THIS iconic little pier in Weymouth has a rich history and is a place where happy memories have been made for many people.
The Stone Pier, also known as South Pier, is a pier located on the southern side of the entrance of Weymouth Harbour. It extends out from the Nothe Peninsula.
It's a breakwater which was built to help protect the entrance to the harbour.
These old pictures along with more recent images play some part in telling the history of this hugely popular spot for many.
The earliest known depiction of a pier or breakwater at Weymouth Harbour's entrance is on William Simpson's 1626 map of the area. The original structure was much shorter than the current one.
It was originally a short jetty in the 18th century but had to be extended and reconstructed after storm damage in the “Great Gale” of 1824.
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Sir Henry Edwards, the local benefactor, provided financial assistance for its extension in 1876-78 and it gave protection to the pile pier which was being damaged by wave action.
We have an image here showing an extension of Weymouth's Stone Pier being built in 1877.
Further lengthening took place in the First World War when a navigation light structure was added.
Further reconstruction work took place in the 1970. It was very badly damaged in the late 1970s and as a council officer I had to apply to the ministry for loan sanction approval.
I went to the Echo and saw Harry Green, the Chief Photographer and explained the problem. “Come back tomorrow,” he said.
I did and he gave me three or four photos showing some wonderful detail. I asked him to invoice the council and he refused. A charming man and superb photographer.
My photo dates from the early 1970s and shows a rough sea to be avoided if possible!
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This picture shows people crammed onto the Stone Pier watching the Tall Ships in Weymouth. Thousands of people flocked to Weymouth quayside to witness the arrival of the Tall Ships Race.
The picture below was taken by Weymouth photographer Idris Martin and shows an absolutely packed Stone Pier during the sailing events of the London 2012 Olympics in Weymouth.
People were trying to get a good view of Ben Ainslie winning his historic gold medal. He made history in Weymouth, becoming the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, winning a fourth gold medal in the resort.
John Joyce writes: "My fondest memories are of fishing from the Stone Pier, watching the annual carnival from my granny's guest house window at 4 Greenhill and swimming with my friends (the 'Panic Prevention People') down at Newton's Cove."
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One reader writes: "I remember boys catching 'quiddle' there in the 60s. The 'quiddle' would squirt brown ink as they landed."
"I spent a lot of my childhood fishing on the Stone Pier in the 1970s. Those were awesome times," another remembers.
"I remember mackerel fishing and catching them by the dozen," Terry Weir writes. "In later years I would go diving for fishing lead weights. They were washed up into a corner on the right hand side (looking towards the sea) oh! And I remember tugging the lines in use."
"I still have a lovely 8oz penny shaped lead from diving there in 70s," another reader remembers.
If you have memories or old photos of Weymouth Stone Pier you'd like to share, you can send them to joanna.odonnell@dorsetecho.co.uk or call 01305 830973.
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