Many seaside piers have been destroyed in storms or by arson. A few like Brighton pier are architectural masterpieces, and we also have Southend, the longest pier in the world. Designed originally to let ships dock when they could not get to land, they became popular as holiday walking destinations in Victorian times, though today most are full of noisy amusement arcades and tat shops.
Unfortunately, many litter-pickers find all kinds of rubbish underneath piers, just like everywhere else. It’s a shame that the piers remaining tend to be a haven for junk shops rather than keep them for their original purpose which was to enjoy a bracing walk to take in the sea air, just like in yesteryear.
Many local charities help to look after piers. It’s worth a small donation, if lots of people did this, the piers would be looked after and retained, without having to give licenses to noisy arcades and put them at risk of vandalism and further arson.
Cromer Pier in Norfolk
Cromer Pier has existed since 1391, and in 1582 Queen Elizabeth I granted the right for local people to export wheat, barley and malt to make money to rebuild it. The wooden jetty washed away in 1843, with smoking banned during the day (when ‘ladies were expected to have retired for the evening!!) However the pier still was destroyed by heavy seas and only later rebuilt to allow the lifeboat to operate. This pier has been damaged many times (the latest being in 1993 when a 100-ton rig crashed into it). Actor Stephen Fry reopened the pier in 2004, and again it was damaged by a storm the next year. The pier is now almost as well-known as local lifeboat hero Henry Blogg, credited with saving more lives than anyone else during his time (873 lives plus a dog who he later adopted!)
reclaimed wood furniture (from Hastings pier)
Harbor Designs makes beautiful items from reclaimed wood from the former Hastings Piers (burned in an arson attack). Rescued planks are now made into new items, to stop them going to waste, and to preserve history.
Years ago, England was covered in forests. But today we have just 13% coverage, and most new food is made for furniture or street furniture (like park benches). England (after China) is the second largest importer of wood for industry (not local and also emits greenhouse gases from transport).
Yet the UK generates around 4.5 tons of waste wood each year (mostly from the building industry which is easily reused). Environmental Protection Agency says this could offer us a billion feet of lumber each year. One company in Portland (USA) has staff who ‘deconstruct’ old houses and barns to rescue lumber, sold as planks to industry. You can do the same for decommissioned ships!
