The cache is not at the published coordinates and paid admission to the pier or the museum is not required to solve this quiz or retrieve the cache. Please note the pier is open daily during the spring, summer and autumn seasons, however opening times vary so please check in advance to avoid disappointment. During the winter season (3rd Nov-6th Apr) the pier is currently open Weds-Sun only. The pier is closed Christmas Day.
Introduction
Loved by visitors and residents alike, Southend Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world and has been one of the town's greatest assets since the early 1800's. As Southend on Sea grew as a resort - initially through the perceived health benefits in taking in sea air and sea bathing - and latterly through the increased popularity of day trips by Londoners, it was quickly realised that the shallow gradient of the coast and the fact the tide recedes over a mile from the beach at low tide meant that large boats were unable to stop near the beach and no boats at all could stop at low tide.
This risked potential visitors travelling past Southend and on to other resorts with better docking facilities, for example Margate. The campaign to address this by building a pier that would allow boat access at all times was hugely popular and was led by The Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Heygate, a Southend resident.
On the 14th May 1829 the first Pier Act received Royal Assent. The first pier was wooden but at 600ft long it was still far too short to be used at low tide. By 1833 the pier had been extended by three times its original length, and by 1848 it was the longest pier in Europe at 7,000ft.
By the 1850's the railway had reached Southend and with it an even greater influx of visitors, all of whom took their toll on the wooden pier.
In 1887 work commenced on a new iron pier which, although opened that summer, didn't actually complete until 1889. Immediately demand outstripped the new pier's capabilities and a further extension was opened in 1898. An upper deck was added to the pierhead in 1907. The final extension was opened on 8th July 1929 by HRH Prince George, Duke of Kent. This new part of the pier - the Prince George Extension - was on the east side and was designed specifically to accommodate larger steamboats.
The pier also saw service in WWII when it was commandeered by the Royal Navy and put into service as HMS Leigh, with the surrounding foreshore renamed HMS Westcliff. Providing Naval Control for the Thames Estuary and serving as a mustering point for convoys, over the course of the war some 3,367 convoys comprising 84,297 vessels departed HMS Westcliff.
In its heyday annual visitor numbers peaked at 5.75 million and a number of attractions were opened on the pier itself including traditional amusement arcades, cafés, a theatre, and much more. In later years a bowling alley and a pub were also opened. Sadly the pier has suffered a number of accidents, with both the pierhead and shore end suffering devastating fires (1959 fire destroyed the shore end pavilion; 1976 fire destroyed much of the pierhead including the theatre; 1995 fire again saw the shore end destroyed (and with it the bowling alley), then finally in 2005 the pierhead was once again destroyed by fire, this time taking with it the pub, railway station and lifeboat station). If the fires weren't calamitous enough, the pier has also been struck a number of times by boat, the most notable being the MV Kingsabbey which sliced the pier completely in two and demolished the lifeboat station!
Although visitor numbers have declined since the heyday of day trips by steamer, it remains a hugely popular attraction and has benefitted greatly from European & national regeneration funding. Both the pierhead and shore end have been redeveloped in recent years, and a new Pier Pavilion and Cultural Centre opened on the pierhead in 2012. As a connection to its illustrious past, a seasonal paddle steamer still offers limited passenger trips and tall ships still occasionally pay the pier a visit.
Underneath the pier at the shore end is Southend Pier Museum which contains many historical and original artefacts and exhibits. Opening times are limited however so check in advance if you intend to visit.
Visits to the pier and the pier museum are encouraged but are not necessary to complete this cache.
While visiting why not check out GCW1HF Fisherman's Friend which can be found on the pier itself and along the seafront is the excellent Seafront Stroll series of 32 caches from Leigh on Sea through to Shoeburyness.
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In order to find the cache, you must first answer the following questions:
1. When opened in 1929 the Prince George Extension was A26ft long
2. The date in December the pier reopend after 2005 fire? (B)
3. The Friends of Southend Pier Museum was inaugurated in 1982, with specific aims to preserve the history of Southend Pier and to create a museum for the benefit of future generations. After much hard work, The Mayor of Southend duly opened the museum on the 8th July 198C
4. Before the present iron pier, the first pier was wooden and based on oak piles. The wooden pier opened in 18D0
5. Celebrity Chef who hosted a popular cooking show at the end of the pier along with Jimmy Doherty? (E & J)
6. The pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world, extending to 1.3FMiles long
7. How many trains operate on the pier? (G)
8. In order to support the war effort in WWII the pier became HMS Leigh. It was closed to the public on the Hth September 1939
9. The pier museum has an original 'Toastrack' tram on display, dating from 189K
The cache can be found at:
N51 AB.CDE
E000 FG.HJK
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You are looking for a small/medium container.
Although in seafront terms this is a relatively quiet area you should still be prepared to encounter muggles at all times.
Please note that if there's an exceptionally high tide then you might get your feet wet, and if the shore end lifeboat has been launched then access to GZ may be restricted if approaching from the east.
*****Congratulations to gspleo & $tu for the FTF!*****