Pier pavilions, Clevedon

Piers offer something of the feeling of being at sea without the discomforts of wind, spray, and the rolling motion that brings on sea-sickness. In the UK the great era of pleasure piers was the Victorian period. Those that survive from that time help visitors to capture something of the simple pleasures that accompanied a nineteenth century day out at the seaside. The architecture of piers is designed to withstand wind and water whilst providing visitors with shelter on inclement days. The September day of a recent visit to Clevedon Pier on the Severn estuary near Weston-super-Mare, was everything a visitor could hope for and we lingered a while admiring the views and metalwork of the 1869 structure.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Severn estuary near Lydney Harbour

A visit to Lydney Harbour found us looking over the Severn Estuary trying to pick out landmarks. Berkeley nuclear power station (decommissioned in 1989) was one, as was the tower and nave of Berkeley church. High on the hill behind these was a tall, slim, pointed tower - the Tyndale monument. And in the far distance above the shining sands and sinous lines of water, the towers and decks of the two Severn crossing bridges could be seen, confusingly mingled from our viewpoint, with tall pylons that carry elecricity across the estuary. It was this cluster that I made a point of interest in my composition.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Clevedon Pier, Somerset

One of Britain's most attractive piers, and the only protected by Grade 1 Listing, is Clevedon Pier on the Severn Estuary in Somerset. It was opened in 1869 as both a tourist attraction and a point at which ferries could tie up to take on rail passengers going to South Wales. It is 312m (1024 feet) long and has eight elegant, arched spans, the feature that distinguishes it from more utilitarian structures. The tidal range of the estuary is the second highest in the world (15m, 48 feet), and consequently a number of platforms are available to ensure ease of embarking and disembarking boat passengers.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10