The South Pier, and Pier Head and Regal Theatres, Blackpool

Formerly - The Victoria Pier

One of The Three Blackpool Piers

Blackpool Theatres Index - Blackpool Theatres Article by Donald Auty

An early postcard depicting the South Pier, Blackpool in 1955 - Courtesy Roy Cross

Above - An early postcard depicting the South Pier, Blackpool in 1955 - Courtesy Roy Cross

A postcard entitled 'Flying at Blackpool' also shows the South Pier and its Grand Pavilion - Courtesy Roy Cross. The South Pier is one of three Piers in Blackpool today, namely the South, Central, and North Piers. Although this one is now known as the South Pier it originally opened as the Victoria Pier in 1893 and was designed by T. P. Worthington.

Right - A postcard entitled 'Flying at Blackpool' also shows the South Pier and its Grand Pavilion - Courtesy Roy Cross.

Despite its great age the South Pier is actually the youngest of the three Blackpool Piers and was built for the Blackpool South Shore Pier & Pavilion Co. Ltd. at a cost of £50,000. Construction began in 1892 and the Pier opened on Good Friday, 1893.

Originally the Victoria Pier, as it was known then, was 429 feet long and had 36 shops, a bandstand, and its own 'Grand Pavilion, which itself opened on the 20th of May 1893.

A Magic Lantern Glass Slide showing the Blackpool Victoria Pier circa 1900 - Courtesy John Ward.

Above - A Magic Lantern Glass Slide showing the Blackpool Victoria Pier circa 1900 - Courtesy John Ward.

A Programme for the Victoria Pier, Blackpool - Courtesy Peter Charlton

Above - A Programme for the Victoria Pier, Blackpool - Courtesy Peter Charlton

The Grand Pavilion of the Victoria Pier, Blackpool, now the South Pier - From an early postcard - Courtesy Roy Cross

Above - The Grand Pavilion of the Victoria Pier, Blackpool, now the South Pier - From an early postcard - Courtesy Roy Cross. The Grand Pavilion was later destroyed by fire but the Pier still stands today.

The Grand Pavilion was damaged by fire in 1958 and then restored, but it burnt down completely in 1964 and was then replaced with the Pier Head Theatre at a cost of £100,000, in the remarkably short construction time of just 12 weeks. The Pier Head Theatre was itself replaced, with an amusement ride, in 1998. The South Pier also had another Theatre, called the Regal Theatre, which was situated at the Pier's Entrance and was originally the Pier's front Pavilion, but this Theatre was also replaced, in 1963, by an amusement arcade.

The South Pier, Blackpool can just about be seen to the far left of this panoramic view from the top of the Blackpool Tower in August 2012 - Photo M. L.

Above - The South Pier, Blackpool can just about be seen to the far left of this panoramic view from the top of the Blackpool Tower in August 2012 - Photo M. L.

Today the South Pier has a mixture of amusements that attempt to rival the Pleasure Beach nearby including a children's roundabout, the Waltzer, the Crazy Mouse and the Skyscreamer, and Sky Coaster.

You may like to visit the South Pier's own website here.

If you have any more information or images for this Pier that you are willing to share please Contact me.