REDCAR PIER – Official Opening

Accreditation the Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 23/05/1873

REDCAR PIER – OFFICIAL OPENING
WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS

The directors of the Redcar pier company, limited,
beg to announce that the

REDCAR PIER
Will be open by

REAR-ADMIRAL CHALONER
On

WHIT MONDAY, THE 2^ND June NEXT,
At Twelve o’ clock Noon

THE REDCAR COATHAM BAND

Has been engaged for Whit Monday and Whit
Tuesday, and will play on the Pier most of the day.

A PUBLIC PROCESSION
Consisting of the Directors, Shareholders, and

Inhabitants will leave the Registered Office of the

Company, No. 58, High Street, Redcar, at a Quarter.

to Twelve o’Clock, for the Pier Head, where the

OPENING CEREMONY
Will take place.

Both the REDCAR LIFEBOAT’S will be Afloat.
and Manned on this occasion stop.

After the Ceremony there will be
A  P U B L I C  L U N C H E O N
At the Royal Hotel, at 1 o’clock,

For which a limited number of Tickets, 4s. Each
may be had on and after Monday, the 26^th, instant,
on application to the Secretary of the Company,
or at the Royal Hotel.
The Public will be admitted to the Pier at Eleven
o’clock on payment up to One o’ Clock of 4d. for
each Person, and after that hour of 2d Each.
No , Dogs will be admitted on the Opening Day.
On and after Tuesday, 3 June next, the
Charges for Admission will be in accordance with
the Regulations and Terms of Administration to be.
Issued by the directors.
By Order,  J. H. WEBSTER
Secretary to the Company,
Registered Office, High Street, Redcar.
22^nd of May 1873

Accreditation the Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea GAzette 06/06/1873

OPENING
of the
REDCAR PIER

            Whit Monday (02/06) was a day of high rejoicing at Redcar, when thousands of people from various parts of the country assembled to witness the opening of Redcar  Pier. Notwithstanding the threatening condition of the weather on the previous day, and even on the morning of Monday, before noon the atmosphere cleared, and the street was thronged with spectators to witness the procession of Directors, Shareholders, Inhabitants, and Visitors, marching in the following order :-

Police.
Band.
Directors.
Engineers.
Contractors.
The Solicitor and Secretary.
Mrs. Dawson and the Rev. W. Milburne, Vicar.
Shareholders.
Inhabitants and Visitors.

            The procession proceeded from the Registered Office of the Company to the Pier head, where a large concourse of spectators had already assembled to witness the opening ceremony. To the great regret of all present Admiral Chaloner, chairman of the Company, who was announced to take a principled part in the ceremony, was prevented by state of his health from being present. Under the circumstances the Directors unanimously agreed to invite Mrs. Dobson, of Weston All, near Otley, a lady who has ever envied just a most kindly interest in the welfare of Redcar, to declare the pier generally open. It was also further understood that Mr. W. C. Trevor would receive the address on behalf of Adml Chaloner, and ask Mrs. Dawson to officiate in his place. On a slightly raised platform erected for the occasion, stood Mrs. Dawson, W. C. Dawson, Esq., And Miss Dawson, the Rev. Mr. Milburne, Mr. W. C. Trevor, Dr. Bennett, Mr. J. G. Thompson, and Mr. J. Harrison. The Secretary then read the following letter of apology from Adml Chaloner :-

Longhull, June 2^nd, 1873.

“Dear Sir. I exceedingly regret to say that I am unable to get down to Redcar to attend the ceremony of opening the Redcar Pier today. This is a very great disappointment to me, and I am excessively sorry that it should have occurred; but my medical adviser strongly urges me not to leave the house today, and I must own my feelings tell me it would be rash to do so. Under these circumstances, will you kindly offer my most ample apologies to my brother directors, and at the same time express my most sincere regret that I am unable to perform the duty they have so kindly asked me to undertake. I would again beg to assure you that my disappointment and regret can only be exceeded by my earnest desire for the success of the undertaking. Hoping more sincerely that you may have a successful day,

“ I remain, &c.,

“Thomas Chaloner.”

After which he proceeded to read the following address which had been beautifully illuminated on vellum by Mr. Camidge, of York :-

“To Rear-Admiral Chaloner, Chairman of the Redcar Pier Company, Ltd.

“Sir, your co-directors and shareholders of the company, on this, the occasion of the opening of the Redcar Pier, desire to express their deepest sense of the valuable services which, as chairman of the company, you have rendered them and the inhabitants of Redcar generally.

“In gratefully acknowledging the generous and disinterested motives which have throughout actuated your conduct, and the many personal inconveniences to which, in the faithful discharge of your duties, you have been subjected, there, in common with every inhabitant of the town, are also anxious to record their admiration of the zeal, assiduity, and ability you have displayed, and the great courtesy, urbanity, and kindness which they have at all times received at your hands.

