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LLANDUDNO TOWN TRAIL - 8
The Pier and the Marine Drive
The pier had its origins in a much shorter pier of just 242 ft
built
on 16 wooden piles and opened in 1858 by the St George's Harbour and
Railway Company. Unfortunately,
that pier was severely damaged in the great storm of October 25th,
1859,
and although repaired and
used for a further 16 years, the pier was too short and could only be
used by steam ships at high tide.
The present pier, built for the Llandudno Pier Company by
Walter
Macfarlane of Glasgow using iron castings from the Glasgow Elmbank
foundry, was opened to the public on August 1st, 1877.
The land wards extension to the same design, still in deep water and
also supported on iron columns, was opened in 1884 and a new landing
stage was added in 1891.
(photographed Easter Sunday 2006)
The pier was delighted to have received the "pier of the year" award for 2005.
and Edwardian filming locations and notably for the recent TV production of the Forsyte Saga.
Above is the popular colonnaded walk that enters the Happy Valley gardens at a higher point.
At the top is the Aerial Cabin Car Station from which passengers take the mile long journey
to the summit of the Great Orme in four-seater cabins.
winter visitors
The pier head in February 2008 with winter visitors enjoying crisp air and bright sunshine
- plus tea, coffee and light lunches at the pier head Oyster Bar.
The 1,000 ft extension, on the seaward side of the Grand Hotel, to Prince Edward Square
was built in 1884. to provide a grand entrance from the promenade.
This 2,295 foot pier, the longest in Wales
and greatly admired
by Sir John Betjeman, is probably the finest pleasure pier in Britain.
A British
Tourist Authority report in 1975 said of it…. ‘It zooms out of the sea
….in a spectacular Indian Gothic style rather like a Maharajah’s palace
floating on a lake. Cast iron, brackets of iron lace work, an
outstandingly pretty balustrade like an enlarged fish net, ogee roofs
curling away to the sky, all add up to a totally pleasurable
experience.’ The pier company maintain their property well with fresh
paint work and fine wooden decking, much of which has been renewed in
recent years.
The landing stage, which was rebuilt in
concrete and steel in 1969, was used regularly until 1982 by the Isle
of Man
Steam Packet
Company for excursions to
Douglas and occasionally since. It is also used from time to
time by the
Waverley and Balmoral Steamer
Preservation organizations for more local excursions - click the link
below.
The landing
stage is also a
favourite with
anglers.
Bait, rods and lines can be bought from 'Paddy's Bait &
Tackle' at the
gate.
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Sailings
from Llandudno by Steamers and Cruise Vessels have ceased,
it is hoped only
temporarily, owing to the need for repairs to the landing stage,
and
for which there are, it is understood, no funds available.
The last sailings to
Douglas
in the Isle of Man were in May 2005,
since when the "Lady
of Mann" has
been sold by the Isle of Man
Steam Packet
Company for service in the
Mediterranean.
The MV Balmoral last
visited Llandudno in June 2006.
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The Marine Drive is entered through the Eastern Toll Gate but the Town Trail having reached the gate turns back left upon itself to enter the Happy Valley Gardens.
View The Marine Drive Now