Artwork : ArchiveNo00201

Iron Rust 1908

ContributionForm
Contributor Name	South Parade Pier
Contributor Image	pier_manager.jpg
Profession
Location	Southsea
Collection Date	18.05.09 3.15pm
Artefact Name	Iron Rust
Artefact Description	Iron rust flakes from the main girder of the Pier approximately 12ft long. Fair condition.
Artefact Date	1908
Artefact Stored	Under the Pier
Artefact Form
Artefact Image	00201_w.jpg
Sample Taken	Iron flakes from main girder
Sample Image
History of Artefact	The main girder is the main support beam. There are about 400 in total, all 12ft long. South Parade Pier was originally constructed in 1879 and was traditionally a wooden pier with a jetty for steamboats. The Pier burnt down on the 19th July 1904 and was re-opened on the 12th August 1908. The cost to re-build the Pier with a new concrete deck was £85,000 and employed 1500 workers. The Pier was an integral part of Portsmouth life with live entertainment in its theatre and outside under the Pavilion. In the Summer of 1974 during the filming of the film ‘Tommy’ the Pier caught fire and was completely destroyed, leaving only a burnt shell. The building today was built in 1975 and features the Gaiety Suite and Albert Bar. The Pier has become a landmark for the people of Portsmouth.
Historian	James Fyfield
Previous Owners	Portsmouth City Council
Special Memories	The Pier was sold to Leisure Parks who now own six piers (three in Blackpool, one in Eastbourne and one in LLandudno).
Artwork Image

Topic attachments
I	Attachmentb	Action	Size
jpg	pier_manager.jpg	manage	110.0 K
jpg	00201_w.jpg	manage	278.3 K