Sunset and Spring Tide

The Victorian pier at Worthing with repair work being carried out at sunset with a very low spring tide. Designed by Sir Robert Rawlinson and erected in 1862, it was blown up by General Montgomery in May 1940 when invasion was expected after the Dunkirk withdrawal. At the time of the picture all of the planets in the solar system were lined up, giving an exceptional low spring tide. This only happens according to NASA once every 70 years.

The repairs are to the support columns near the location where the pier was blown up. However, this time the damage was caused by severe Atlantic storm that hit the pier and damaged these support structures. A temporary repair, with a red steel trestle frame, can be seen towards the south (ocean side) in front of where the machines are working.

The pier was refurbished in 1887 by the Victorian civil engineer James Mansergh, who insisted it should include a southern pavilion and landing stage - which are clearly visible in the picture at the ocean end of the pier. The southern pavilion is now home to a restaurant and bar, which as can be seen by the number of people on the right hand side of the pavilion is popular. This addition of the southern pavilion and steam ship landing jetty, was to make the pier more impressive for a royal visitor to the town.

Today the distinctive pier is used by pilots flying into Shoreham's Brighton City Airport as a visual reporting point. If the aerodrome is busy the pilot may be asked to enter a holding pattern close to the pier while waiting clearance to enter aerodrome's circuit pattern.