“It is a matter of heartfelt regret to everyone that the lamented death of the Right Honourable Thomas, Earl of Zetland, has prevented that estimable nobleman from seeing the compilation of this handsome structure, which it is well known owes its existence to the pecuniary assistance and support which is lordship munificently gave to the undertaking.

“The ceremony of driving the first pile, at which you can only officiated took place on Monday, 28 August, 1871, and the work being now nearly finished, the directors have determined to open the pier for the purposes of promenade, with the full expectation that steam boat traffic will shortly be commenced, when passengers and persons using pleasure boats will be able to embark and disembark with comfort and safety from the landing stage in course of construction. You are, therefore so, respectfully requested by the directors and shareholders to do them the honour of formally declaring the Redcar Pier duly opened.

“Signed on behalf of the directors and shareholders,

“J. H. Webster, Secretary to the Company.

“Redcar, 2nd of June, 1873.”

The Rev. W. Milburne then offered the following prayer of thanksgiving :-

Almighty God and Everlasting Father, who alone stretches out the heavens and rulers the raging of the sea, who has compassed the waters with bounds until day and nice cease, we, line unworthy servants, offer unto Thy Divine Majesty of sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for all Thy mercies, especially for those vouchsafed to us in this work, in that File has preserved amidst peril and danger those engaged in its construction, and has granted success to the labours of our hands. Continue, we beseech Thee, Thy blessing to us, and give us such a sense of Thy goodness that we may ever praise Thee not only with our lips but in our lives. Grant this for Jesus Christ’s sake, I will only mediator and advocate, Amen.

Mr. Trevor said that in the unavoidable absence of Adml Chaloner, he received the address just read and would take care to deliver it to Adml Chaloner himself. He had much pleasure in performing what had been asked of him, and issued the company that Adml Chaloner regretted exceedingly his inability to be present; and he was sure everyone present regretted the cause, especially when they are remembered the great interest he had taken in everything connected with the undertaking. The gallant admiral drove the first pile, and had looked forward from time to time to the day when he would have the pleasure of seeing the work completed. The duties to be discharged that day were threefold, to receive the address, to declare the pier duly opened, and reside at another meeting which would subsequently be held on land. In the absence of their chairman these duties had been divided. He (Mr.Trevor) had received the address, and a very kind lady had consented to perform the next duty. (Cheers). She had come forward at very short notice to do so and the directors were very much indebted to her. (Cheers). He could not allow this opportunity to pass without alluding to the loss the town had sustained by the death of Lord Zetland, to close munificence the very existence of the pier was going. His Lordship always took great interest in that pier, and had he lived, and his health permitted, he would undoubtedly have been with them to celebrate the opening of the pier, but Providence had or ordained it otherwise. He concluded by congratulating the town of Redcar upon the opening of a pier, which was an ornament and an acquisition to the place and would compare with any other on the coast. (Cheese).

Mrs. Dawson then said, I declare the Redcar pier to be duly opened, and from my heart I wish it every success. The Band then played the national anthem, after which three cheers were given and one more for Mrs. Dawson. Several rounds were also fired from mortars placed on the landing stage for the occasion. This terminated the opening ceremony. At this time, the scene on sea and land was of the most pleasing character; on sea the two Redcar lifeboats were fully manned and equipped for the occasion, and numerous pleasure boats studied the bay. To the east the volunteer artillery corps were assembled for big gun practice, to the West the shore and Esplanade were crowded with spectators, most of whom visited the pier. The bathing machines plying their trade added to the liveliness of the scene, and in the distance Coatham Pier, which was decorated with flags, completed the coup d’ciel, which was of a picturesque and inspiring description.

The following is a description of the pier, which, when the landing stage is completed, will be one of the most elegant and comfortable in the three kingdoms :-

The site of the pier is Clarendon Street nearly opposite the church, in fact nearly at the east end of the town, and was indicated by a display of bunting. The pier runs East north-east, and is 1300 feet long and ?0 broad. The head of the pier is widened out to an earlier of 114 feet long by 65 feet broad and a separate landing stage is to be placed beyond the head for the landing of passengers from steamers and cobles. The piles are of cast-iron, 9 inches in diameter, sharply pointed at the end and have been driven by heavy pile driving machines into the rock. To these piles are attached columns placed in pairs 30 feet apart and battering inwards. Additional stability is given to these columns by a strong wrought iron bracing, and on top of the columns are ornamental cast-iron spandrels stretching between each pair of columns. The spandrels are connected transversely by flooring joists of timber, on which the planking of the pier is fixed. A hand rail of wrought iron runs along each side of the pier, and at intervals seeds are placed for the accommodation of visitors. The engineer for the pier are Messrs. J. E. and A. Dowson, Great Queen Street, Westminster, London, the contract is being Messrs. Head Wrightson and Co., Of Stockton-on-Tees.

