Born on the 13th of June 1870, Eastbourne Pier is as close as a pier can get to being ‘storm-proof’. Thanks to Eugenius Birch’s ingenious design (yep, it’s that man again), the pier is actually able to ‘move’. This is achieved by the use of special ‘cups’ under the pier legs, rather like those used on furniture legs to prevent excessive carpet-furrowing. These cups allow the pier to move about from side to side. Madly, this design was tested by firing six-pound cannon balls at the pier. Happily, the test was a success – and so was Eastbourne Pier. The original structure still stands to this very day, except for a small part that was washed away in the storm of 1877.

The early half of the century saw the usual mixed bag of entertainments settle on the pier, including a pavilion, a theatre and two saloons. Perhaps more unusually, the pier also housed a suite of offices and an obscured camera, not to mention the infamous ‘blue room’. During the Second World War the pier was taken over by the army, and machine gun platforms were installed in the theatre. A common-enough sight in American theatres, this must however have appeared rather incongruous to British observers.

For many years after the war, generations of visitors to Eastbourne Pier have been delighted by versatile singer and organ-wrangler ‘Captain’ Chris Mannion. The star of many a local tea dance, Mannion is a master at playing the pier audience, often walking a fine-line when it comes to cheeky banter, but always keeping things clean and ‘family-friendly’.

Unfortunately, not of all of Eastbourne Pier’s musical connections have been such happy ones. In 1991, erstwhile Damned punk rocker ‘Captain’ Sensible released the almost criminally-irresponsible ‘Riot on Eastbourne Pier’. What an earth was Sensible thinking? Admittedly, it’s unlikely that anyone would be persuaded to start such a riot simply by listening to Sensible’s effort; however, the concern is that someone already pre-disposed to this type of activity may be pushed ‘over the edge’, and indeed, may subsequently use Sensible’s recording as some sort of twisted defence for their deranged actions. To date this has not happened, but Eastbourne Pier continues to live under a dark cloud. Thanks, Captain.

Visiting Eastbourne Pier? Why not stay at the nearby Chalfont guest house.