Skegness Pier

At the time of opening, in 1881, the pier was the fourth longest in the UK.

Steamboats took trippers to and from Grimsby, Boston, Kings Lynn and Hunstanton, and there was a saloon at the seaward end.

Ten years after the opening, a schooner, The Europa, loaded with potatoes, hit the pier and it took until 1939 to repair the damage.

Then along came the Second World War and it was closed, decking was removed and it became a navigation point for the RAF.

It reopened to the public in 1948 only to be damaged by a storm just five years later in 1953.  Another storm in 1978 split the pier head with the pavilion from the shore.   In 1985 it was decided to demolish the stranded pavilion. As preparation work was under way, fire destroyed much of what was left.

What was left of the Pavilion, as in my painting, was demolished in 1986.

Originally the pier was 1,817 feet long, 387 feel is now all that remains.