Grand Pier at sunset in Weston-Super-Mare

Tweet Follow @photograferry

I had reason to be in Weston-Super-Mare recently, not something you hear often, but that is where I found myself nonetheless. And thankfully I had my camera with me, so I took the opportunity to head down to the beach for sunset, hoping to get some shots of the Grand Pier.

The pier is privately owned and is supported by 600 iron piles, and is 400 metres long. It has been damaged by fire on two occasions, in 1930 and 2008. Following the 2008 fire, which completely destroyed the pavilion, the pier was rebuilt and and reopened in October 2010.

The Grand Pier was originally constructed in 1904, and featured a 2,000 seat theatre which was used as a music hall for opera, stage plays and ballet. After the original pavilion was destroyed by fire in 1930 a new pavilion was built in 1933, which housed a large, undercover fun fair. In 1974 the pier became a Grade II listed building.

The Grand Pier in all its glory.

Thankfully the sunset did not disappoint, even though there was a skyful of tempestuous clouds looming over the proceedings, they allowed the setting sun to work its fiery majesty below their flanks, and as the tide had just recently departed, the wet sand reflected the flaming display a treat. The conditions could not have been better.

The following few pictures show the variances in light as the retiring sun gave way to the onset of gloaming, and made my trip to Weston worthwhile.

As the sun dipped, the atmosphere took on a rosy glow.

With the sun quickly disappearing, a cool hue descended over the beach.

A long exposure of the slowly travelling cloud cover and fading light.