Pier Head Demolished
Source: Skegness Standard 7th October 1970
Photo: Norman Beckett
The pride of a past age begins to crumble under the onslaught of a one-ton destructor ball, brought in on Monday to complete the demolition of Skegness Pier entrance.
The work of razing it to the ground is expected to take two or three weeks. The ball is suspended from the crane and swung repeatedly into the brickwork. A gang of 10 men are working on the job and on Monday they erected an eight-foot high wooden fence along Grand Parade frontage to protect passers-by.
The entrance block, with its steps and ramps leading up to an arcade of shops and a restaurant and public toilets underneath, was built in 1937.
Its downfall reflects the changing needs of holidaymakers.
In its place this winter will rise a £100,000 leisure centre and cabaret lounge.
The pier entrance,what a shame! I used to love going through the pier it was so excitng in those days, dad and mum would treat me and my brother Frank to an ice cream if we were good and we would sit on the grand steps and run up and down them to see if we could beat each other, and one of us would always drop our ice cream. At the top of the stairs just inside the entrance on the right, used to be a guess your weight man, we were always amazed how he could get it right most of the time. It was just great to know at the top of those stairs and that great big entrance is the start of the long walk to the pier end and the sea.