Listed Building: SOUTH PARADE PIER (1387214)

Pier. 1908. By GE Smith. Concert hall area rebuilt after severe fire damage 1975. Iron, timber and stucco. Lead covered flat roofs and curved roof to centre part. EXTERIOR: 1 storey. Pier supported on iron columns with outcurving iron rails to promenade deck with lower ornamental iron panel between uprights. Entrance facing South Parade has an open glazed canopy supported on cast-iron columns with Ionic caps extending up to pavement with flanking octagonal iron colonnaded kiosk, each with a scallop patterned leaded dome. Entrance on left of pier buildings has four 3-leaf later C20 glass doors, flanking kiosks, each with centre 2-leaf half glazed door, shop window casement on left and 3-leaf casement on right. At far left is an open entrance to promenade deck with hipped roof supported on left side by a square iron column with horizontal boarded side panel. At far right the promenade is covered by a later C20 1-storey structure. 2 pairs of 2-leaf glass doors, parapet. At each corner is a square timber horizontal boarded tower rising from roof level each with a timber balustrade on 4 sides set between wide timber corner posts with curved weathered caps, projecting timber dentils below balustrade. Set back from balustrade is a square window tower with on each side a 3-light casement set under timber segmental arch, cornice and low pitched pyramidal roof. On left return facing east the promenade deck extends southwards opening to full width of pier from south end of Concert Hall leading to octagonal promenade area (former bandstand) at far end. The right hand part has, on right adjacent to promenade entrance and on far left, a 3-light casement set under segmental timber arch with flanking splayed pilasters and set within a recessed panel. At centre is a 5-light casement set under flat arch, fascia and over centre 3 lights is a round-headed casement, timber pediment at roof level. On far left of right part is a timber tower similar to that on right at main entrance (similar towers also at corners of opposite west elevation). Recessed central part has on left and right a large tripartite transomed bow window, fascia and cornice. Right bow has 2-leaf door at centre. At centre is a large 3-leaf casement and to left of left bow a 2-leaf door. Doors and windows flanked by boarded timber pilasters each with moulded cap and base. Then on left is the 1975 rebuilt Concert Hall. (Balfour A: Portsmouth: London: 1970-: 70, 71; Lloyd DW: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs: Portsmouth: 1979-: 111,112; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Lloyd DW: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Harmondsworth: 1967-: 462). Selected Sources Books and journals Balfour, A, Portsmouth, (1970), 70,71 Lloyd, D W , Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs, (1974), 111,112 Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, (1967), 462