[Brighton] Who burnt down the West pier?

[Iggle Piggle]

My son has just asked me that question.and I haven't got a clue. We are currently sat down in one of the rip off beach bars the locals never go to which has prompted the question.

I HAVE been able to tell him about the red arrows crashing though. He thinks I'm lying.

 

[Icy Gull]

Vague memory of fingers being pointed at the Palace Pier

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

My son has just asked me that question.and I haven't got a clue. We are currently sat down in one of the rip off beach bars the locals never go to which has prompted the question.

I HAVE been able to tell him about the red arrows crashing though. He thinks I'm lying.

Click on the site and it tells you what happened and you can buy the print!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

My son has just asked me that question.and I haven't got a clue. We are currently sat down in one of the rip off beach bars the locals never go to which has prompted the question.

I HAVE been able to tell him about the red arrows crashing though. He thinks I'm lying.

*edited out any reference to the name*

 

[faoileán]

My son has just asked me that question.and I haven't got a clue. We are currently sat down in one of the rip off beach bars the locals never go to which has prompted the question.

I HAVE been able to tell him about the red arrows crashing though. He thinks I'm lying.

You're not lying, just wrong. I watched the Red Arrow narrowly skip over the Palace Pier and hit the sea. Nowhere near the West Pier.

 

[BNthree]

There seems to be quite a bit of history of things in Brighton and Hove burning down when planning permission isn't granted to build something else on the site. Doubt that applies in this case so possibly an insurance job?

 

[Blue3]

The Red Arrows as I remember it one clipped the tip of one of the yachts anchored right in the way of the display and had nothing to do with the fire on the West Pier which has been derelict for many years despite numerous attempts to raise the funds to rebuild, I seem to remember Chris Eubanks possibly owning it at one point, I do not recall anyone ever being found responsible for the fires there were two the first badly damaged it the second destroyed it

 

[albionite]

Vague memory of fingers being pointed at the Palace Pier

The Noble brothers (alledergy) they have since sold the pier on.
Sure I read reports that a small boat was seen around the pier just before it was on fire

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I appreciate I'm confusing 2 separate instances in the initial post which happened years apart. Love the Red Arrows picture, loads of memories from that.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

How I remember it:

On 28 March 2003, the pavilion at the pierhead caught fire. Fire crews were unable to save the building from destruction because the collapsed walkway prevented them from reaching it. As fire investigators were unable to access the site for safety reasons,[20] the cause of the fire remains unknown, although it is thought to have been arson.[21][22] A more severe fire, also thought to have been intentional, burned through 11 and 12 May 2003, consuming most of what was left of the concert hall.[16][23] On 23 June 2004, high winds caused the middle of the pier to collapse completely. The following month, English Heritage declared the pier beyond repair.[16][24]

 

[Brok]

View attachment 165073

That is really quite beautiful.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Click on the site and it tells you what happened and you can buy the print!

There's a video!

 

[Questions]

View attachment 165073

How I remember it:

View attachment 165075

On 28 March 2003, the pavilion at the pierhead caught fire. Fire crews were unable to save the building from destruction because the collapsed walkway prevented them from reaching it. As fire investigators were unable to access the site for safety reasons,[20] the cause of the fire remains unknown, although it is thought to have been arson.[21][22] A more severe fire, also thought to have been intentional, burned through 11 and 12 May 2003, consuming most of what was left of the concert hall.[16][23] On 23 June 2004, high winds caused the middle of the pier to collapse completely. The following month, English Heritage declared the pier beyond repair.[16][24]

We need a west pier photo thread. We must all have some. Great for editing

 

[Eeyore]

There's a video!

'Plane crash in Brighton. No issues, shame they were one short at the Biggin Hill display. By the way, a couple of bombs in London. Quiet day. Now the weather'

I saw that display from the Race Hill, I think. Don't remember the crash though.

 

[maltaseagull]

Vague memory of fingers being pointed at the Palace Pier

I remember rumours about that too. Certainly seems possible given that the West Pier was possibly going to receive funding to restore it and the Palace Pier had just had a lot of money spent on it.

 

[fruitnveg]

Fabrizio Romano. He also pissed in my chips.

Am i doing this right?

 

[maltaseagull]

View attachment 165073

How I remember it:

View attachment 165075

On 28 March 2003, the pavilion at the pierhead caught fire. Fire crews were unable to save the building from destruction because the collapsed walkway prevented them from reaching it. As fire investigators were unable to access the site for safety reasons,[20] the cause of the fire remains unknown, although it is thought to have been arson.[21][22] A more severe fire, also thought to have been intentional, burned through 11 and 12 May 2003, consuming most of what was left of the concert hall.[16][23] On 23 June 2004, high winds caused the middle of the pier to collapse completely. The following month, English Heritage declared the pier beyond repair.[16][24]

The first photo is brilliant.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

I thought the re arrow clipped a mast on the east side of the palace pier and went down there.
The pier itself was such a waste- great memories of living over the road from it in the winter of 62/63 when is was covered with ice. Sat on the beach with the missus in 2003 watching the rest of it burn. So sad.

 

[John Byrnes Mullet]

The West pier should have been rebuilt in the style of the new Hastings pier. It would have been brilliant for hosting live events. Instead we have ended up with the hideous Eye thingy that looks like a power station chimney. You can get a better view of the city from the Race Hill.

 

[Paris]

The West pier should have been rebuilt in the style of the new Hastings pier. It would have been brilliant for hosting live events. Instead we have ended up with the hideous Eye thingy that looks like a power station chimney. You can get a better view of the city from the Race Hill.

We could try and bend the I360 over(Oh matron!) to make it appear like some sort of futuristic pier.