Ahh, the pier at Eastbourne...you should walk out upon it and smell that fresh sea air. For people in England, piers might be very common, but to my American eyes, they are astonishing. For the most part, the piers that I have seen are in Florida and are strictly for fishing. This pier is for strolling upon and for all the arcade games for the kids that are in the big building at the front of the pier. There are also some shops for buying cardigans and souvenirs. There is a fast food shop and a tearoom. Towards the end of the pier, there is even a camera obscura! At night, the pier is covered in white lights, so it is beautiful at night as well as the day. You may read more about the pier here! And at the very end of the pier, you may find people...fishing! (And I forgot to say, there is a fish stall at the front of the pier, along with a Fish & Chips shop! Don't even get me started on how much I love the Fish & Chips in England!) If you notice there are benches built in all along the pier and it is so peaceful to rest and to look out upon the sea. Feeling that salty spray upon your face and hearing the cry of the seagulls combine to make a lasting memory.
The pier was completed in 1872. Yes, I typed that correctly..1872! Those Victorians, they sure knew how to build things and they knew how to build them with a great deal of beauty! (Jenny Woolf, I am still waiting for your book about the Victorians!) Did you know that Lewis Carroll, beginning in 1877, spent every August in Eastbourne? I love to think that I am walking in his footsteps. I feel a little bit like Alice when I am in England, everything fills me with wonder!
The pier could use a little tender loving care and I hope very much that the people who live in Eastbourne will see the pier the way that I see it, something that should be treasured and carefully preserved so that many more may enjoy it for years to come. I understand that I am an American hoping for this but my love for the pier knows no boundaries!
Hi Kay
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a fine pier with excellent views.
Last week I took our dogs to Hastings for the day. The pier there burnt down the week we moved to East Sussex(!) so we had to enjoy ourselves in other ways. This included a ride on the funicular railway, a stroll along the east cliff, a ride on the miniature railway, a paddle and the consumption of quite a bit of ice cream.
It is good to be beside the seaside.
Take care
Henry
Oh, I wish that we could have been with you, I dare say that I would taken care of some of that ice cream myself!!
DeleteRichard and I are still talking about that great lunch you made us last year in June and then the celebration with your parents, it was so nice! xx
Thank you for taking us along the pier with you, Kay!
ReplyDeleteIt shows in the pictures how happy being there makes you.
Steve and I used to spend a week in Scarborough every summer; we, too, loved to breathe the salty sea air and hear the cry of the seagulls, and eat fish & chips in the harbour, and so on.
In fact, I can not hear seagulls now without tears coming to my eyes, thinking of Steve, and I don't think I'll ever go to Scarborough again.
But looking at your beautiful pictures of Eastbourne is safe, and I enjoyed this post as much as I enjoy the ones about Arabia and Stone mountain - or about your lovely Dad!
You know what I mean...the cry of the seagulls, the crash of the rocks when the waves hit them, the salty air and the sea breeze blowing through your hair...magnificent!
DeleteI can understand your feelings about an English seaside town, how that brings back very strong memories for you. xx
And so I thank you for saying that you enjoyed it, as much as my posts about Arabia or Stone Mountain , or my DAD!!!
A peoples' palace on a pier. There used to be piers like that in America. Santa Monica Pier(in California) is still a bit like that. I bet there are some in New York and on the Jersey coast.
ReplyDeleteYes, there must be something similar here in the States, but since I don't get out much, I really don't know. I only know California from TV and movies!
DeleteThanks for your comment! :-)
A lovely place, and in a country that takes care of very old things, this might seem a bit new to them. Let's hope not, i would hate for it to fall into disrepair and need much more work to be preserved.
ReplyDeleteDear Mimi,
DeleteYou are right. As an American, I am always amazed at the very old buildings in England. (Don't even get me started on how much I love the churches!)
It's charming! I'd love to stroll along that pier, and smell the salt air.
ReplyDeleteYou would love it!
DeleteWhat a lovely post! I could smell the sea air too and (almost!) taste the fish and chips...looks like a great spot to visit and enjoy. Love the pix of you and hubby...very cute and you both look so happy! Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteCute? I was hoping for raving beauty!! :-)
I was happy on that pier, that's for sure!
