Take a trip through the history of seaside town landmark
Crowds soak up the sun just south of Lowestoft's Claremont Pier. Picture taken on September 1, 1966. Picture: Archant Library
Lowestoft's Claremont Pier is up for sale after nearly 50 years of family ownership and is available for £2.5m.
The entrance to Claremont Pier at Lowestoft on November 27, 1963. 1963. Photo: Archant Library - Credit: Archant Library
The pier opened in 1903 as a landing stage for steamers bringing day-trippers from central London to the town.
The steamer service to the town ended in 1939 when the middle part of the pier was destroyed to prevent any possibility of Nazi troops invading via the pier.
The pier was abandoned by 1948, and after Lowestoft Town Council decided to not buy the structure, it was sold to actor George Studd for £4,000 who built a reinforced concrete platform and a new pavilion by 1950.
In 1962 the pier-head and some of the main structure was destroyed by storms, and it took until 1988 for major restoration to take place.
The section was badly damaged by gales and it was decided to demolish it because of the high cost of repairs. Picture taken on July 2, 1962. Photo: Archant Library - Credit: Archant Library
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Despite this, the seaward end of the pier remains closed for safety reasons, and in 2013 the same repairs would have cost the owner, David Scott, up to £1.5m to fix.
This is the second time the pier has been put up for sale, with an unsuccessful attempt to sell in 2005.
Claremont Pier closed for repairs. Picture taken on January 26, 1965. Photo: Archant Library - Credit: Archant Library
Rough seas at Lowestoft alongside the Claremont Pier on January 12, 1962. Pcture: LOVETT
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