In the “Year of the Pier” it has been fantastic to hear that the Grade II Listed Pier in Llandudno has been announced as the second finest British Pier. An accolade to add to its impressive previous accomplishments including being a “Pier of the Year” as nominated by the members of the National Piers Society. At 2,295 feet, Llandudno Pier is also the longest in Wales.
Aberconwy has so much to offer residents and visitors: Snowdonia National Park/Eryri National Park, Conwy Castle, a spectacular coastline and many many super pubs and restaurants are just some of the reasons why this is such a great place to live and why millions of people choose to visit us each year.
Llandudno’s Pier is one of the town’s most important and famous landmarks and I’m delighted that it has been recognised in the Times Travel Magazine as the second finest pier around the UK and the finest around Wales’ coast.
It is the longest of Wales’ remaining piers and one of the few remaining around the UK coast that still serves its original purpose of acting as a landing platform for ships. Last week the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer the PS Waverley returned to Llandudno after a five-year break and berthed alongside the pier as it has done for many years.
Llandudno Pier was designed by the great Victorian Civil Engineers, Sir James William Brunlees and Alexander McKerrow and took two years to construct. The building commenced in 1876 and took two years to complete.
As an engineer myself, I have nothing but admiration for this magnificent pier constructed of wrought iron lattice girders on cast iron columns. I greatly admire the skill of those that designed and built these piers, and it is a testament to their skill and ingenuity that this pier is still standing almost 150 years later. I applaud all those who have contributed to maintaining this magnificent structure and am delighted that the recent upgrading of the landing stage by the current owner Adam Williams have enabled the much-loved Waverley service to return to Llandudno.