Grand Pier Latest News
Courtesy of Weston & Somerset Mercury
Grand Pier history goes on display
2nd September 2008
Items, including melted coins and a lamppost, salvaged from the charred remains of The Pavilion at The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare will go on display at the town’s museum this week in a special exhibition about the pier.
The exhibition at the museum in Burlington Street, Weston-super-Mare will chart the 104-year history of the pier, which was hit by a devastating fire on July 28 destroying the historic Pavilion.
Visitors will be able to see at close quarters the destructive force of the fire with items including an ipod and a camera that have been recovered from the wreckage.
Pier owners Kerry and Michelle Michael are also planning to salvage a burned-out dodgem car in the next few weeks that will be displayed alongside a pristine new car.
Said Michelle Michael: “There has been worldwide interest in the pier in the wake of the fire and the museum exhibition will record what happened on the day of the fire. It will also form a catalyst for gathering information and memories about the pier from local people and holidaymakers alike.
“It will be a lively display with a film clip of the fire and eyewitness accounts of the event that made headlines all around the world. We are also planning to show the Pavilion in all its glory just before the fire.
"T4 has sent us a great DVD showing some top stars having fun on the pier the weekend before the fire. They include Gok Wan, The Sugababes and Alphabeat, who performed on the pier"
"We aim to add to the exhibition as we clear the site and gather items of interest concerning the fire. We also want people with memories to come forward and add to the display"
“Unfortunately many documents, photographs and memorabilia were lost in the fire, some of them irreplaceable, but we believe there are a lot of photographs, documents and memories around the town that can add to the pier story.”
Donations from the public that were collected on the Grand Pier following the fire are being used to create a 1/125th scale model of the pier as it was before the fire.
It is being created by local model makers Scale Models Ltd of Alfred Street Weston, and will measure four metres long. As soon as it is completed it will be added to the exhibition at the museum and will be moved to the new Pavilion when it is finished so new visitors will be reminded of the wonderful old building.
Museum curator Nick Goff said: “There has been huge interest in the pier since the fire and the intention is for the display to be dynamic and changing so that people can come in every week or so to see the latest information about the pier and its history.”
Return to previous...
Grand Pier Donations
Pavilion rebuild donation fund
The Grand Pier is accepting donations towards the rebuild of the pavilion, however due to legal restrictions, donations can only be accepted upon the Grand Pier. Collection buckets are available on the walkway towards the pavilion viewing area.
The owners of the Grand Pier would like to take this opportunity to thank those that have generously made a donation towards the rebuild of the Grand Pier's pavilion and those that have offered through letters, email and telephone calls.
Can You Help Us?
Pictures, stories, memorabilia, ideas?
A huge collection of the Grand Pier's history was lost in the Pavilion fire and we would like replace as much as we can. If you have any pictures, stories or memorabilia regarding the Grand Pier, old or new we would be extremely grateful if you could get in touch. Please call or email us via the contact page.