Friends of the Old Pier Society

02/11/2026

30/10/2026

27/10/2026

weston super mare old pier birnbeck pier

23/10/2026

FROM THE ARCHIVES – BIRNBECK PIER, JUNE 2016 🚢

Just ten years ago, in June 2016, volunteers from the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust were carrying out reconnaissance visits to Birnbeck Island, recording its condition and capturing photographs for future generations.

📸 This photograph shows the old turnstiles leading onto the North Jetty, once a busy gateway for thousands of passengers travelling on the pleasure steamers that visited Birnbeck Pier.

It makes you wonder just how many people passed through these turnstiles over the years. Some of the ferries were licensed to carry as many as 1,500 passengers!

🚢 And here’s an interesting story from the past…

According to accounts from people who worked aboard the steamers, some Sunday evening sailings returning to Cardiff were allegedly overloaded by as many as 1,000 passengers!

The story goes that the authorities in Cardiff were well aware of what was happening. To disguise the numbers, several steamers would arrive and berth alongside one another, sometimes with gangplanks crossing as many as three vessels, making an accurate passenger headcount almost impossible!

Whether every detail is true or has grown with the telling over the years, it’s certainly a fascinating part of Birnbeck’s maritime history.

❤️ Were you one of those passengers?

Did you travel on the steamers, walk through these turnstiles or perhaps work aboard one of the vessels? We’d love to hear your memories and see any photographs you might have.

With restoration work progressing, we look forward to the day when footsteps can once again be heard along the North Jetty, bringing new life to this historic landmark.

Birnbeck Pier has so many stories to tell, and we want to make sure they aren’t forgotten.

👍 Don’t forget to FOLLOW the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust page for more photographs from our archives, fascinating stories and the latest news on the restoration.

🌐 Visit our website: https://www.birnbeckregenerationtrust.org.uk

💬 Please like, share and comment. Your memories are an important part of Birnbeck’s history!

16/10/2026

🏛️ FROM THE ARCHIVES – 1998: A NEW HOPE FOR BIRNBECK PIER

By 1998, Birnbeck Pier had changed hands numerous times, with years of little or no investment leaving this once-proud Victorian landmark facing an uncertain future.

However, another change of ownership brought renewed optimism. The Friends of the Old Pier Society recognised an opportunity for a brighter future and the need for a charitable organisation that could generate public interest, attract funding and work alongside the new owners to help restore the Pier.

It was from this ambition that the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust was formed.

The original board brought together the Pier’s owners, representatives of the RNLI, local councillors and dedicated volunteers with strong connections to Birnbeck.

Their shared vision was simple: to bring Birnbeck Pier back to life and secure its future for generations to come.

Over the years, ownership has changed, trustees have come and gone, and new volunteers have joined the cause. Many arrived with no previous connection to the Pier but quickly developed a passion for its remarkable history and future.

One of the greatest rewards of this dedication has been the discovery of previously unseen photographs, forgotten stories and treasured memories. Thanks to the generosity of the public and the continued efforts of volunteers, these fascinating pieces of Birnbeck’s history are being rediscovered, preserved and shared with new generations.

Today, as restoration work continues, it is encouraging to see real progress being made. The transformation of the site is generating fresh interest, creating opportunities for the local community and bringing us closer to seeing this historic landmark enjoyed once again.

👏 We applaud everyone who has contributed to this journey, past and present. The commitment of volunteers, supporters and organisations over so many years has helped keep the dream of Birnbeck’s regeneration alive.

💙 Birnbeck Pier is more than just a structure – it is part of Weston-super-Mare’s history, heritage and identity.

📸 Do you have photographs, memories or stories of Birnbeck Pier from the 1990s? We would love to hear from you! Every photograph and memory helps us piece together another chapter of its remarkable story.

🌐 Find out more and support the ongoing work:
https://www.birnbeckregenerationtrust.org.uk

Please like, follow and share our page to help keep Birnbeck’s history alive!

04/09/2026

From the Archive – 1896

It’s 1896, and Weston-super-Mare is already looking towards the future.

