One Yorkshire pier was once dubbed the “unluckiest pier in the world” after a series of disasters saw numerous ships crash into the structure during its short life
All that remains of the pier are two towers(Image: Getty)
A tiny seaside town in Yorkshire was once home to what became known as the world’s most cursed pier. During the Victorian era, piers emerged as a must-see attraction for seaside visitors, prompting the construction of one in the town of Withernsea.
Built between 1875 and 1877, Withernsea Pier had a remarkably brief existence, shutting down by 1893 and being completely demolished by 1903. Today, all that remains on the site are the striking castellated pier towers, which lead down towards the beach.
The pier’s fleeting lifespan was the result of a series of catastrophic incidents, earning it the notorious title of the “unluckiest pier in the world”, with multiple vessels smashing into the structure throughout its operational years.
The pier’s unfortunate saga began during construction in 1875, when a crane gave way, crushing and killing a 17-year-old boy.
Then in 1877, a fierce storm loosened sections of the construction, which subsequently plunged into the sea, destroying one strut and warping girders. This setback delayed the pier’s official opening and required £200 worth of repairs.
The calamities continued, and on October 28, 1880, a devastating North Sea storm saw two vessels plough into the pier. Fishing boat Jabaz struck the pier and went down, claiming the lives of four sailors in the tragedy.
Meanwhile, a coal barge named Saffron slammed into the pier, tearing a 150-180 foot gap through its centre. That same night, the storm obliterated the nearby Hornsea Pier and sent another vessel crashing into Redcar Pier.
Three years later, on March 6 1883, another storm hit and washed away part of the pier, including the section that had been hit by the Saffron years earlier.
The ill-fated pier would then suffer yet another blow, when the fishing vessel Genesta came crashing into it on October 20 1890, destroying more than half of the structure in the process.
On this occasion, there was just one casualty, the captain of the ship, while the crew were luckily rescued from the sea.
What little remained of the pier was damaged even further on March 22, when the Henry Parr ploughed into it during a violent storm, leaving just 50 feet of the structure standing.
It came as little surprise when the remaining section was declared unsafe, and the last remnants were torn down by 1905.
In more recent times, proposals to reconstruct the structure were drawn up, backed by funding from the East Coast Communities Fund, the National Lottery and local fundraising efforts.
In January 2020, the cost of rebuilding was put at £8 million, though the plans were ultimately shelved in 2023 after East Riding Council concluded they were “no longer viable.”
While the ambition to restore the pier has been abandoned, the distinctive castle towers still stand to this day, leading visitors down towards the seafront.