National Lottery Heritage Fund pledges further £5.5m to save Birnbeck Pier
The pier has an extensive and rich history, but never bounced back after falling into disrepair in the 90s.
Key points:
– This will build on the £10m ($13.65m) grant given to the project last year
– North Somerset Council hopes to restore the bridge of the pier structure
– Birnbeck Pier is the only pier in the country that links an island to the mainland
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £5.54m as a last-minute effort to save Birnbeck Pier.
The pier was opened in 1867 and served as the only pier in England to connect the mainland to an island, but it was closed in 1994 after falling into disrepair and being deemed unsafe.
By 1998, it was moved onto Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register.
Eilish McGuinness, The National Lottery Heritage Fund CEO, said: “Birnbeck Pier holds a special place in people’s hearts and memories.
“The energy and commitment of local people and organisations working hard to secure its future and place the pier back at the forefront of Weston-super-Mare has been integral to getting to where we are today.”
The grant will be used to restore the bridge of the pier and will be part of a wider Birnbeck Pier restoration project.
Good to know: The pier was temporarily closed to the public in 1941 and became HMS Birnbeck as it was used for developing and testing the secret weapon at the time: Barnes Wallis’ bouncing bombs
Weston-super-Mare is a historic seaside town, but has struggled in recent years due to falling tourism.
In 2008, parts of the Grand Pier were destroyed by a fire – which would cost £51m in repairs and take several years to complete.
By 2009, the town was home to 11% of all drug rehabilitation centres in the UK.
When Historic England launched its Heritage Action Zones in 2017, Weston-super-Mare was chosen as one of the first areas to receive help under the initiative.
Once back on its feet, the North Somerset Council agreed to buy Birnbeck Pier back from its owners and restore it to its former glory through funding from the RNLI and other organisations.
Earlier this summer, the National Lottery Heritage Fund launched a 10-year partnership with the National Trust and Natural England alongside a £15m grant.
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