Clevedon Pier

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The pier at mid-tide from Clevedon seafront

A closer view of the pier

Fisherman on Clevedon Pier

Clevedon Pier is a seaside pier in the town of Clevedon, on the English side of the estuary of the river Severn.

Opened in 1869, it is partially constructed from second-hand railway lines, and is 225 m long and 14.5 m tall. The tidal range at this part of the estuary can be up to 14 m, and the landing stage at the end of the pier has several levels to allow boats to dock at all stages of the tide.

On October 17, 1970, the final span of the pier collapsed during stress testing, where long polythene tanks resting on the pier were filled with water, to create a pressure of 50 pounds per square foot (2.4 kPa).

The pavilions from the end of the pier were taken ashore for storage, in anticipation of eventual restoration. Sufficient funds were not forthcoming, however, and the first stage was simply to open the Toll House as an exhibition centre in 1980.

After a long campaign by local people to raise funds for restoration (supported by Sir John Betjeman), the pier eventually reopened. One fundraising method was "sponsored planks" — small brass plaques with names or messages are inlaid on the wooden planks and benches, recording donations. The major breakthrough came in 1984, when English Heritage and the National Heritage Memorial Fund granted a million pounds towards the restoration, with smaller sums from Woodspring district council and other funding bodies. The pier was dismantled and restored in Portishead dock. On May 27, 1989, the reconstruction of the pier spans and decking was completed and the pier was reopened to great fanfare. The pierhead was still shut, however, and it was not until May 23, 1998 that it was finally restored and opened to the public, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In 2001 the pier was upgraded to a grade 1 listed building, the only other pier with this status being Brighton's West Pier (largely destroyed by fire and storms between 2002 and 2004).

The landing stage at the end of the pier is occasionally used by ships (notably the PS Waverley), and it is a popular spot for angling. There is a cafe at the pierhead, and a shop selling souvenirs at the toll house. The upper floor of the toll house is occasionally used for art exhibitions. The pier is open every day of the year (except Christmas Day).