Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the Borough of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. The town has a population of 163,444 according to the 2001 Census, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is the largest town on the south coast and the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth. With Poole and Christchurch it forms the South East Dorset conurbation, which has a total population of approximately 500,000.
An important development in the establishment of Boscombe as a seaside resort was the building of the pier. A proposal for the pier was launched in 1884, when it felt that this would improve the attractiveness of Boscombe to visitors.
Tenders for the building of the pier were issued and in September 1888 the contract was awarded for £3,813, and for making the pier approach £938. The pier was 600 feet (180 m) long, and built in spans of 40 feet (12 m) each with a continuous wrought iron girder frame, which carried timber decking 32 feet (9.8 m) Boscombe Pier, November 2005wide. The pier head was 120 feet (37 m) long and 38 feet (12 m) wide, with a landing stage on each side, at which excursion steamers could call. At the entrance were two toll houses with turnstiles. It was opened with considerable ceremony on 29 July 1889 by the Duke of Argyll.
wide. The pier head was 120 feet (37 m) long and 38 feet (12 m) wide, with a landing stage on each side, at which excursion steamers could call. At the entrance were two toll houses with turnstiles. It was opened with considerable ceremony on 29 July 1889 by the Duke of Argyll.