South Pier (Blackpool)
South Pier is one of a dwindling number of English seaside piers, a fascinating and much loved institution.
It is situated at the popular resort of Blackpool, pointing out into the Irish Sea, and is one of three piers in the town, the other two being North Pier and Central Pier.
It was designed by T. P. Worthington and opened in 1893. It was 492 feet in length and was originally named Victoria Pier.
Before long, the pier boasted a 3000 seat Grand Pavilion, as well as a bandstand, a resident orchestra and over thirty shops, and from 1901 a cinema.
The name of the pier was changed to South Pier in 1930.
The Grand Pavilion was destroyed by fire in 1964 and replaced by the Rainbow Theatre. This was demolished in 1998 and replaced with a roller coaster named Crazy Mouse.