BP Blackpool Information

Blackpool’s Three Victorian Piers

North (1863), Central (1868), and South (1893) form one of Britain’s most famous sets of seaside piers. Below you’ll find build times, materials and “steel” usage, recorded fires/incidents, and how each pier evolved.

North Pier Central Pier South Pier
North Opened 1863
Central Opened 1868
South Opened 1893

At a glance

Victorian pier engineering

Blackpool’s piers are characteristic of mid‑late 19th‑century British design: cast‑iron screw piles driven into the seabed, wrought‑iron lattice girders and cross‑bracing above, with timber decking and pavilions. “Steel” became common later; the original structures were primarily iron.

Build times

  • North: 1862–1863 (≈ 12–18 months)
  • Central: 1867–1868 (≈ 12 months)
  • South: 1892–1893 (≈ 10–14 months)

Durations are rounded from contemporary accounts and opening dates; exact start months vary by source.

“How much steel?”

The original piers predate widespread structural steel use. They were built mainly of cast and wrought iron. Some elements were later renewed in steel. Exact total tonnages are not consistently published.

  • Original: Iron (cast/wrought)
  • Later works: Localised steel replacement/strengthening
  • Tonnage: See each pier section (documentation status noted)

North Pier (opened 1863)

Overview

The oldest and most “genteel” of Blackpool’s piers, North Pier was designed to provide promenade and entertainment for visitors seeking a quieter experience. Traditionally it discouraged fairground rides compared with the other two.

Construction & build time

Construction commenced in 1862 and the pier opened in 1863. Indicative build duration is about 12–18 months from start to opening, consistent with screw‑pile iron piers of the era.

Item Detail
Opening 1863 (May — exact day to be verified)
Engineer Eugenius Birch (noted Victorian pier engineer)
Construction 1862–1863 (≈ 12–18 months)
Structural system Cast‑iron screw piles; wrought‑iron lattice girders; timber deck
Original “steel” tonnage Not applicable — original iron construction. Exact iron tonnage not consistently documented in public sources.
Later steel replacement Localised renewals and strengthening over 20th–21st c. (tonnage not centrally published)

Fires, storms, and incidents

  • 1921: Pavilion/theatre fire reported in contemporary accounts (verified).
  • Various storm damage and repairs across the 19th–20th centuries (typical for exposed Irish Sea piers).

Later alterations

  • Replacement/modernisation of the pavilion and theatre spaces after fire damage.
  • Progressive maintenance: pile jackets, bracing renewals, deck and services upgrades.

Central Pier (opened 1868)

Overview

Opening in 1868, Central Pier embraced popular amusements and, in the modern era, is known for its rides and the “Big Wheel.” It historically catered to a livelier crowd than North Pier.

Construction & build time

Work began in 1867 and the pier opened in 1868 — a typical ≈ 12‑month delivery for a screw‑pile iron pier.

Item Detail
Opening 1868 (spring/summer — exact opening day to verify)
Engineer/contract Victorian iron pier practice (engineer + ironfounder/contractor). Specific names to be cited from archives.
Construction 1867–1868 (≈ 12 months)
Structural system Cast‑iron screw piles; wrought‑iron girders; timber deck; later modern services
Original “steel” tonnage Not applicable — original iron construction. No reliable published total tonnage located.
Later steel replacement Localised steel renewals (piles, bracing, deck support) over time; tonnage not centrally published.

Fires, storms, and incidents

  • 2020: Early‑morning fire near the landward end caused deck/structure damage; subsequently repaired (widely reported).
  • Historic smaller incidents typical of timber‑deck piers; specific dates vary by source (to be itemised in a citations appendix).

Later alterations

  • Modern amusement installations including the “Big Wheel.”
  • Progressive structural renewals and services upgrades.

South Pier (opened 1893; originally “Victoria Pier”)

Overview

The youngest of the three, South Pier (opened 1893) arrived during Blackpool’s late‑Victorian boom. It leaned into entertainment and fairground attractions and has seen substantial 20th‑century alterations.

Construction & build time

Construction started in 1892 with opening in 1893, consistent with a ≈ 10–14 month program.

Item Detail
Opening 1893 (Good Friday is frequently cited; exact date to verify)
Engineer/contract Victorian iron pier practice; specific names to be confirmed from period records.
Construction 1892–1893 (≈ 10–14 months)
Structural system Cast‑iron piles; wrought‑iron superstructure; timber deck; later steel renewals
Original “steel” tonnage Not applicable — original iron construction. No authoritative published total located.
Later steel replacement Localised steel strengthening/replacement (tonnage TBD; varies by campaign).

Fires, storms, and incidents

  • Historical fires affecting pavilion/entertainment areas are reported in press archives (exact years to be compiled and cited).
  • Typical storm‑related closures and maintenance over the decades.

Later alterations

  • Entertainment‑led redevelopment; ride installations and changes over time.
  • Ongoing structural renewals, including steel elements in place of earlier ironwork.

Compare the three piers

Pier Opened Indicative build time Original materials “Steel used” (original vs later) Fires/incidents (examples)
North 1863 ≈ 12–18 months (1862–63) Cast‑iron piles; wrought‑iron girders; timber deck Original: iron. Later: localised steel renewals (tonnage TBD). 1921 pavilion/theatre fire (verified); storm repairs over time.
Central 1868 ≈ 12 months (1867–68) Cast‑iron piles; wrought‑iron girders; timber deck Original: iron. Later: localised steel renewals (tonnage TBD). 2020 landward‑end fire (verified); earlier minor incidents (to be enumerated).
South 1893 ≈ 10–14 months (1892–93) Cast‑iron piles; wrought‑iron girders; timber deck Original: iron. Later: localised steel renewals (tonnage TBD). Historic pavilion/entertainment‑area fires reported (years to verify).

“Steel tonnage” isn’t a standard published metric for these Victorian iron piers. Where councils or owners publish quantities for specific renewal campaigns, we can add them with citations (e.g., tons of replacement bracing or deck beams).

Research notes & how we’ll fill gaps

The original 19th‑century piers were iron structures. Exact total tonnage figures are rarely printed in modern summaries. To provide authoritative numbers, we’ll compile from:

  • Contemporary engineering journals (e.g., The Engineer, Engineering, ICE Proceedings)
  • Contractors’ catalogues and foundry records (e.g., R. Laidlaw & Son, Head Wrightson)
  • Blackpool Council minutes, building control archives, and pier company papers
  • Local and national newspaper reports for fires and rebuilds