The Rise and Fall of Britain's First Pleasure Pier

Of all the Victorian piers that survived to modern times, only one was left abandoned. The West Pier was one of the first piers to be built purely for pleasure, but recently it's better known for the decades it sat decaying off the shores of Brighton. Let's take a look at the West Pier's origins, attractions, slow decline, and abandonment to understand this icon of old world sophistication that couldn't keep up. Thanks to Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove and Historic England for the use of high-resolution photos that appear in this video. Special mention to the West Pier Trust for helping keep the pier's memory alive. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:38 Victorians by the Sea 1:44 A New Promenade Space 3:35 Three New Attractions 5:11 A City of Two Piers 7:56 The West Pier's Decline