For more than 125 years Garth Pier of Bangor has attracted visitors far and wide. Stood between the mountains and the sea the Grade II-listed structure stands at an impressive 1,500ft (450m) long making it the ninth-longest pier in the British Isles and second only to Llandudno in the Welsh ranking.
This year the cast-iron landmark was named the pier of the year by the National Piers Society. Described as the "perfect pier in a perfect setting" the structure is not only surrounded by breathtaking views but is also steeped in history.
The Gwynedd pier was built in 1896 from a design by JJ Webster of London and came at a cost of £14,475 at the time, which would be more than £2m in today’s money. It was then opened to the public by George Douglas-Pennant, the second Baron of the nearby Penrhyn estate, on May 14, 1896.
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The pier became a stopping point for steamers from Liverpool and Blackpool as well as a popular seaside resort where people would go promenading and crab fishing. The initial structure also had a narrow-gauge railway track which would carry the baggage from passengers that would arrive at the far end of the pier.
But in 1914 it was removed when the SS Christiana – a cargo ship that had been moored to the pontoon – became unmoored and drifted into the pier in the middle of the night. The cargo ship drifted almost completely through the pier's structure and caused significant damage, which ultimately necessitated drastic repairs.
When work took place, however, it was discovered the pier had serious structural faults as well and additional repair work was carried out up until 1922. But by the mid-1920s the popularity of the pier began to wane as bus services became available to replace the ferries and larger passenger vessels made Bangor impractical as a landing point.
By the 1930s the pier was making heavy losses and questions began to arise about the necessity of retaining the structure and its services within public ownership. To make matters worse the Second World War caused further disruptions to plans when part of the pier’s decking was removed to prevent enemy invaders using the pier.
When the war eventually ended the pier was said to be in a very sorry state leading to further views that it should simply be demolished or sold. Luckily the local council decided not to as they made some improvements to the landmark and encouraged people to use it for various events such as dances. Despite their efforts the pier was continuing to lose money and as a result was structurally deteriorating.
The pier fell into disrepair and closed in 1971. Bangor City Council bought it back from Arfon Borough Council for a nominal 1p in 1982. Thereafter repairs were funded by various grants as well as contributions from the people of Bangor themselves.
Eventually the pier reopened in May 1988 after millions of pounds were invested into it. Crowds of people gathered near the structure to see its gates open once more.
To this day its kiosk, ironwork fences, and gate remain true to its original Victorian construction. There are eight kiosks including four cafes, a gift shop, arts and craft shop, and gallery. Last year it celebrated its 125th year with various events and a firework display. Following the announcement of its winning title this year we spoke to the people that know and love the pier the most on what it meant to them, what makes it so special, the challenges it continues to face and what the future holds for Garth Pier.
'Where else would you find a nicer view on a sunny day?'
Every Saturday morning Alun Davies volunteers with the Friends of Bangor Garth Pier charity. Sat in the purple entrance kiosk he politely tells visitors to pay 50p for entry if they can.
As they do he adds an encouraging "diolch yn fawr" and watches them as they pass through the gates and begin their walk on the long stretch of the pier. Volunteering keeps his Saturday morning busy, he admits, but it becomes apparent that the site means much more than that.
“My dear wife, Gwyneth, was brought up just a few hundred yards from here in the Hirael area,” he says as he points behind him. “I myself come from the Rhondda and then lived in Cardiff for a bit.
“I met Gwyneth when she had moved down to Cardiff to seek pastures new and to seek me perhaps. She had an evening job serving at my local bar in Fairwater. The rest as they say was history.
“We used to come here on our holidays before we tied the knot and got married here in Bangor. We lived in Penarth after that but then I got a job working for various health boards. Eventually they then wanted someone to open the new hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd, and that’s where I got the job as a commissioning officer and we came back here after that.
“I worked in the health sector for 37 years before I decided to retire in 2007. Gwyneth and I were just starting to enjoy our retirement together when we visited Cardiff one day and Gwyneth wasn’t feeling all too well.
