Low winter sun...

Hastings, East Sussex.
Built in 1872 and opened on August 5 that year by the then Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, the Earl of Granville, the pier probably enjoyed its prime in the 1930s (although it became a popular music venue in the 1960s for the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Genesis, Tom Jones and Pink Floyd).

It received major storm damage in 1990, before closing to the public between 1999 and 2002 and again from 2006. Local efforts continued in order to try to save the pier which was in much need of investment, but in the early hours of October 5, 2010 the pier suffered from a devastating fire (the second in its history, the first being in 1917), that destroyed 95% of its superstructure.

After a long struggle, the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust finally raised enough money to start on the restoration, A development plan was put forward to the Heritage Lottery Fund, who awarded a project grant of £11.4m towards the £14.2m needed to restore the pier. Additional funds were raised through a Community Share Scheme (which attracted over 3,000 shareholders and raised close to £600,000), as well as from a number of generous organisations.

Reopened in April 2016, the new Pier has been designed by dRMM Architects as a pier for the 21st century. It is a sustainable, flexible platform that is able to host a broad range of community uses for years to come and was named as 2017's 'Pier of the Year'.
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