Weymouth Pier

Weymouth Pier is a peninsula of land between Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Beach, in Dorset, England. It was intended to extend Weymouth's Esplanade, and consists of a theatre, pleasure pier, car parking and a cross-channel ferry terminal. The entire site is undergoing redevelopment to include new facilities in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

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Early history

There is little documented history to the origins of Weymouth Pier, though it is believed that a structure existed as early as 1812.

The new pier

Costing £120,000 the pier was constructed in reinforced concrete, reaching a length of 400 metres (1,300 ft) and varying between 30 metres (100 ft) in width at the shoreward end and 12 metres (40 ft) at the seaward end.

When built, the pier was divided into two halves. The southern side of the deck was reserved for commercial use, and was fitted out to load and unload cargo from harbour ships, including electric cranes, electrically operated capstans and two railway tracks. The pier was capable of handling one passenger vessel, three cargo vessels and two pleasure steamers simultaneously.

The northern side, fenced off from the industrial section, was a promenade area. This included shelters, a diving stage, changing rooms, and at night the whole promenade area would be illuminated, with views across Weymouth Bay and Nothe Fort.

Redevelopment

It was announced in 2006 that the Pavilion complex and 4 hectares (10 acres) of its surroundings will be entirely redeveloped from 2008 to 2011, in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Key dates

See also

External links