Boscombe Pier

The original Boscombe Pier was built in 1888 by a private company, but was sold to the Bournemouth Corporation in 1903. The pier head was added in 1926. Like many piers on the South Coast, Boscombe Pier did not have a happy time during the War. It was requisitioned in 1940 and as a precaution against use by invading forces, a section was demolished. By the mid 'fifties, it was little more than a rusting skeleton.

In 1955, the Council was notified by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government that an application to reconstruct the Pier would be considered. Drawing and design work was carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department and work began in 1958. The pier head, which was built in 1926, was of reinforced concrete construction and was repairable. The neck, a much older structure in traditional cast iron, was beyond repair and was replaced by a new structure in reinforced and pre-stressed concrete. The most exciting feature of the new development was the pier entrance, which was built in a modern style, with a reinforced concrete platform and a cantilevered roof. This building particularly captured the style of the era. The thin curved roof echoed the delta wings of a jet aircraft. The exterior was finished in cream, yellow and pale blue tiles. These colours were particularly popular in the early 'sixties.