| June 1899 | Work starts on Victoria Pier as the first steam driven pile was screwed into the seabed at Colwyn Bay. Engineers were Maynall & Littlewood of Manchester, with the ironwork being pre-fabricated and supplied by the Widnes Foundry Co. |
| June 1st 1900 | Victoria Pier officially opens. 40 feet wide and 316 feet in length, owned by a private company "Victoria Pier Company"
|
| 1903 | Pier extended to 750 feet in length to allow for outdoor performances. |
| WW1 | During the first world war the pavilion was used to entertain the wounded troops who were billeted in Colwyn Bay. |
| 1917 | The Bijou Theatre was built on the pier head, catering for more lighthearted performances. |
| 1922 | The pavilion burnt down during the night. |
| 1922 | After parliamentary session, Colwyn Bay Urban District Council purchased the pier. The pier was restored and a new pavilion built at a total cost of £45,000 |
| 1923 | New (2nd) pavilion opened. |
| 1933 | In separate fires, both the second pavilion and the Bijou Theatre were completely destroyed. Once again the Council set to and rebuilt the pier and a new, 3rd pavilion. |
| mid-April 1934 | The cafe of the 3rd pavilion was decorated with murals by Eric Ravilious. |
| 18th May 1934 | The 3rd (current) pavilion opened. This time in a very moderne
Art Deco style, and totally fireproof, being made of iron and concrete
at a cost of £18,500. A detailed description and photos of the pavilion was published June 1934. Read it here. |
| 1958 | After waning popularity, the ballroom/theatre part of the pavilion was closed. |
| 1968 | The Council sold the pier to a division of Trust House Forte. |
| 1968 | THF wreck the art deco pavilion by turning it into the "Dixieland
Showbar". In the process, the building was clad inside and out,
covering up all the original features and blocking off all the windows
and most of the doors. The picture shows how workmen simply punched holes through
the 30' x 12' central stained glass ceiling panel in order to install
hangers for the new suspended ceiling.
|
| 1970's | Top cabaret acts and pop groups performed on the pier. |
| 1970's | The beautiful ornate Moorish toll booths and iron gates at the entrance to the pier were torn down and the awful new "Golden Goose" amusement arcade built. |
| 1976 | Permission to demolish the pier refused due to local opposition with a 4000 signature petition to Colwyn Borough Council. |
| 1979 | Pier sold to Parker Leisure, who converted the Dixieland Showbar into a disco. |
| 1987 | Seaward end closed to the public. |
| 1991 | Pier totally closed to the public.
Restoration costs are put at £850,000. The picture shows the end of the
pier in October 2003.
|
| 1993 | Council gave permission to demolish the pavilion and seaward end of the pier. |
| 1995 | After years of dereliction, marine engineer Mike Paxman bought the pier. |
| 2001 | The £80,000 "Waterfront Strategy" commissioned by Conwy County Borough Council puts the pier as a central asset to the future of the bay. Restoration costs are estimated at £2.6 million |
| August 2003 | Pier put up for sale. |
| 11th Dec 2003 | Pier sold to me... |
| 17th Jan 2004 | Pier re-opens under my ownership |
| November 2004 | The first live show on the pier for 20 years, The Circus of Horrors entertained hundreds of terrified visitors on a cold winters night |
