DAVID ST JOHN -THE ROYAL PIER

This page offers a historic perspective of a great Sotonian landmark and will then lead you to some rare images of the old ballroom. Please get in touch with me, if you have any of your own memories or photos that might be slotted into this and other pages. E-mail me at david@davidstjohn.co.uk

Sadly, this elegant facade is all that remains of one of the finest piers in the UK, which dates back to the early 19th century close to the famous Southampton Docks which were once packed with ships and liners from all over the world and gave the city its great position and profile. People walked through the main entrance and booking hall, before taking a leisurely stroll along the wooden decking or just sitting in the sun and watching the busy activities of the docks on both sides. Back on April 10th 1912, the whole Pier must have been packed as onlookers gasped at one of the most magnificent liners ever built, glide slowly out of its berth on its way to a tragic end - the Titanic. She sailed from berth 44 about half a mile away in the Old Docks but would have been seen by those crammed onto the Royal Pier as she steamed down Southampton Water into the Solent and onto the watery grave that lay undiscovered until 1985.

An old picture postcard showing a liner sailing past the pier, from the direction of the New Docks. It does resemble the Titanic but is historically incorrect. The entrance hall was not built until 1930 and the ship did not sail in this direction. You can also see the more modern Pavilion Ballroom at the far end but it does give a good impression of how it all looked and will stir fond memories of many visitors over many years. Thousands of people must have fallen in love at one of the dances as eyes met across the dance floor - many of them getting married then taking their own children along to the Pier in later years. Maybe it all happened again..........

The Royal Pier was opened by a young Princess Victoria in 1833, just four years before becoming Queen in 1837. Many improvements were made throughout the 19th century - with new pontoons, landing stages, tollbooths and various extensions. Much of this was geared toward the Isle of Wight and Hythe ferries and its boom times came at the turn of the century until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. It berthed around ten steamers at a time and the pavilion provided tearooms with entertainment, including dancing, concerts, exhibitions, and even roller-skating from 1906.

An old view from the end of the pier - the New Docks were later built to the left

This picture postcard shows the old Royal Pier railway station which closed in 1921

After the War ended in 1918, the railway had deteriorated and was finally closed in 1921 although the busy Red Funnel ferry routes continued to flourish, and still do to this day. The pier pavilion was extended through the 1920s and the present gatehouse, described was opened in 1930. Some referred to it as 'wedding cake' style and to me it always reminded me of Brighton Pavilion tinged with Islamic art! This entrance building also features six magnificent iron lions that survived from the original gatehouse. They are holding shields bearing the Hampshire Coat of Arms, and a really fine example of a classic building.

In 1931 the world air speed record was broken by the Supermarine S.B.6 over Southampton Water and until the 1960s, this aircraft was exhibited on the pier as a visitor attraction at the rear of the gatehouse and was a prototype for the legendary Spitfire, designed and improved by Reg Mitchell who lived in Portsmouth Road, Woolston. March 2006 saw a 70th anniversary flypast over Southampton Water - this commemorated the first flight back in 1936 and must have been quite a stirring sight for those on the pier.

This aerial photo shows a view taken from a Supermarine Flying Boat with the pier in the middle and Town Quay behind. As the 1930 entrance hall is not showing, then this is probably late 1920s as these planes were being developed in the area. The Titanic sailed from berth 44 which is around the top right area of this rare image.

The pavilion remained closed during the Second World War being a target for German bombers that constantly strafed the city and dock areas. It was re-opened in 1947 having been leased by Mecca Entertainment and in 1963 the pavilion was extended at a cost of over £100,000 and converted to a Ballroom. The Golden Years of the Royal Pier really took off throughout the Fifties and Sixties as it was a popular venue featuring top dance bands followed by the pop group explosion and other attractions. The early Sixties also saw the top names in the TV wrestling game slug it out in the ring including big stars such as Jackie Pallo, Steve Logan, Mick McManus and many more colourful characters.

The Seventies saw a gradual decline of the much loved Pier and by 1979 the Mecca Ballroom had ceased trading, The 900ft pier closed on 31st December of the same year due to its economic decline, lack of investment and the major fire that decimated the mostly wooden buildings but leaving the steel supports intact.

I have recently had some inside information passed onto me by a previous city councillor and Harbour Board official who was involved with this very phase of the Royal Pier decline and offers an insight into some rather alleged dubious dealings! Mecca were hoping to rebuild the burnt out Pavilion but it was discovered that they had obtained the lease after a 'private' deal by a local Alderman Hammond and without the prior agreement of the Harbour Board. This meant that Mecca, in their haste, had overlooked the fact that they had no right of passage across the main Pier to reach the Pavilion so were powerless to take it any further as the Harbour Board decided that it was not in the best interest to grant such a right. These sensitive meetings were held 'in camera' i.e. no public access or reporting and very much part of the 'old boys' network that has now died out. There was a lot of bad feeling generated at this time and the general public had no idea of what was really happening behind closed doors. This sealed the fate of the sad old Pavilion which then fell into further disrepair.

The Red Funnel Ferries used more space for car parking and the gatehouse/entrance hall was converted it into a Pub/Restaurant in 1986. In 1987, a serious fire completely destroyed the pavilion and bandstand at the pier head and a subsequent fire in 1992 destroyed much of the pier neck, and caused serious damage to the rear of the gatehouse. This blaze effectively sealed the fate of Southampton Royal Pier and signalled the end of an era. This photo has been sent to me from Chris Golden, one of the many DJs that appeared at the ballroom and certainly brought a tear to my eye when I saw the damage on a later visit to Southampton.

With its derelict wooden pier jutting out over the water, and the ornate pier gatehouse now standing alone, Southampton Royal Pier presents yet another sad chapter in the national decline of seaside piers.

