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Penarth Pier and its Grand Pavilion is the much loved focal point of Penarth’s Victorian esplanade and, if a group of enthusiastic locals get their way, the pavilion may soon gain a new lease of life as the venue for an exciting new project aimed at reclaiming the ‘People’s Palace’ for the local community.
PIER PRESSURE
Penarth Pier was designed originally by H F Edwards for the Penarth Promenade and Landing Company Ltd. Construction of the cast iron and timber began in 1894 and the pier opened the following year and in 1907 a wooden pavilion was added at the sea end.
When the pier was sold to the Vale of Glamorgan Council, it was given a brand new landing stage and spectacular pavilion at the shoreward end built in the very latest material - ferro-concrete, which contributes to the buildings Grade 2 listed status.
Following its grand opening in 1929, the venue became very popular, with regular events including tea dances. Two years later, tragedy struck, when a fire spread almost the entire length of the pier causing serious damage and the pier had to be rebuilt at a cost of £3,157! However, the wooden sea-end pavilion was never replaced.
In 1947 there was another reverse of fortune when the Canadian ship ‘Port Royal Park’ was driven into the pier during a gale. The 7,000 ton vessel caused extensive structural damage and repairs to the pier took two years to complete at a cost of the then considerable sum of £28,000. The pier was restored again in 1998 and formally re-opened. Despite a history of setbacks the Pavilion Building and its Pier remain, an important landmark admired by visitors and loved by residents to this day.
The Penarth Pavilion Project
Depending on who you talk to in Penarth, there seem to be a wide variety of ideas and misconceptions about the project. Many proposals have been put forward for the Pier and all are currently being considered. Suggestions include restaurants, a film theatre, conference venue, retail units, an education centre, information booths and a multi-functional space for diverse activities such as art exhibitions and a venue for local dances.
One thing is certainly for sure, the aim of the PACL (Penarth Arts and Crafts Limited) is to include the local community in the decision making process as much as possible.
The current state of play
For this beautiful building to realise its potential there is much work to do. The PACL are currently working towards a £2 million application to the Heritage Lottery Fund which will fund the complete renovation of the interior and exterior of the Pavilion. PACL is already in discussion with the Vale Council and many local groups to improve links between the town and the esplanade using a variety of nature walks and shuttle services. The project has already had much interest from local businesses and welcomes any ideas for new commercial ventures and partnerships which may benefit the project and, ultimately, the community.
There have been several successful awareness and fund-raising events aimed at promoting the project. One of the most eye-catching was the recent photographic competition which had an exhibition of entries from local amateur and professional photographers at the Washington Gallery. The winner was Penarth resident Mark Rosoman whose striking photograph above wowed the judges to claim first prize.
The winning photographer
Mark Rosoman has lived in Penarth for the past twenty five years and has been a health and safety consultant for the last seven years after being awarded a BSc (hons) in Environmental Risk Management in 1999. Prior to that he ran a small gardening business for five years on a self employed basis and before that was a self employed bricklayer from the age of twenty one.
“I have had an interest in photography since I was eighteen, when I got my first SLR camera. With the advent of digital cameras, I purchased a Canon 400 Digital SLR two years ago which give me more personal control of my photography and I have been busy shooting ever since.”
To see Mark’s images please visit www.timegrabber.co.uk
Local support
Penarth resident John Mead comments, “I have worked as an announcer, reporter, writer, producer/director in the TV Media in Wales all my life, I am just retired, my hobby is racing sailing and I think I am the only man to have been Commodore of both Penarth Yacht Club and Cardiff Bay Yacht Club. I am now President of Cardiff Bay Yacht Club.”
On the 4th of February 1894, Penarth Pier celebrated its construction with a splendid opening ceremony. Penarth Yacht Club had started boating activities fourteen years earlier in 1880 and the Pier had a theatre at the seaward end. Unfortunately this burnt down in 1931 and was never replaced.
For over a century the paddle steamers of the Bristol Channel have run trips to Minehead, Ilfracombe and Lundy Island from the decks of the pier. Nowadays the Pavilion at the landward end is very run down and in serious need of restoration if it is to survice. In its time as ‘The Commodore’ it had been the social centre of Penarth, with years and years of entertainment and dancing and shows of all kinds.
Now, Maggie Knight, of the Washington Gallery in Penarth, is going to the Heritage Lottery Fund next month with a two million pound bid to put in place a revamped - reinvigorated - innovative programme which could see the Pier Pavilion restored to something like its former glory - maybe dancing again, maybe a restaurant, an art gallery, meeting rooms and some new high tech features, perhaps live pictures of the wildlife on Flatholm, maybe live pictures from the new Olympic sized canoe slalom which is being constructed in the Sports Village across the River Ely.
The new Chariman of the Lottery Heritage Fund is Jenny Abramsky, who all her life has worked in the BBC as a senior executive including being the head of Radio 4 - who knows maybe this bid will catch her eye - I hope so - surely no one can want the Pier to decay as it has been doing over the last few years.
John added, “I wish Maggie and her hard working team every success with their superb, imaginative plans for the future of Penarth’s own Heritage treasure - its Pier!”
Penarth Pavilion Project
The Washington Gallery
3 Washington Buildings
Stanwell Road, Penarth CF64 2AD
029 2071 2100
www.penarthpavilion.co.uk |
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