This is a film drawn from the video and stills archive held by the West Pier Trust, as well as my own photographs and videos, which I produced for them in 2010. It shows something of the history and sad demise of this beautiful pier.
I have such sweet memories as a girl of Brighton and just seeing that shell brought them flooding back. Remembering my Nan & Grandad taking me to the seaside is one of my favourite things. Thank you 😊
At only 3 years old I remember standing and watching with my family as it burned down. Even though I had no idea what was going on I remember feeling sad about it. I pestered my parents with so many questions the whole time.
All the pleasure this beautiful structure gave to so many people over the years, just for it to be neglected, vandalized and finally burned to a skeleton, what a thank you, its a disgrace.
I have fond memories of fishing from the landing stage in the 1960s! And the footage up to 1973 was really good - I don’t think I’ve seen any of it before. But I had to stop then, as after that as it’s just so sad…
I used to take my two small Toddlers on the West Pier and later down to the Paddling Pool nearby on the lower Prom. Lived in Kemp Town. West Pier was always better than the Palace Pier for nippers I thought. Palace Pier was always busy with Day Trippers back in the 1960's.
Rumour has it, the owners of The Palace Pier had something to do with it burning down, as there was interest to restore and reopen the West Pier which would’ve given the Palace Pier competition. Very sad an old building went the way it did.
Thats True the palace pier was used as a backup because if the west pier got burned then they would have to rebuild but since they resevred 1 pier that was amazing but it could of been better if it was a replecia
I’m not from Brighton but a frequent visitor for the past 15 years, I’m now in my early 20’s but have always been fascinated with this pier and the history behind it, the thing I always love from this video is the glowing red signage of “west pier”, it seems to be illuminated in the 90’s section of this video, so I’m guessing the electric was kept on until it’s demise? However I really wished I got to see the pier in it’s entirety and not burnt out skeleton. Such a shame it’s now replaced by that eyesore i360 it seems like the trust was a bit of a sellout, but don’t worry Brightoners, when I become a millionaire I’ll restore this site to its former grandeur and glory ;)
It would also take alot of money to rebuild that thing! Its the only resson why i like brighton and because they have a football team that is not the national league
I think the concert hall ( the smaller building ) had the saddest history as it was shut down last but it was hanging on the the poles for dear life for more than a year but then it was burned and it fell .
It was such a beautiful construction. Like so many other beautiful piers (Clevedon comes to mind)… We don't have things like that in France. I so wish such gems would be better preserved : this one, the New Brighton tower, Birnbeck pier. So sad…
If I could go back in a time machine to revisit certain places, I would take the opportunity to see things that are no longer there. If I was back in New York in 1963 I would skip the Empire State Building and instead visit Pennsylvania Station. If I visted San Francisco in 1965 I would take a look at the Sutro Baths. If I could revisit Brighton in 1972, I would definitely tour the West Pier.
Many thanks for all the comments since I first published this - the film was put together by me at the request of the West Pier Trust using their archive, which they allowed me to hold whilst I did it. It did the rounds of schools at the time when Trust members went to talk to them. With the emergence of the i360 and the money which came with it, the Trust has gone on to be in a much happier state financially and this film doesn't now see the light of day, as they can afford to pay for professionals!! Oh - and the music is side 2 of Mike Oldfield's "Hergest Ridge" - licensed for use. The trick was to match sequences in the film to the music, which I quite enjoyed doing - it took 5 weeks to produce 12 minutes of film, so I didn't give up my day job!! A very rewarding project though.........
Sid james rode a petrol go kart along the west pier in carry on girls even then (1973) it was in a dangerous state and the pavillion end was already closed
As I was born 3 years after the fire and was three when the concert hall was removed I didn't know much about the pier but I always wanted to go take a closer look and now even more as I'm making a model of it in my loft
I first saw the West Pier back in 1992. It was already derelict, however, its sight haunted me forever. I came back several times throughout the years… I always had hope. Sadly the arson attack in 2003 ended it all. I would love to see footage of the pier’s interior prior to its closing in 1975. What a sad story. Thanks for the video.
I believe that the ITV television show, Season 5 Episode 8 "Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan" shows a CGI reconstruction of the West Pier as it appeared in in the mid-1930's. I can't find an authoritative reference to confirm that. Does anyone know?
what a legacy this generation have left from greed and corruption. The Victorians built everything and to last with great infrastructure we will always be very thankful, all we had to do was maintain them. Unfortunately this modern generation only know destruction and how to get rid of the past including the buildings. why did the council sell it? as this was publicly owned, the answer, corruption ,greed and selling their heritage off to the highest bidder. We need to put back buildings like this as well as all the trams no matter what the cost, the Victorians didn't care how much money it took , why should we. otherwise we leave nothing behind to build on.
Brighton council should be ashamed of themselves for letting the pier fall into ruin. I hope the same fate does not fall to the currently closed of sections off Madeira Drive.
Why in the world did they make another version of it instead of the goddamn same model? Would of loved it seeing it up close...unfortunately I couldn’t it burnt down before I went to England..so sad..I want to restore it so bad but everything is in the sea the burnt pier is just sitting there pointlessly I so want to know what the cause of the fire was...but nobody knows
@@paulhoward1289 it was no thunderstorm, it was said to be an arson attack, but I heard it could've also been all the seagull droppings self-combusting
@@mrmarcrumbleton8300 they are they told me that they are doing a kiosk outside The west puer trust .. although lockdown so maybe another year i suppose??
