The iconic Waverley paddle steamer could soon be making daily visits to Weston-super-Mare with the planned reopening of Birnbeck Pier. A major restoration project is currently revitalizing the historic and long-neglected pier, sparking hopes that the north jetty’s refurbishment will once again welcome thousands of tourists traveling along the Bristol Channel.
Paul Semple, general manager of P.S. Waverley, expressed his enthusiasm to the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “If the north jetty is recommissioned for ship calls, it will feel like turning back the hands of time to the days when paddle steamers regularly visited.”
Tim Wardley, chair of the National Piers Society and Waverley’s piers liaison officer, reinforced this vision: “Reopening the landing stage at Birnbeck Pier would allow daily calls from Waverley throughout the Bristol Channel season. This would eliminate the current need for coach transfers from Clevedon Pier.” Tim added that currently, tidal conditions restrict Waverley to only once or twice yearly visits to Weston-super-Mare, with no option to return passengers by ship due to low tide at Knightstone Island.
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The return of the paddle steamer is expected to inject vital economic activity into Weston-super-Mare. Mark Canniford, the North Somerset Council cabinet member overseeing the project, highlighted its potential impact: “It would be fantastic for Weston if the Waverley could start calling at Birnbeck again. On average, each passenger spends around £35 in the town, boosting local businesses significantly.”
On May 31, Mark Canniford toured the pier aboard the Waverley itself as it cruised past Birnbeck, witnessing the ongoing restoration efforts. Specialist contractors Mackley have removed the main pier walkway to Birnbeck Island, leaving only the supporting legs intact as they prepare to reinstall a restored walkway.
However, the north jetty, crucial as the pier’s landing stage, remains in need of complete rebuilding following partial collapse in 2015. This restoration is not included in the current phase of works but could be funded by an additional £19 million securing through the government’s Growth Mission Fund. This sum was obtained by Weston-super-Mare MP Dan Aldridge in March, swelling the total Birnbeck project funding to over £44 million. Other contributors include the National Lottery Heritage Fund, RNLI, Levelling Up Fund, National Heritage Memorial Fund, and Historic England.
Birnbeck Pier is unique as the only pier in the UK connecting directly to an island. Designed by renowned pier engineer Eugenius Birch, the pier opened in 1867. During WWII, the Admiralty commandeered the pier for scientific research, renaming it HMS Birnbeck. Post-war, the pier’s popularity dwindled due to the rise of affordable international travel and the cessation of steamer visits.
The original P.S. Waverley, built in 1899, served the war effort and was lost during the Dunkirk evacuation. The current Waverley, built as its replacement and restored in 2000, remains Britain’s last seagoing paddle steamer and continues to attract large crowds to seaside piers during its voyages.
Paul Semple emphasized the symbiotic potential between the pier’s restoration and the Waverley’s operation: “We need passengers, and we want people to experience the pier—walk down it, board a ship as was done in the past. Both the pier and the Waverley will benefit greatly from each other’s revival.”