaleEast Kent
Official nameHerne Bay Pier
Owner1899−1909 Herne Bay Pavilion Pier and Promenade Co
1909−1974 Herne Bay UDC
1974− Canterbury City Council
Toll2d (1899) → 1s 6d (1968)
Characteristics
Total length3,787 feet (1,154 m)
History
ConstructorHead Wrightson & Co of Thornaby-on-Tees
Opening dateEaster 1899
Closure date11 January 1978
Coordinates51°22′20″N 1°07′14″E / 51.37222°N 1.12056°E / 51.37222; 1.12056 (Herne Bay Pier)

Herne Bay Pier was the third pier to be built at Herne Bay, Kent for passenger steamers. It was notable for its length of 3,787 feet (1,154 m) and for appearing in the opening sequence of Ken Russell's first feature film French Dressing.[1] It was destroyed in a storm in 1978 and dismantled in 1980, leaving a stub with sports centre at the landward end, and part of the landing stage isolated at sea. It was preceded by two piers: a wooden deep-sea pier designed by Thomas Rhodes, assistant of Thomas Telford, and a second shorter iron version by Wilkinson & Smith.

  1. ^ "Kent Film Office". Ken Russell returns to Herne Bay. Kent County Council. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2010.