Mumbles pier is a listed Victorian structure, stretching over 262 metres into the Bristol Channel from the mainland. Designed by W. Sutcliffe Marsh, the pier opened to the public on May 10th 1898 and was the terminus for the Swansea to Mumbles railway (the railway closed, to many people's continued chagrin, in 1960).
The pier has been extensively renovated and reconstructed throughout the 20th Century. In the 1950's a landing jetty was added to the property, which now houses the R.N.L.I. lifeboat, an amusement arcade was added to its frontage in 1966 and between 1975 and 1985 it owner, AMECO, spent nearly £30,000 maintaining and replacing its massive steel support structure. Despite this work, however, on October 1st 1987 the pier was closed due to its general state of disrepair and was not re-opened until Good Friday 1988 after another £40,000 was spent on further replacement of its steel work supports. Recent development on the site as a whole has been even more extensive with the 1960's cafe and amusement arcade all receiving major facelifts, each being carefully styled with an eye to the fashion design of the Victorian period.
Despite its age, Mumbles pier is now a very modern tourist site and is marketed as an "all weather family fun" attraction with the catchy slogan "kids and grown ups, old and young, we have something for everyone!"
Mumbles pier is a listed Victorian structure, stretching over 262 metres into the Bristol Channel from the mainland. Designed by W. Sutcliffe Marsh, the pier opened to the public on May 10th 1898 and was the terminus for the Swansea to Mumbles railway (the railway closed, to many people's continued chagrin, in 1960).
The pier has been extensively renovated and reconstructed throughout the 20th Century. In the 1950's a landing jetty was added to the property, which now houses the R.N.L.I. lifeboat, an amusement arcade was added to its frontage in 1966 and between 1975 and 1985 it owner, AMECO, spent nearly £30,000 maintaining and replacing its massive steel support structure. Despite this work, however, on October 1st 1987 the pier was closed due to its general state of disrepair and was not re-opened until Good Friday 1988 after another £40,000 was spent on further replacement of its steel work supports. Recent development on the site as a whole has been even more extensive with the 1960's cafe and amusement arcade all receiving major facelifts, each being carefully styled with an eye to the fashion design of the Victorian period.
Despite its age, Mumbles pier is now a very modern tourist site and is marketed as an "all weather family fun" attraction with the catchy slogan "kids and grown ups, old and young, we have something for everyone!"
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