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Boscombe Pier |
An important development in the establishment of Boscombe as a seaside resort was
the building of the pier. A proposal for the pier was launched in 1884, when it
felt that this would improve the attractiveness of Boscombe to visitors.
Tenders for the building of the pier were issued and in September 1888 the contract
was awarded for £3,813, and for making the pier approach £938. The pier was 600
feet (180 m) long, and built in spans of 40 feet (12 m) each with a continuous wrought
iron girder frame, which carried timber decking 32 feet (9.8 m) wide. The pier head was
120 feet (37 m) long and 38 feet (12 m) wide, with a landing stage on each side, at
which excursion steamers could call. At the entrance were two toll houses with turnstiles.
It was opened with considerable ceremony on 29 July 1889 by the Duke of Argyll.
During the decade from 1881 to 1891 Boscombe had grown apace, the population
increasing from 1,895 to 6,324.
Further developments were made in the 1890s by Archibald Beckett who was responsible
for the Salisbury Hotel (now Greens) in 1890, the Royal Arcade in 1892 and the Theatre
(now The Opera House) in 1895.
In a brief span of about 35 years, 1866 - 1901, Boscombe had grown from a few cottages
with a handful of people to an established seaside resort with a population in the 1901
census of 9,648.
In recent years, the area around Boscombe pier has undergone renovation. The derelict
and unsafe building at the end of the pier has been demolished, and replaced by a
simple viewing and fishing platform.
Boscombe has been further enhanced by building of the artificial surf reef to the left of it.
SOURCE: Wikipedia
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