Birnbeck Pier, a Victorian structure in Weston-super-Mare at risk of collapse, has received nearly £235,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The pier, which connects to Birnbeck Island, has been closed to the public since 1994 and placed on Historic England's at-risk register in 1999. It has been completely unused since 2014, when the RNLI lifeboat crews relocated after 132 years due to structural instability.
The £234,761 grant follows £3.55m in government funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) awarded earlier this month, which is earmarked for saving the pier's legs. The lottery funding will be used for conservation work once structural repairs are completed. North Somerset Council plans to apply for a further £4.2m full lottery grant later.
Mark Canniford, executive member for placemaking and economy at North Somerset Council, said: 'This money will fund phase one of the project once the initial emergency works are completed, allowing us to start renovating the buildings on the island and the landside, as well as community focused work.' He added that the funding would help restore public access and enable the RNLI to return to the island.
Stuart McLeod of the NLHF commented: 'Birnbeck Pier is one of the greatest examples of Victorian engineering that we have and it's imperative we work together to save this important heritage for future generations.' The pier opened in 1867 and played a vital role during World War Two as a site for experimental activities and weapons testing. It also featured in a famous 1963 publicity photograph of The Beatles.
The Grade II-listed site is the only pier in the UK that links to an island and served as an RNLI lifeboat station for over a century. The funding marks a significant step in the restoration of this historic landmark.
