Garth Pier

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Garth Pier

The Garth Pier is a pier in Bangor , Wales . The structure is 460 m long and is the second longest pier on the Welsh coast after Llandudno Pier . It was opened in 1896 and is now a listed building ( Grade II * ).

Location, description and architecture

The pier is located north of Bangor on the northern reaches of the Menai Strait . Designed by John James Webster (1845-1914), the Victorian-style structure is 1,550 feet (460 meters) long and approximately 4 to 5 meters wide. On the edge of the bridge there are three octagonal pavilions , equidistant from one another on each side , each with a kiosk . At the end there is a larger, octagonal building that houses a tea room. The entrance area is also adorned by two pavilions, which also house kiosks, and a large white cast-iron entrance gate with lanterns.

The bridge bridge is a pure steel framework construction with cast iron columns that were driven into the ground and are guyed with steel cables. The footbridge is made of solid wooden boards, the curved railing is made of cast iron. Lanterns that were previously intended for the pleasure and excursion steamers are also attached to this. Today they are used in particular as design and lighting elements.

history

After its completion, the pier was inaugurated on May 4, 1896 by George Douglas-Pennant, 2nd Baron Penrhyn. The bridge footbridge is reserved for passers-by, and at the far end, excursion and pleasure boats of the Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Company moored , which sailed from Bangor to Blackpool , Liverpool and Douglas on the neighboring Isle of Man .

In 1914 the cargo steamer SS Christina rammed the mooring pontoon due to poor visibility . There was property damage of several thousand pounds . The damage caused was supposed to be repaired by the British organization Royal Engineers , but since it was used in the First World War , the repair dragged on until 1921, which increased the damage even more. The pier then had to be closed for a long time.

In 1971, the Garth Pier was closed again for security reasons. The Arfon Borough Council decided in 1974 to demolish the bridge, which triggered violent protests from the population and was later rejected.

In 1982 the pier was closed a third time due to fragile renovation work. After six years, it was made accessible to the public again on May 7, 1988. The renovation costs were borne by the National Heritage Memorial Fund , the Welsh Office, and the Manpower Services Commission .

Others

Due to its importance, the Garth Pier is free of charge, but there has been an honesty box for several years . Every passer-by pays 50 pence into this . The money acquired will be used for the care and maintenance of the landing stage.

At low tide, the area around the pier is a playground for oystercatchers , redshanks , curlews , little egrets and cormorants .

There are memorials to Captain Leslie Bonnet and the writer Joan Hutt along the promenade near the pier, and night fishing is available with advance booking until 9 p.m.

See also

Web links

Commons : Bangor Pier  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 53 ° 14 '18.6 "  N , 4 ° 7' 26.2"  W.