Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Image: © David Hallam-Jones Taken: 28 May 2013

Once this pier was the longest in East Anglia. It was one of a trio built by the Coast Development Company who operated the 'Belle' Steamer fleet based at London Bridge. The 'Belle' steamers originally called at Margate, Southend, Clacton and Walton-on-the Naze and by building the three new piers at Felixstowe, Southwold and Lowestoft the company hoped to have plenty of 'stopping off' options en route to Great Yarmouth. Felixstowe Pier was the last of the trio to be built, opening in the August 1905. It was designed primarily to facilitate the berthing of steamers, its design being relatively simple. It was constructed of timber, was 2,640ft (800m) long and was little more than a promenade deck with railings. A large pavilion was also constructed at the shoreward end. In years past a 3.5ft (1.06m) gauge electric tramway ran along its entire length carrying passengers and baggage for the princely sum of one penny. When it was forced into liquidation in 1922, the Coast Development Company sold it to East Coast Piers Ltd. Like most piers on the east coast it was sectioned during the Second World War for fear of German invaders, a situation that it would never really recover from. The tramway had been suspended during the war and the now isolated seaward end, that had remained neglected throughout the conflict, was demolished reducing its length to 450ft (136m). Even today most of its seaward portion is closed to the public.

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