“She developed what we now know as encephalitis. Overnight she lost a large chunk of her memory and we had a very difficult 18 months before she passed away. I think I give up my time every Saturday morning in memory of her. There’s even a little plaque on one of the benches here dedicated to Gwyneth.”
Alun and many others have a strong connection with the pier and have dedicated their time in ensuring the pier is here for generations to come. So far the Friends of Bangor Garth Pier has garnered 2,000 members on their Facebook group and is still growing.
According to Alun the pier’s popularity has also grown. He said: “During lockdown a lot of people used to come here to enjoy outdoor spaces. It has significantly become a more important place over the last two years.
“So far we’ve only had 36 visitors this morning but yesterday we had around 735 visitors here. We’ve had a few events that have attracted a few thousands. If the sun is out people come out and we have a number of cafes and shops that attract quite a lot as well.
“There’s a sense of community here too – you have people that meet up here, have a coffee together and a nice chat. But I think what makes this pier so special is the view. Where else would you find a nicer view on a sunny day?
“You have the straits and the beautiful homes of Anglesey right in front of you, the two bridges in the distance on your left, and Beaumaris on your right. The Great Orme and Llandudno are over there and there's the spectacular views of the mountains behind you. Sometimes you have yachts and mussel boats sailing by. You get all kinds of life here and I think that’s the attraction.”
'This pier means everything to me'
The pier is also a home for businesses. Alan Parsons of Alan’s Woodworking and Crabbing Kiosk opened his gift shop more than 30 years ago after he and his wife came on holiday from Dorset to Gwynedd and decided to never leave. The 87-year-old has spent a large section of his life here and says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
His bright yellow kiosk sells all kinds of goods but primarily focuses on handmade wooden items such as love spoons and pictures of the pier itself, as well as supplies for crabbing, which has been a particular popular activity for children and families that come to the pier every summer.
“Kids who were coming here when I first opened the shop are now bringing their children,” he said. “I’m now dealing with the next generation and that’s brilliant – I love it.
“Back in the day I used to get a 100 a day coming here for crab fishing – it’s the only place here that they can do it. The best part is entertaining the kids and telling them all I know about the crabs and I make sure that they don’t harm them in any way and they throw them back in once they are done.
“I’ve said if anything happens to me throw me over the pier and feed me to the crabs. The crabs have looked after me over the years so I’ll look after them.”
Although Alan’s business has done well over the years he feels that more needs to be done to promote the pier. He said: “We need to encourage more people to come to the pier and Bangor because it’s such a unique place. Some people that come here didn’t even realise we had a pier.
“When people come on holiday they want something different and not a duplication of what they have at home. Places like Porthmadog have done it – Bangor could do it.
“There should be more of a focus on the city centre, support independent businesses, and just more investment. This pier means everything to me – I’d love to see boat trips coming to and from here again so it would open it up a bit more, people would learn more about it and its history, and it would encourage them to come here and enjoy it.”
'Sometimes the weather can be extreme'
Just a stone's throw away from Alan's shop is Trac5 café. Its owners, Anna Hopkins-Wild and Mike Wild, who are both former specialist nurses, decided to open their café four years ago as it had always been something they wanted to do.
When the opportunity came up to open a business on the sea the couple jumped at the chance. Since then Trac5 has grown from strength to strength selling locally-produced coffee and ice creams as well as homemade cakes. According to the couple, however, the running of the café does come with its fair share of challenges.
“It is hard to work in an environment like this,” Anna said. “We used to have a bench where people could sit and have a panad. But since Covid I think people are scared about social distancing so we decided to make more of the space and customers can have a takeaway and sit down outside. But that means we are still weather-dependent at the moment.
“Sometimes the weather can be extreme – it’ll be completely fine on the mainland and then once you get on the pier it’s windy, it’s raining. You literally are on the straits here so you are exposed to all kinds of elements.”