When I first saw your picture of the pier, I thought that it was probably somewhere off of the coast of Georgia, and I both marveled at its beauty and cringed at the thought of what a hurricane would do to it. I am really glad that it is actually located off of the coast of England, and I am even more glad that the Germans didn't attack it (just for spite) during one of the world wars.
ReplyDeleteI just looked it up and there is a pier at Tybee Island which is near Savannah, Georgia. (Tybee Island used to be called Savannah Beach, but they stopped calling it that in the early 70's. It was Savannah Beach the last time I was there!!)
DeleteThanks for the mention! My book about the Victorians is on ice because I'm involved in a couple of other projects that are taking more time. Time! i wish I had unlimited amounts. I love piers too. There is something so ... oh, I guess the word I am looking for is "happy" about them. It's nice to go out on the pier in the evening and look back at the lights of the town, with the sound of the sea all around. And, yes, some fish and chips of course! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I told you, but after I read your book about Lewis Carroll, I was amazed at how much I looked up about all the other Victorians that you mentioned...and it makes me see why you wanted to write a book about the Victorians. It would be quite an undertaking, they did so much, didn't they?
DeleteWhat a lovely place. You captured a gorgeous sunset in that first photo too!
ReplyDeleteOh,thank you!
DeleteIf you look at my post from last year "Dawn Is A Feeling".
It was guest post from my husband and he also took that photo!
Thanks for your comment! xx
Although I'm from the North West of England and The South is like a strange land to me I nevertheless know many of the sea fronts and piers of southern England and they have a strange fascination of times gone by.
ReplyDeleteAnything north of London is unknown to me, that is as far as I have ever gotten when I am in England!
DeleteGosh. I'm up to date. I can go to bed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading all my posts. You have earned your rest.
DeleteGood night, sweet prince.
It is very lovely indeed. So gracious and elegant-looking. I do hope they will maintain it.
ReplyDeleteElegant Eastbourne, that is how I think of the town, too.
DeleteThe paint on the pier railings used to be a light blue rather than the dark blue. I know it is just a small thing and no one else may care, but the light blue was SUCH a BEAUTIFUL shade. I am sure that YOU would agree if you had seen the original color!!
We spent almost every holiday in Blackpool while I was growing up so I know piers very well as they have 3! Each had their own atmosphere too with some being bright and loud and others being more refined. You can guess which we preferred as children :)
ReplyDeleteOh, how fun! I think Blackpool is the one where you can buy the fake bums that fit over your backside! (I think I saw this on an "Antiques Roadshow" once!)
ReplyDeleteThis is the only pier that I know and it is a beauty!
Thanks for your comment! (Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside!)
So beautiful, Kay. No wonder that you love it. The pier I know best is in Venice, Florida, and not at all the same sort as an English seaside Pier. In '98 we were in Bournemouth and I think there is a pier there, but no one was there, or very few people, when we were there in early June...
ReplyDeleteI have seen pictures of Venice, Florida...but I have never been there myself!!
DeleteI love to walk beside the water wherever and whenever I can!
The Victorians believed that the salty air was good for you, I think we should go back to that belief!!
You and I certainly have some sort of connection. I have just come back from Sussex and I was actually on that pier a few days ago. The first picture I saw when I logged on to your Blog was of Eastbourne Pier - how spooky is that! We had 10 lovely days down there - complete with dog - fantastic weather - daughter home for two months and a trip to the South of England Show - what more could one ask for? Oh and as spring was very late this year the bluebells were out in force. Good to be back home though. Lovely pictures - much better than the ones I took! Fake bums? Well I learn so much from your blogs!!
ReplyDeleteWe were in Eastbourne this time last year...so I think that is what made me look at these photos and decide to do a post about the pier.
DeleteHA, those fake bums made me laugh, can't remember really what TV show it was from... Antiques Road Show seems a bit too dignified to show that!
Glad you enjoyed your time in Eastbourne and that your daughter is home now! Enjoy your summer! :-)
Wow, this place looks so nice!! Lots of space to run around! I love the sea and I love fish and chips too :D
ReplyDeleteI am with you, love the sea and lots of space to enjoy!
DeleteI am loving the fish and chips too!!