Marrin's Bookshop

Synopsis

A company has been formed for the erection of the above pier at herne bay situated 15 miles on this side of margate, to be incorporated by act of parliament. - capital £50,000. in shares of £50. deposits £2 each share. - prospectuses etc. may be had of the directors or of the solicitors to the company, mess., clift and fisher, 23 red lion sq., and mr peirce burgate canterbury.
n.b. this pier will extend into the sea 3,000 feet and will be 30 feet wide - the pier head will be 220 feet long with an inclined plain on each side of 20 feet in width, for the landing of passengers, carriages, etc., at all times of the tide.

Item Description

Lithograph printed on india paper, 17 x 12 inches.

Notes

A delightful imaginary view of Telford's proposed pier taken from the sea looking at the coast with the infant town of Herne Bay undeveloped in the middle distance. A windmill stands near the beach and another in the background. The coastguard station with its flagpole also stands on the shore and some 20 or 30 houses dot the foreshore. At the pier head are two paddle-steamers discharging passengers from London.
With the coming of the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway in 1830 the way was open for the development of nearby Herne Bay as a watering place. With the Railway offering fast and efficient communication with Canterbury, the opportunity to usurp Margate as a major tourist resort was pivotal on a pier, thus speculative investment schemes were proposed to build such a pier. The respected name of Telford added considerable weight to this proposal's success; and the pier was built nearly exactly as here shown and was opened in 1833.
A very rare view of considerable historical and topographical interest.