The Directors, shareholders, and their friends have luncheon at the Royal Hotel which was served in good style by the host and hostess, (Mr. and Mrs. Hall). Amongst those present were, T. W. S. Locke, Esq. in the chair; Dr. Bennett, vice chair; W. C. Trevor, Esq.; J. G. Thompson Esq., (solicitor to the company); Rev. W. Milburne, Rev. B. N. R. Batty, Wade Bennett Esq.; C. A. Head, Esq.; W. B. Wrightson, Esq.; Alfred Dowson, Esq., (Engineer); J. Rutherford, Esq.; Captain Mordue, Anthony Wade, Esq.; J. Russell, Esq.; Messrs. J. Harrison, E. W. Lennard, M. Crabtree, J. H. Webster, R. Lee, J. Dowson, H. Wilkinson, J. Mallaby, H. Harrison, W. Goodchild, G. F. Bates, F. Groenings, &c., &c.,

After the launch the CHAIRMAN PROPOSED in succession “The Queen,” “The Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal family.”

MR. C. A. HEAD then proposed “The Army, Navy, Militia, and Volunteers,” expressing a hole that if ever their services of these bodies were unhappily wanted, the members would not be waiting; and

CAPT. MORDUE, in reply, shortly express his thanks for the compliment paid to the United services.

MR. W. C. TREVOR gave “The Archbishop of York and the Clergy of the Dioceses,” saying that the toast was a usual one on such occasions, and at the opening of a pier it was exceedingly desirable that the first pier in the county should not be omitted.

The Rev, W. Milburne, in reply, expressed his pleasure in being able to take part in the proceedings of the day, as he wished to promote, as far as laid in his power, the good of the place both spiritual and temporal. With respect to the Archbishop, who believed he was always glad to do all he could to promote not only the spiritual but the social well-being of the county.

The CHAIRMAN X gave the toast of “Success to the Redcar Pier,” regretting the absence of Adml Chaloner, because he took great interest in the Redcar Pier undertaking. He hoped, also, that it would turn out a success. Several years ago, he was one of the few who had promoted a pier, never dreaming of a second one. As a Coathamite, it would have these good wishes. The structure was handsome and pleasant to the eye, and all connected with it might be proud of it. He had much pleasure inputting before them the tools, and by they all meet at some future date under like favourable circumstances. (Cheers.)

Dr. BENNETT proposed feelingly the toast of the Earl of Zetland. The late Earl to a noble and generous part in this scheme, and it would have afforded them unspeakable pleasure if they could have had a consciousness that he has lived to know it success. Providence had ordained it otherwise and they must submit. The present earl was comparatively a stranger to them, but they do he came off a good stock, and doubted not that he was a partaker of the same kindly and generous nature. Might he, like his late uncle, lived to honour age, living respected, and dying regretted: but, unlike his predecessor, might see a line of sons and daughters to bear his name.

MR. J. G. THOMSON gave the toast of “Adml Chaloner, the Chairman, and the Directors of the Redcar Pier Company.” In his professional capacity he had frequently come into contact with them, and he paid a high compliment to their efforts for the welfare of the company – Adml Chaloner especially, who, at great personal inconvenience, often left his home to come and help them at Redcar.

MR. J. H. WEBSTER (the secretary) proposed “The Visitors to Redcar and Coatham,” having lived to see one generation take the place of another who came to Redcar. Upon their support depended the success of the pier. A very great accession of visitors had come during the past 10 years over any previous 10; so that though their Coatham neighbours and friends had erected a pier, and some had their doubts about two, yet he hoped and believed that they would both find usefulness and profit in them.

MR. WADE BENNETT gave “The Ladies.” MR. TREVOR responded, and proposed “The Health of the Engineers and Contractors,” who each suitably acknowledged the tallest. “The Overlook of the Works, MR. W. MOORE,” was similarly honoured, and, at the instance of MR. CRABTREE, a Lake compliment was paid to the Secretary, with which the proceedings terminated.

We cannot close our account of the opening of the Pier without recording the valuable services rendered to the Company by MR. J. G. THOMSON, solicitor, Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar. The success of the day’s proceedings was in a great measure due to this gentleman’s untiring exertions, not only for the day of opening boat also throughout the whole undertaking. From the commencement up to the date of opening Mr. Thompson’s efforts have been indefatigable to ensure its ultimate success.

            During the day, the pier was gaily decorated with flags and streamers, and a constant stream of visitors poured onto it to enjoy the promenade, the sea breezes, and the unequalled views. It is computed that upwards of 4000 persons visited the pier on the day of opening, and on the following day 1350.