The Queen's Pier

Built in 1886 the Pier is now sadly closed to the public.

The Queen's Pier is 2241 foot long and was built, in Ramsey for, the Isle of Man Harbour Board for the cost of £45,000. It was built by Head Wrightson & Co to a design by Sir John Coode.

The 3 foot gauge tramway was used to transport passengers and their luggage.

Steamers ceased to birth at the pier in late 1960s and the tramway closed in 1981.

Sadly after repeated vandalism the pier closed to the public in the early 1990s.

In January 1994, due to the uncertainties surrounding the future of The Queens Pier, a public meeting was called by local residents Mr and Mrs John May, which was attended by approximately two hundred people. It was agreed that a supportive group be formed, the Friends of Queens Pier Ramsey, with officers and committee members being chosen.

Shortly after this meeting, and following an application made by the Friends, charitable status was granted by the Isle of Man Government.

The Friends agreed upon its role, with three specific objectives:

to persuade Government to agree not to demolish the Pier, or let it fall into ruin; to persuade Government that the Pier should be protected from further decay and to assist Government in achieving this aim; to work with the chosen area of Government, preferably the Manx Museum and Manx National Heritage, to place and begin to process the restoration of the Pier within a practical time frame.

The Friends decided that the best way of achieving these objectives would be by encouraging membership of the Charity and by keeping the subject in the public eye. Present membership is approaching four hundred, and although these are predominantly local, we do have members as far afield as Australia, South Africa, USA and Sweden.

In acknowledgement of the unique contribution which the Queens Pier makes to the built heritage of the Isle of Man, the Pier was entered into the Protected Buildings Register in February 1995.

With tens of millions of pounds being spent on piers in England, it is hoped that the authorities will see the merit in spending money on the Queens Pier, such that it will form part of the Islands unique appeal to visitors, maintaining a landmark in the north of the Isle of Man.

More details can be found on The Friends of the Queen's Pier website at www.queenspier.org.

Photo: By Badgernet - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0