125 years old and still going strong, a brief history of Bangor's Garth Pier!

It has survived threats of demolition and the wear and tear of tide and time to be voted Pier of the Year for 2022

Strutting out into the Menai Strait stands one of North Wales most recognisable landmarks. A popular spot for tourists and locals alike, Garth Pier offers a perfect spot for summers day, a seaside snack or just a relaxing stretch of the legs. The pier has sat at part of the city of Bangor for 125 years, yet despite threats of demolition and the wear and tear brought on by time, it's still thriving, being voted Pier of the Year by the National Pier's Society this year.

The pier was originally opened 14th May 1896 from a design made by J.J. Webster at a cost of £14,475 - just over £2 million today. It was opened in a ceremony performed by George Douglas-Pennant, the second baron Penrhyn, the family who owned much of the lands around the area, including Penrhyn Castle, the Bangor docks and Bethesda Quarry.

The pier measuring 1,550 feet (470 m) has cast iron columns, with the rest of the metal structure made of steel including the handrails, the wooden deck stretches out over the straits, with several kiosks along it's length, offering a range of different services. Much of what you see on the pier today was part of it when it originally opened in the Victorian era, including the kiosks, ironwork fences and gate, while much of the decking has been replaced over the years.

Many steamers stopped at the pier up until 1914, with an average of 34,000 passengers each year coming until then. Steamers would travel from Liverpool en route to Llandudno, stopping at Garth pier as part of that journey.

Originally a railway for handling baggage had been included in the design but it was removed in 1914, after a cargo ship, the SS Christina drifted into the pier over night, causing a significant amount of damage. The ship cleaved straight through the structure, leaving the pier divided, the Royal Anglesey Engineers constructed a makeshift gangway between the two, intended as a temporary fix, it instead remained until 1921 when repairs were resumed after World War 1.

The Menai Strait is notorious for its unpredictable currents and rough waters. This made any repairs to the pier especially challenging.

Two sappers, Lionel Hemingway and Samuel Hill, drowned after losing control of their boat. The pier was a popular stopping point for tour boats heading around Anglesey. But it was not a short trip taking a near 12 hours to complete starting at Liverpool at 9am and returning at 8.40pm.

In 1927, one of the pier's kiosks was transformed into a Marine science laboratory, set up by Professor Phillip White for the University of North Wales - now Bangor University. His sudden death in 1929 prompted the creation of the first Marine Zoology course.

These days Bangor is renowned for its Marine Sciences as one of its most popular and successful courses, with extensive facilities set around the area. By 1971 the pier had fallen in disrepair and was closed, being bought off Arfon Borough Council by Bangor City Council for 1p in 1982.

But repairs restarted funded by various grants and the public. A list of those who donated is shown on the stone plaque near the gatehouse. It's estimated to have cost around o£750,000. The then Mayor of Bangor Councillor John Haydn Jones lifted the first plank setting the project on its way.

This was not the last bit of restoration work to take place. In 2017 £1 million was set aside to complete a range of work needed on the pier. The pier is now watched over by the Friends of Bangor Garth Pier, many of whom had a hand in creating the Pier 125 exhibition currently on show in Storiel until the 4th of June, where you can learn more about this iconic piece of Bangor's history.

Thank you to the Daily Post for the great article, see HERE