The West Pier was designed and engineered by Eugenius Birch and opened in 1866. Originally the Pier had an open deck with only six small ornamental houses of oriental design, two toll houses and glass screens at the pier head to protect visitors from the wind and sun. In 1875 a central bandstand was added and five years later, weather screens, paddle steamer landing stages and a large pier head pavilion were constructed.

‘At the end of the West Pier was a theatre, which put on a variety of good plays six evenings a week, and two matinees. In the middle of the pier was the Winter Garden, rather like a huge conservatory, with plants and potted palms everywhere. Here an orchestra would play afternoons and evenings. Later, open-air dancing was introduced at the end of the pier and, weather permitting, we danced to gramophone records. We’d be protected by a high canvas windbreak with an attendant at the opening to see that no-one got in without paying. That was life on the West Pier until around 1940 when the centre of both piers were blown up to prevent attempted enemy landings.’

‘The pier was seldom short of staff as they came back year after year for their jobs. I thought it would be quite frightening working over the sea, strange thing was you never noticed it. Several times I saw porpoises basking in the sea. The first time I thought they were whales.’

‘Along the seafront near the bandstand just past the West Pier, there used to be donkey rides and a Punch and Judy Show. I would stay and watch for a long time if my mother allowed me. I never became tired of watching and laughing at this remarkable show.’

‘I always preferred the Palace Pier, but there was one attraction on the West Pier that intrigued me – an escapologist, the Great Omani. He would pour a gallon of petrol into the sea below, then tie himself up in a straightjacket, jump into the flames and – hey presto – untie himself! I would stand and watch him, fascinated, wondering what the big deal was about a man who tied himself up , escaping from his own knots! And everytime he would yell at me, ‘Hey kid, you want to watch me? The minimum price is a tanner!’ 

Stay here for the next stop, the 1360 viewing tower.