Sunday 20 November 2016

Sunday Snap – The old and the new

For Remembrance Sunday last week we were paying our respects at The Cenotaph. I asked which government office The Queen comes out of when she lays her wreath and the answer is

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

Getting the right answer were Kara, Susan and Erica.

After our trips to London over the past few weeks we are off to the coast this week and indeed a place also known as London-by-the-Sea. The area has seen human settlements since Neolithic times however the town became popular in the 18th century thanks to the patronage of the Prince Regent who later became King George IV. Once the railway arrived in 1841 it meant that day trippers from London could visit. With these came the need for attractions and one of these was the West Pier built in 1866.

At its peak in 1918-19 the West Pier had 2 million visitors. It had an eight-sided concert hall complete with its own in-house orchestra. During World War II the pier's decking was removed to prevent any enemy landings. This was the start of the decline of the West Pier. After the war the decking was replaced and the concert hall converted into a tea room. The age and the weather began to catch up with the pier with maintenance costs becoming too expensive for the owners to afford. With repairs unaffordable the pier was closed in 1975 on safety grounds. Although the pier was granted Grade I listed status in 1982 it continued to suffer damage from the Great Storm of October 1987 and several fires in 2003. Part of the pier was demolished in 2010 to make way for the i360 observation tower.

The site of the i360 is owned by the West Pier Trust. While they still hope to rebuild the pier one day the i360 was conceived as a 'vertical pier'. The 162m tower was opened in August this year. It is Britain's highest moving observation tower. Its contrasting appearance to the once elegant Victorian pier has caused many locals to name it the 'iSore'. This week's question is

Where is the West Pier and i360 located?

We were joined last week by Kara with a lone poppy on the rocks and a fuchsia in the rain. Susan has been experiencing the seasons this week with a carpet of autumnal leaves and snow. Down in Brighton Shaheen has been spotting the urban wildlife in the form of street art. Showing off her real animal was Anne with her hamster Marty. In Sweden Ulrika has been capturing the beauty of the snow on the trees.

If you want to join in with this week's Sunday Snap then add your link to the linky below. Any theme is allowed. It doesn't have to be published today as you have until 23.55 on Friday 25th November 2016 to join in. Grab my badge below for your blog post. Just make sure it is your photo and you hold the copyright for it.
Sunday Snap

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9 comments:

  1. Brighton.........I used to live nearby and really want to go on there

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  2. It's Brighton and I only recently found out about the i360 so I want to go and see it on our next visit home to Hastings :)

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  3. I know this one, it's Brighton. I've not been there for many years though. It does look a bit of an eyesore but then you could say that about the derelict pier too, it's a matter of taste.

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  4. Look at that moody sky! I love Brighton, there's just something so quirky about it! Glad they kept that pier, I think it's beautiful! :)

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  5. It looks like Brighton. I've never been before, but looked at so many pictures. it looks lovely x

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  6. Brighton - I do like visiting there, but it's been a few years since we've been now.

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  7. Oh yes Brighton! Take train trips there for a day out!

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  8. Brighton. The boys are desperate to go and visit it and go to the top!

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  9. It looks fab, one to add to my to do list! x

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