Apier almost without peer
HISTORIC STRUCTURE NAMED IN TOP 10 ALONGSIDE CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Historic Roker Pier in Sunderland has been named as one of the top 10 piers in the world.
Readers of The Guardian put the Grade II-listed pier up alongside piers in California, Western Australia, Thailand, Cuba, South Africa, Holland, two piers in Poland and closer to home, Clevedon in Somerset as their favourites.
The pier and lighthouse was hailed as a triumph of Victorian engineering when it first opened in the early 1900s.
Built between 1885 and 1903 by Henry Hay Wake who was Chief Engineer with the River Wear Commissioners, its beam of light was reputedly visible 15 miles out to sea.
Anya Chapman wrote in the Guardian’s piece: “This newly refurbished pier is a gem.
“It looks like any other harbour pier on first inspection, well used by cyclists, strollers, sunbathers and people fishing.
“Recently it has undergone restoration so that you can now explore its tunnel, hidden within the pier itself, which runs to the lighthouse at the end.
“Where else do you get to go inside a pier structure?
“The views from the lighthouse are superb.
“And there is excellent fish and chips at the entrance to the pier.”
Speaking about the pier’s inclusion in the Guardian list, Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Graeme Miller said: “It’s fantastic to see Roker Pier being named one of the world’s best piers, especially in the week after it opened to tours for the first time in its history.
“We always knew it was one of the best but it’s brilliant to see it right up there with some of the most beautiful piers in the world.”
The Grade II Listed pier tunnel and lighthouse opened to public tours last week following a £2.5million restoration by the city council, funded with the help of the National Lottery.
For more information and to book a tour visit www. rokerpier.co.uk