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Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier through the decades – in pictures
Birnbeck Pier through the decades. - Credit: Sub
Today marks the 150th anniversary of Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier and we have collected pictures from the archives to remember its place in the town’s history.
Birnbeck was opened to the public on June 8, 1867, where people enjoyed a parade and celebrated with flags and flowers.
Additions came in the form of the north jetty in 1872, a lifeboat station in 1882 and pavilion in 1884.
It was hit by a fire on Boxing Day in 1898 and the jetty and pavilion were replaced.
Throughout its Victorian and Edwardian hey-day it was the equivalent of a modern theme park, with rides, slides and a roller-skating rink.
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It was used as a naval base in World War Two where the bouncing bomb was tested.
The final steamer ship, the MV Balmoral, visited the pier in 1979.
MORE: Birnbeck Pier’s role in the Bouncing Bomb and Dam Busters raid
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In 2013, the last remaining user of the pier, the RNLI, was forced to leave as the walkway had become too dangerous.