1891 – Design for Palace Pier, St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex

St Leonards Pier, known as the Palace Pier, was during its heyday a leading tourist attraction. The 960 ft long pier was damaged during the Second World War and left derelict after the war and the remains eventually demolished in 1953. Designed by engineer Richard St George-Moore, would later design the Brighton and Swanage and Tenby piers. The main pavilion was located near the landside end so entertainment was less likely to be interrupted by adverse weather and horse-drawn carriages could drop patrons off directly at the pavilion. This main pavilion was designed by local architect Frank Humphries in a semi-Moorish style and could seat 750 people.

“As another example of promenade pierhead we give above an illustration of the pavilion and pierhead at St. Leonard’s, opened on the 28th of October last. The engraving shows the character of the pavilion and of the structure which carries it upon the new piles and columns, and of the very extensive understructure of bracings. We gave engravings of this pier when it was commenced in 1888, but there were no means of giving a perspective view of the structure now shown. Mr. R. St. George Moore is the engineer of the pier, which has cost about 430,000. Messrs. Head, Wrightson, and Co., Limited, Stockton-on-Tees, carried out the contract with the exception of the ornamental castings made by Messrs. Macfarlane, of Glasgow. The weight of iron and steel used in the structure exceeds 1500 tons. Starting from the parade, the pier is carried out on three clusters of | piles to the pavilion enlargement, which is only 200ft. from | the parade. From the pavilion the deck is carried out on six groups of piles to the pierhead, the total length being 950ft., & little over one-sixth of a mile, and a few longer than Hastings Pier. The breadth varies from 40ft. to 25ft. There are 302 supporting columns. In length, the pavilion, which | runs parallel with the shore is 110ft., its breadth is 75ft., | and height 32ft. Internally, the length is 90ft. exclusive of | the stage. The main room is 7Oft. long and 50ft. broad.”
The Engineer, February 5 1892