Mike added: “We have some really good days but sometimes we have bad days. But it’s worth it because when it's a busy day and we are working hard it’s nice to see people enjoying what we love about here.
“People are chilled out, relax with their friends and families, just enjoying the pier. The location as well is amazing. Even in bad weather the views are so dramatic, the tides are constantly changing, but the beauty of the place always remains.”
For the couple the desire to want to start a business on the pier also stems from fond memories of their younger years. “When I was a kid my dad used to take us out here even in the pouring rain," Mike said. "He was a keen mountain-walker – he’d take us up the mountain in all sorts of weather.
“But we preferred coming here because it was like a treat – it meant that we’d only be here for half an hour in the rain and then we’d jump straight back in the car. I remember running across the pier and avoiding all the holes in the floorboards – the pier was rotten back then. So you had to be a bit careful – but then they had to close it of course.”
Anna added: “This place means a lot to me and, interestingly, it goes back to my family history. My dad came here for university in the 1950s and my mother was at St Mary’s College.
“They used to do their courting on the pier and used to love coming for walks here. My dad actually wrote a poem about the pier called An Evening Walk and I have it hung up in a frame here.
“The last lines particularly stand out for me: ‘One day, when we have sauntered here with measured pace and slow, We shall descend the ferry steps, and board the boat, and go’. Unfortunately my mum passed away a couple of years ago so those lines are quite poignant now I think.
“In the 80s I used to bring my daughters here as well. There used to be a park nearby and they loved it here. This place and area is full of memories. It’s part of our family history and it feels like we are making new memories through this business now.”
'A beacon of hope for the rest of the city'
For Garth Pier it seems that the days of potential demolition or being sold for pennies are long gone. Although visitors come and go and its structure has changed from its original construction in 1896 one thing remains the same, which is the aim to keep the pier right at the heart of Bangor community.
One person that is determined to keep the place open as well as safe for the public is Avril Wayte. In August 2017 restoration work on the structure began once again and saw a budget of £1m.
The project is now awaiting completion of the final stages but grants to improve the look of the pier are still needed. Avril decided to establish the Friends of Bangor Garth Pier in 2020 as a way to assist Bangor City Council, which continues to own the pier, to reach its goal.
Its past is important, Avril explained, but its future is even more so. "Before we came along hardly anyone would pay to come on the pier," she said. "The council would usually get £3,000 from 50ps every year but it takes £60,000 to keep the pier going and that is for nothing super-structural – that is just for the basic maintenance.
"Thanks to the volunteers we’ve made sure that most of the people that come here pay. In the 11 months since we’ve started that we've raised £62,000, which is amazing." The charity’s work has not gone unrecognised either as the pier of the year accolade was determined by public voting. According to Avril the city of Bangor as a whole can benefit from a good attraction and social hub like the Garth pier.
She said: "We knew of the National Piers Society but we had no idea about the pier of the year title. To know that the people of Bangor actually voted for this pier was really heartfelt. It makes this place even more precious.
"This place is so important to Bangor. I’m afraid to say that over the years the city has become a poor place – it's lacking in investment and opportunities, especially on the high street. The fact that this has won the pier of the year offers a beacon of hope for the rest of the city I think. It says that there are good things here and that we can turn it around."
But what next for Garth Pier? "It would be amazing if we got more funds," Avril said. "At the moment we are just raising pennies. It would mean the world if we got proper investment on things we really want and need for the pier.
"People would like to see the landing stage back, it would be great if we can host more events here, and of course work on the repairs. The pier has always meant a lot to me. Here I see the mountains where I grew up on, I see Anglesey, I see the sea.
"Now that we are keeping this place alive – its history, structure, and community – it means so much more. And I know I’m not the only one – for all the volunteers, business owners, and those that decide to walk it every day this place means a lot to them for many different reasons. We all feel like we own this pier and that’s how it should be."
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