Portobello Pier

Portobello Pier was a pleasure pier opened in Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland. Designed by Thomas Bouch, it was 1,250 feet (380 m) long and 22 feet (6.70 m) wide, and included a tea room, camera obscura, and a concert hall. The final construction costs were £10,000.

1. History

In 1869, Parliament passed a bill for the erection of a pier at Portobello with the view of developing and promoting the town "as a place of pleasure and enjoyment to its inhabitants and to the many visitors from Edinburgh and from afar". It opened on 23 May 1871. In August of that year, on the holiday marking the hundredth birthday of Sir Walter Scott, over 2,500 people visited the pier at a cost of one penny. The success of the pier saw day-trippers come by train from all over southern Scotland to Portobello. Pleasure boat excursions to the Isle of May, Elie, North Berwick, and Bass Rock were also offered. However, the fact that the pier was open on a Sunday caused controversy. In 1892, the pier changed ownership when the North British Railway Company bought the Galloway Company, maintaining steamer services from the pier until the Forth fleet was requisitioned by the government for World War I, leading to the closure of the pier. Along with falling into disuse, the pier was also damaged by storms and the iron supports of the pier corroded, which led to its demolition in 1917.

1. Attempted revivals

In 1933, plans were drawn up by a group of private entrepreneurs to build a new pier which would have connected the existing promenade with three gangways opposite Bath Street, Melville Street, and Wellington Street respectively. The plans included an enclosed bathing pond, enclosed boating and sand space, restaurants, shops, and a concert hall as well as facilities for pleasure steamer services. Construction was planned at an estimated cost of £60,000, but proposals were rejected by the town council. The plans were eventually abandoned due to World War II. In 2015, a proposal was made to build a new pier on the original site. Big Things on the Beach Trust and Architecture firm, Smith Scott Mullan Associates, presented plans for a multi-function pier with performance and live events space, a cafe, meeting rooms, and facilities for sports clubs.

1. References

Nearby Places View Menu

292 m

Portobello Toddler Hut

Portobello Toddler Hut is an early pioneer nursery school in Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland, founded in 1929, and opened on Saturday, 14 November 1931 by Harriet, Lady Findlay, on "an appallingly wet day". When opened it catered for 40 children from 2 to 5 years of age. Starting at 10am, the older children returned home at midday and the younger ones stayed and had a meal and an afternoon sleep. It was run by a committee of ladies on a voluntary basis. The Education Committee of Edinburgh gave a grant to cover about a third of the costs, with the remaining money subscribed "so that bread-winning mothers may be relieved of the care of their children during the busy part of the day". Montessori methods were used to prepare the toddlers for more formal education. As well as a nursery the Hut was used for many years as a shelter for children lost on the beach during the summer holidays. The Toddler Hut is still operating in Beach Lane Portobello, the oldest community run, self funded childcare facility in the UK. During the COVID-19 crisis, the Hut was saved from closure thanks to a fundraising campaign.

School

Portobello Swim Centre

Portobello Swim Centre is a multi-facility leisure venue in Portobello, Edinburgh. Built by Edinburgh City Architect Robert Morham in 1898, it comprises swimming pools, a gym and fitness studio, and Edinburgh's only authentic and publicly available Victorian Turkish bath, one of three remaining in Scotland, and one of only eleven in the whole of the UK. The salt water baths were completed in 1901. It has been given Category A listed building status by Historic Environment Scotland.

Community Centre Hotel

George Cinema, Portobello

The George Cinema is a former Art Deco cinema on Bath Street in Portobello, Edinburgh. The building opened in 1939 as the County Cinema. For many years, a bingo hall, it is a Category C listed building.

Landmark Movie Theater

Portobello, Edinburgh

Portobello is a coastal suburb of Edinburgh in eastern central Scotland. It lies 3 miles (5 km) east of the city centre, facing the Firth of Forth, between the suburbs of Joppa and Craigentinny. Although historically it was a town in its own right, it is officially a residential suburb of Edinburgh. The promenade fronts onto a wide sandy beach.

Beach Maritime