A striking new presence has appeared at Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, captivating local residents and visitors alike.
On Wednesday, March 18, an unusual vessel was spotted crossing the Severn Estuary, making its way from Newport to Weston-super-Mare. Resembling an upside-down oil rig, the barge featured four massive extendable columns and carried a digger secured on its platform. It was carefully guided into position alongside Birnbeck Pier by two tugboats.
Curious onlookers gathered in Prince Consort Gardens and on Birnbeck Road to watch the barge’s slow and precise maneuvering as the sun set, evoking memories of the community excitement surrounding the arrival of the “See Monster” installation in 2022.
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This vessel is a 400-tonne jack-up barge specially designed for marine construction. Its four sturdy legs can be lowered to the seabed, stabilizing the platform above the water and compensating for one of the world’s highest tidal ranges. Timing its arrival with the high tide was crucial to positioning it effectively alongside the pier.
The construction firm Mackley, experts in marine environments, have been restoring Birnbeck Pier by removing old decking and handrails with a large shore-based crane. Yet, the crane’s limited reach meant restoration work along the entire pier was challenging. The jack-up barge enables contractors to position an excavator directly on the walkway, facilitating continuous restoration along the pier’s length. The barge is expected to remain at Weston-super-Mare for the next year while works continue, with completion targeted for summer 2027.
During the restoration, only the pier bridge’s iconic cylindrical cast iron legs will remain, while the wooden walkway and handrails will be systematically removed. Every heritage component will be carefully cataloged and preserved for restoration.
Sections too damaged to reuse will be recreated from original moulds. The salvaged wood will find a new life as handcrafted furniture, produced by Somerset Wood Recycling. These bespoke pieces will be sold at the Pier Master’s Cottage, being transformed into a combined shop and café. Proceeds will contribute to the pier’s ongoing care and maintenance.
The barge’s arrival came just before a significant government announcement pledging £19 million towards restoring Birnbeck Pier. While the National Lottery Heritage Fund supports the pier bridge restoration, plans for the island itself had stalled after the RNLI withdrew from building a new lifeboat station.
This fresh government funding will enable the restoration of the pavilion buildings, clock tower, and the historic 1888 boathouse on the island, as well as the rebuilding of the deteriorating North Jetty. Reinstating the jetty will allow boats to dock at the Victorian pier once again. North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell hailed the investment as “game-changing.”
In addition, the funding will create a new indoor community space at the pier. Weston-super-Mare MP Dan Aldridge, who helped secure the funds alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves, emphasized the project’s broader community focus: “Birnbeck is about more than restoring a pier — it’s about creating a sustainable hub for exhibitions, education, local events, hospitality, and community activities year-round. This will make the pier a place Weston-super-Mare residents can truly be proud of.”
Eilish McGuinness, CEO of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund, expressed her enthusiasm: “This significant investment reflects Birnbeck Pier’s vital role as a source of hope and pride for the community. Exciting times lie ahead for Birnbeck Pier and all who live, work, and visit Weston-super-Mare.”
With this new government contribution, total funding secured for the project now exceeds £44 million. Contributions have also come from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the RNLI, the previous government’s Levelling Up Fund, and Historic England.
Birnbeck Pier is unique in the UK as the only pier connecting to an island. Designed by renowned pier builder Eugenius Birch and opened in 1867, the pier’s North Jetty was a busy hub for steamer visitors until its last use in 1979. Partial collapse during a severe storm in 2015 marked the beginning of the pier’s decline, now set to be reversed through these ambitious restoration efforts.