Wellington Pier complex
Wellington Pier pavilion with bandstand and Pixieland
Great Yarmouth Museums
Wellington Pier in its heyday
Great Yarmouth Museums
Wellington Pier and south beach, circa early 1960s
Great Yarmouth Museums
Photographs and information about Wellington Pier
By Martin Keable
The area around the pier saw some changes of use during the time after the war. The open-air skating rink (see also photo 4) can be seen behind the bandstand but the area in front has been made over for use as an entertainment area. The shelters to the rear are permanent reminders of the need for protection against the sea breezes.
The pier itself and the Winter Gardens remain the centrepieces of the complex.The gigantic glass house was purchased from Torquay and re-erected at the entrance to Wellington Pier in 1903 and is still there, though only plastic plants now sprout inside. In the 1970's it became the home to the 'Biergarten' where an alpine theme, perhaps reminiscent of the Sound of Music, was somewhat oddly placed only a few feet away from the beach!
The Wellington Pier of today presents a somewhat sorry sight with the shell of the building only remaining as it was gutted to enable asbestos to be removed. Plans are afoot for its future use but its heyday is very much a thing of the past.