The womenfolk decided a little retail therapy was in order and decided we’d spend yesterday at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol; for those who don’t know it, Cribbs Causeway is one of those purpose built shopping malls that us chaps are so frightened of.
I reasoned that it being Good Friday and there being a lot of people not in work, the place would be somewhat busy and really didn’t want to go. The forecast was pretty good too, so the idea of being stuck among the shopping throng was even less appealing; I hatched a cunning plan!
Having never visited Clevedon and it being so close to Bristol, I proposed dropping the ladies at Cribbs and leaving them to it for a few hours while I went to have a look at Clevedon’s grade one listed Victorian pier.
The Clevedon Pier Company was formed in the early 1860s and in 1863 the necessary act of Parliament was obtained to allow the construction of a pier to commence. Designed by John Grover and Richard Ward, Clevedon Pier was a masterpiece of Victorian ingenuity that evolved through the difficult tidal conditions confronting the builders. Faced with exceptionally strong currents, and a water level difference of some 40ft (12m) between low and high tides, Clevedon Pier had to be built in a taller, more slender style than would normally have been the case.
Work was completed on the new pier in 1869, the resulting structure being 842ft (255m) in length and 48ft (14.5m) high. The shoreward end comprised of a 180ft (54.5m) approach constructed in stone, an ornate castellated tollhouse built in the style of a Scottish baronial hall, wrought iron gates, and a pier-masters house. The main neck of the pier was a wooden deck with seating along its full length, and a small pier-head café. The pier-head had six levels of landing stage to facilitate passengers disembarking, despite the level of the tide. Clevedon Pier opened amid much pomp and celebration on Easter Monday 1869, a cannon shot officially marking the moment.
There’s quite a nice history of the pier on the Clevedon Pier & Heritage Trust website for those interested enough to look and here are a few pictures for your delight and delectation.
A few brave souls continuing the tradition of the Good Friday Swim at Clevedon: it was 9:45am so it was still quite nippy despite the sunshine!
Taken from the Royal Clevedon Pier Hotel: currently in ruins and showing traces of fire damage.
The Promenade: planks and seating on Clevedon Pier are sponsored to help aid the pier's upkeep.
Members of Clevedon Pier Sea Angling Club hoping for a Good Friday catch.
Clicking any image will produce a larger view in a pop-up window.
Tentativeplotfinder
Sounds like a good, cunning plan to me, I could've done with one for yesterday, too!! Never mind, I'm having a quieter day today, instead.