Worthing Pier
Like the piers of Brighton, Worthing’s has had its fair share of disasters. On Easter Monday 1913, the Pier was smashed in a storm and cut off from the land. It was temporarily nicknamed ‘Easter Island’ by the newspapers. In 1933, a fire which could be seen from Beachy Head, destroyed the South Pavilion. It was replaced with the Art Deco Nautical-style ‘Pierhead’ Pavilion, designed by the Borough Architect, in 1935. This pavilion is rectangular with rounded ends and a low roof. Its smooth lines are its greatest feature; emphasised by the sweeping balconies and many large windows. It is today a nightclub called Lush.
In 1940, a 120ft hole was blown in the Pier’s decking. However, this was deliberate – it was to make difficult potential enemy invasion landings. In 1942, troops used the Pier’s facilities for recreation by which time invasion fears had subsided. After the war, the Government paid for repairs and refurbishment.
With the current shortage of piers in Brighton, Worthing is very close to outpiering us Brightonians. And we can’t have that now!
