Erith Pier (River Thames) - Erith, Kent, UK
N 51° 28.865 E 000° 11.004
31U E 304428 N 5707087
A pier that projects out into the Thames that is used for recreation.
Waymark Code: WMCEN1
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/29/2011
Views: 4
Erith Pier
After various previous attempts had failed, the Guardians of the Wheatley Estate constructed a wooden pier jutting some 444 feet into the river.
The opening ceremony took place on 22 August 1842. Entertainment included rowing matches, duck hunting and a jingling match (which meant men hitting one another with ash sticks, last one standing was the winner). A public dinner held in a marquee followed the event. In 1844 the Pier Hotel was built.
On the 6 July 1845 the gardens were opened. They consisted of a broad grand walk, archery field, bowling green, conservatory, maze, refreshment rooms and a fountain. Two ships, the 'Diamond' and 'The Star', travelling between London and Gravesend, called at the pier daily.
It would appear to have been difficult to make the project a success. Not least because of the Southern Outfall Works at Crossness, which was opened in 1865, and disgorged 70 million gallons of raw sewage into the river as the full tide was turning, on the assumption it would all float gently into the North Sea. It did not.
There was also the coming of the railway to Erith in July 1849, which considerably reduced the travelling time albeit without the wine. The site consisting of eight acres, two rods and four poles, was sold with the rest of the Wheatley Estate in 1874.
The whole site was taken over by Beadle Bros. coal merchants, then, in 1896, all the London wholesale distributors amalgamated and the site became Wm. Cory and Sons Ltd.
By 1957 the old wooden piers had outlived their usefulness. New deep water facilities were required. A new concrete pier was constructed outside of the former piers allowing access to larger ships. As part of the plan, the Pier Hotel, which had been used as offices, was demolished to make way for warehouses.
In the early 1990s the complex was abandoned until Morrisons took over in 1999, and thankfully retained the concrete pier as a public amenity.
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