2006 The sad remains of a once great pier in the foreground with Town Quay behind

Fast forward to 2008 - I am glad to report that the old deserted gatehouse and entry hall building has been renovated by local businessman Kuti Miah who owns several Indian restaurants in the area. He has now opened the Kuti's Thai Restaurant which offers great views across to the docks and surrounding waterway so this might pave the way for further investment in the rest of the derelict Pier that still stands defiantly in the water.

The whole docks and Town Quay areas need to be utilised as well as making sure that the annual Southampton Boat Show maintains its local profile and hopefully stays at its nearby Mayflower Park site for years to come. If you check out the local Echo newspaper and website, you will find many stories linked to the Pier and many local people are very happy to see the much loved building back in use and maybe one day I can organise some live entertainment that will take people back to the Golden Days of the Fifties and Sixties when many a dancer whisked a partner around the old ballroom surrounded by palm trees and the thousands of mini stars bouncing off the large mirror ball! Read my personal account below and it might even stir your own memories - if so, please send them to me by e-mail.

Following on from this webpage started back in 2007- I had the great pleasure of appearing at the magnificent Kuti's Royal Thai Pier restaurant and marked a return to where my entertainment career first saw the light of day in 1958 as a ten year old rock n roll singer! I was also joined by the legendary Pier DJ Johnny Dymond as we recreated the Sounds of the Sixties along with DJ Geoff Knight who also trod those same boards through the Sixties and beyond. See other webpages with forthcoming reports on this nostalgic return - the first entertainment since the mid 80s before fires and neglect finished off this 'Mecca' for dance-goers.

A great night-time view of the main entrance - it made you feel good before the fun started!

I grew up in Woolston and was taken to the Pier on many dance nights - this led to me appearing there in 1958 (see my Biography page) My family used to enjoy a great night out, but this meant a short 'cruise' to get across to the Southampton side - yes the much-missed Floating Bridges! The old Itchen Ferry had been in operation for a few hundred years, as people were rowed across the River Itchen which separates the East and West suburbs of Southampton. The 19th century saw the introduction of pairs of large steam-driven boats that were guided by chains under the water and this saved a few miles extra travelling to cross the river up at Northam or St Denys. It only took a few minutes to cross over but I remember those old tubs with much affection as do many others who recall those days.

The Floating Bridges finally ceased in 1977 as the new Itchen Road Bridge was finally open and you may wish to search the net to find out more about these fascinating ferries that remain in older peoples' memories. In later years, the Floating Bridges allowed people to 'go over town' to work or play, and the Royal Pier was a popular destination. The downside was that you had to leave the Pier in good time to catch a bus or walk back to the docking stages before the last ferry ran! Then you had to jump on the last bus which took the long way round - quite a few miles that took you back to the Woolston side a few tantalising hundred yards across the water! If you missed the last bus, then you had a taxi or a very long late walk in all weathers. Take a look at any Southampton maps or local heritage sites and you will see what I mean.

We crossed over the river, then walked up past the Old Dock gates along Canute Road and finally reached the Town Quay with the Royal Pier opposite. Having paid the entrance fee at the front entrance (above) we then walked along the wooden decking - the ladies often getting their stiletto heels caught and broken in the gaps! For some years, they displayed an old Supermarine Seaplane just by the main entrance as mentioned above and many passers by broke into singing the Dambusters March with aeroplane gestures, in thinly disguised tributes to the Spitfire and other warplanes that saved the country from enemy attacks just a few years before! Some of the German visitors and passers by often joining in for a laugh (well - most of them......)

There was always a great atmosphere at the ballroom and I enjoyed watching the musicians and their techniques. Seeing the dancers enjoy themselves made me even more determined to make a living out of entertainment and inspired me in later years. I also remember everybody dancing and singing on the way out of the Royal Pier after another exciting night - our crowd sang all the way back to Woolston!

February 2010 e-mail received with a great photo of an old Southampton Harbour Board cap badge:

Dear David,
I was searching for some information on the Southampton Harbour Board and in particular the Royal Pier. I have a cap badge (42mm dia.) and have attached a picture of it for you to see. I couldn't believe how much information was on your site. Absolutely brilliant. What a history, particularly with most of the large liners passing in and out. I couldn't have found a more appropriate site.
Many thanks,
John Donald

John Donald was another budding young musician back in the late Fifties and early Sixties and spent much of his time in Liverpool so well into docks, ships and music - all linked as we know. He writes:

I buy and sell badges and the more interesting ones are researched by myself. Reading through your site and seeing the pictures took me right back to when I was a nipper - late forties, early fifties. I was born in Liverpool but brought up in London and used to go to Liverpool quite often to see family. We always got the train - overhead railway - from Seaforth to town and I was always amazed to see the ships either in dock or out on the Mersey. We would always get the ferry from Pier Head to New Brighton and I loved being out on the river. The scenes in your pictures were reminiscent of those days. I have only been to Southampton a few times when going to the Isle of Wight. Maybe next time I come to Southampton I'll spend a bit of time looking around the dock area. That's a great site and I will being going back over it just as a matter of real interest.

I was in a band very early on - 1958 to 1964. Then got married. Seems like only yesterday, and you know what a lousy day yesterday was. Can't complain really. I did miss out though because my mates all did well. Our lead guitarist went with David Bowie, The bass player went with Dave Sutch of the screaming Lord variety and then the Animals. He set up the new Animals in 1967 with Eric Burdon. Johnny 'Mitch' Mitchell, our drummer went with Jimi Hendrix Thanks again David. Regards, John.

John now lives in Cambridge and is an authority on badges! John buys and sells these unusual items so always welcomes any enquiries via e-mail at: john.donald3@live.co.uk