My Brighton and Hove | Places | Seafront | West Pier

Log in

User name: Password:

How to contribute

West Pier

The derelict years

by Sam Cullen

Photo:The entrance to the derelict pier,1986

Photo:West Pier.1988(Just before first "major" storm damage split the Pier

Photo:West Pier-Late 1980s.Now with the "split"

The West Pier has become one of the images most synonomous with Brighton. The burnt out metal husk has no doubt inspired thousands of local photographers, and the more imaginative local residents too. Or the sepia stained photos of yesteryear, capturing the Pier in its regal pomp during its heyday.

The middle years
Yet as we learn at an early stage, every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. As stated above, the beginning is recalled in those proud photos of days gone by. The end is also easy to see, as it currently stares us straight in the eye should we ever voyage down to the sea front. But what about the middle?

21 years of neglect
The West Pier began its derelict life on October 1st,1975. 21 years passed before the Lottery became involved, but as we all know, it was not to be. I feel these 21 years have been criminally overlooked. Be it us as local residents, or the lasting interest of former residents or tourists, there is a real need to see the beautiful pier face the elements with the characteristic Brighton defiance, but bravely and slowly lose its battle.

Fill in the gaps in its history
This is what this project is all about. I want to fill in the gaps left between 1975-1996. No doubt the West Pier Trust, The Argus and The Council all have archives of pictures of the pier during this time period. I can also imagine countless local photographers have impressive pictures too. The public deserve to see them, to see just how the Pier got to how it was today.

A photographic taster
The 8 photos on display are only a taster of what I think,and I'm sure is out there. I hope the relevant bodies wish to participate in what I feel could be an exciting and informative project.

Can you help?
If others have relevant photos of the West Pier in its derelict years, that they wish to be added to this collection, please submit them to Contribute your words or photos page. When contributing photos for this collection please can you specify that you wish the photos to be added to the West Pier's derelict year's collection.

This page was added on 26/06/2006.

Comments about this page

The West Pier is a crucial part of Brighton's heritage, its amazing to see that people care about it enough to write stuff like this.

By Martha Adam (18/03/2006)

This is an extremly interesting investigation, it would be fascinating to find out about the Pier during its desolate period and the various attempts at salvaging this once marvelous piece of Brighton's history.

By Mark Collins (18/03/2006)

I think your idea is fantastic Sam, and would be especially awesome for the older local residents who have seen the decline of the pier with their own eyes. Keep up the wicked work.

By Elise (18/03/2006)

This looks like it will be a very worthwhile and interesting project, not just for local residents of Brighton but for everyone.

By Rai (18/03/2006)

I have literally thousands of images on this subject. Check out www.westpierphotos.com

By Sean Clark (18/03/2006)

Excellent project to get started. Hope to see many more interesting pictures surface. Best of luck.

By Daniel Golding (19/03/2006)

I have to agree that I think this is a good idea. I have no idea about the history of the West Pier apart from what you get in school! And I'm too young to have seen it in action.

By Ben Rajan (19/03/2006)

Perhaps it would be possible for public and private archives to pool their resources and present a 'Brighton in pictures'? Maybe displaying them at the Brighton Museum?

By Sam Pettit (19/03/2006)

This is a great idea, as people know about the West Pier's beginning and end, but very few people know about its time during 1975-1996. I would definitly like to know more about it.

By Anonymous (19/03/2006)

I think that's a really good idea. I agree how nobody really sees much of the West Pier before the past few years.

By Jordan Jose (19/03/2006)

A very interesting idea. It's strange seeing the pier alive and well like this. It'd be good to see more types of these photos.

By Chris Brown (19/03/2006)

This looks like a really fun project, I'd be interested to see the middle history of the West Pier, all you really see now is pictures of it burnt out!

By Elly Morris (19/03/2006)

For an excellent history of the West Pier which includes a lot of photographs across the years - please visit this site: http://www.mmhistory.org.uk/students/samglen/!west.htm - It is well worth a visit.

By Editorial Team (19/03/2006)

Top work Sam. As an enthusiast of the pier myself I think this is a noble effort. Keep up the good work.

By Luke 'Chad' Hammond (20/03/2006)

I am aware that the West Pier was a very important part of Brighton's history - but - there is an enormous amount of material already published on the web. Sean Clark, the photographer from Brighton, has absolutly tons of images on his website that chronicle in very great detail the gradual demise of the West Pier - so to do it all over again here would seem a bit of a waste of time. It would seem a bit like reinventing the wheel if you ask me. Plus - many of the background issues are very political and this site is not the place for those sorts of discussions - in my opinion.

By Tony (20/03/2006)

I said in my introduction I wouldn't be retreading the terrority done by Sean. He has only had pictures of the 21st Century pier.

By Sam Cullen (21/03/2006)

Please help.
I'm trying to find a photograph taken of a bird muck covered armchair taken inside the West Pier. A while ago they were being sold on the sea front in Hove and stupidly I didn't buy one at the time. I now live in Lancashire and it's not so easy to pop down to Hove. Any information greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

By James Hallmark (02/03/2008)

I remember taking a night time stroll with some friends along the Brighton seafront in 1986. A storm was approaching across the sea towards Brighton, and we stood by the beautiful, ghostly West Pier watching the lightning and hearing the rumbles coming closer. It was a dramatic scene, and the West Pier looked just wonderful... We still talk about that night. Even derelict, as it was in the 1980s, the West Pier was a lovely structure to behold. Its presence added a great deal to the seafront.

By Andy B (04/10/2009)