One of the reasons why I love drawing the sea and the beach at Worthing is that it changes every day. This is drawn on a cold December day.
Worthing Pier, winner of the 2019 Pier of the Year Award, provides an iconic focus for the town.
Built in 1862 the pier has had a chequered history but remains at the heart of Worthing life. The first pile was driven on 4th July 1861, and the pier opened on April 12th 1862. The decking was widened in 1888/9 and a 650 foot ‘Southern’ pavilion was built at the pier-head. Two entrance kiosks were also added. Steamers could only call at high tide but proposals in 1900 to extend the pier were abandoned because the water would only be 6 foot deeper if the pier’s length was doubled. On Easter Monday 1913, the pier-head Southern Pavilion was isolated when the decking collapsed and the Southern Pavilion was destroyed by fire on 10th September 1933!