A Short History of
The Queen's Pier at Ramsey.
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Chronology of Events. |
| 1886. |
The Pier was built at an original cost of £45,000 |
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| 1889. |
A two level landing stage was added at the seaward end. |
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| 1956. |
The attractive Victorian wooden kiosks were replaced by
the present drab building. |
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| 1970. |
The last steamer called at the pier head. |
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| 1980. |
First of many reports on pier's future and condition. |
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| 1981. |
The tramway ceased to operate. |
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| 1981/1990. |
Pier head building subjected to vandalism. |
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| 1991. |
Pier finally closed to the Public. |
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| 1991. |
Second report by Holmes Grace Consulting Engineers. |
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| 1992. |
Third report commissioned, this time from John Mason &
Partners of Chester. (Cost £1150) |
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| 1992. |
John Mason's report published which states the pier to
be in relatively sound condition and gives costings of total
refurbishment at £531,000 or £1.8 million if a full rebuild
were undertaken. They also estimated that to demolish the pier entirely
would cost £2.18 million. |
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| 1993. |
Working party report on piers future published. |
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| 1994. |
Tynwald votes to "Mothball" the structure for
a limited period pending possible future refurbishment. |
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| 1994. |
Friends of Queen's Pier formed. |
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| 1996. |
First day of the Pier attracts large crowds. This joins
with the UK's national piers day. |
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| 1997. |
An interdepartmental working group is set up and
requests yet another report in April. |
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| 1997. |
A second Pier open day attracts over 1,000 who walk on
the Pier. 900 sign a petition calling for Government action to restore
the Pier. |
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| 1998. |
Report by the Council of Ministers favourably received
by most Government departments and the Council of Ministers. Complete
restoration to cost £2.7 million. Demolition £1.8 million.
TYNWALD fails to accept the recommendations of its own working group. |
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| 1998. |
Friends of Queen's Pier commission BW Partnership to
produce a Report and Survey. |
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| 1999. |
Report received stating Pier remains in much
better condition structurally than many Piers still in use around the
United Kingdom. They estimate that full refurbishment will cost £1.273
million. Copies of this report sent to Department of Transport in
February. Minister Brown visits Llandudno on fact finding mission. All
MHKs and MLCs given synopsis of "Friends Report". |
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| 2000. |
Over 2,500 people attend annual "open day".
Many express annoyance at total lack of progress. Petition of Grievance
presented to HRH The Prince of Wales on Tynwald Day. |