Birnbeck Pier is fully operational, but plans for major improvements to the town are being discussed, with a number of options and ambitious ideas being considered.

A brief extract from the explanation accompanying the proposals reads:

“The above plan will give our reader some idea of the gigantic improvement scheme which the Weston-super-Mare Urban District Council are at present engaged in promoting before Special Committee of the House of Commons, and at the same time will enable our readers to more intelligently follow the evidence contained in the subjoined report of the proceedings.”

Even more than 130 years ago, the future development of Weston-super-Mare and the role Birnbeck could play within it were very much in people’s thoughts.

These historic plans give us another fascinating glimpse into how our coastline, pier and town were viewed at the end of the Victorian era.

👀 Follow the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust for more archive photographs, stories and updates as we continue to explore and protect the history of Birnbeck Pier.

🙋 Want to get involved as a volunteer?

❤️ Would you like to support the Trust with a donation?

Visit our website for more information:
www.birnbeckregenerationtrust.org.uk

14/08/2026

From the Archive

Birnbeck Pier opened in 1867, and this remarkable image, taken just a few years later, has recently been colourised as part of a Birnbeck Regeneration Trust education project, helping to bring the Pier’s early history to life.

The colours shown are based on the best information currently available, with the Pier believed to have been finished in shades of dark chocolate and fawn.

Look closely at the structure beneath the deck and you can see the distinctive trestle bracing. Much of the full eight-way arrangement – four braces rising and four descending – is hidden below the waterline in this photograph. These structural elements are now being replaced as part of the current regeneration programme, connecting today’s restoration work directly with the engineering of the original Victorian Pier.

Beyond the Pier Master’s Cottage, a diagonal pathway can also be seen climbing the hillside towards Upper Kewstoke Road – another fascinating glimpse of how Birnbeck and its surroundings once looked.

Every historic image helps us better understand the story of Birnbeck Pier and how this extraordinary structure has changed over almost 160 years.

17/07/2026

From the Archive – Birnbeck Pier, 1931

Step back to the very early months of 1931 with this fascinating view taken from the toll road, one of Birnbeck’s most popular viewpoints through the decades.

The scene captures everyday life as walkers, cyclists, carts, cars and even a dog walker made their way to and from the pier. Beneath the bridge, the undercliff path can clearly be seen – a route that remains in use today.

The bridge itself was undergoing change. The final remnants of the famous Water Chute can still be spotted, while the first of what would become four shelters had begun to appear.

👀 If you look closely towards the south-west corner of the island, you’ll also spot the distinctive cone-shaped roof of the Wall of Death – a thrilling travelling fairground attraction that became one of Birnbeck’s many memorable entertainments.

Every historic photograph tells another chapter in the remarkable story of Birnbeck Pier.

If you’d like to learn more about the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, volunteer, or support the restoration of this iconic Victorian landmark, please visit our website:
https://www.birnbeckregenerationtrust.org.uk/

Please don’t forget to follow our page for more archive photographs, restoration updates and stories from Birnbeck’s incredible past.

11/07/2026

On Saturday 11 July, we paid a visit to the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust Hub, and what a fantastic place it is to spend some time!

Perched on the promenade overlooking Birnbeck Pier, the Hub offers a front-row seat to the incredible restoration work currently underway. It was fantastic to see the progress being made as this iconic landmark continues its journey back to life.

Open weather and volunteer permitting, the Hub is the perfect place to enjoy a hot or cold drink, browse a great range of Birnbeck-themed merchandise, and chat with the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust’s knowledgeable volunteers, who are always happy to share the rich history and heritage of the pier.

If you have a few hours to spare, why not consider becoming a volunteer yourself? There can’t be many places with a better office view than overlooking the restoration of Birnbeck Pier! It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, support a unique heritage project, and help inspire future generations.

If you’re passing by, it’s well worth a visit. Don’t forget to check out and follow the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust page to keep up to date with the latest restoration news, events, volunteering opportunities and ways you can support this incredible project.