January 24, 2019

Clacton Pier has landed a £50,000 Government grant towards its plans to revamp its oldest building.

The Pier applied for the money from the Coastal Revival Fund last year and has now been informed that the bid for its Jolly Roger project has been successful.

The funding is ring-fenced to survey the 126-year-old building’s structure, develop a condition report, provide concept drawings, structural designs and help to calculate budget costs for plans to carry out the refurbishment.

The overall aim is to modernise the Jolly Roger while retaining its historical features and be able to use it 52 weeks of the year.

The venue could then be home to sporting and entertainment events, conferences, meetings and weddings – as well as other community activities.

Pier Director Billy Ball said that it is good news for the project and the funding is the very first step towards getting the concept down on paper.

“We have a lot of work to do but this money will enable us to speed up the design process,” he added.

“It will also help us to be ready to obtain the next stage funding to deliver and complete the full programme of works.”

This round of the Coastal Revival Fund is supporting projects to help revive heritage assets that are important to local communities but have not yet reached their full economic potential or are facing neglect.

It also builds on the Government’s intention to deliver a landmark sector deal for the UK tourism industry, which will attract more domestic and overseas visitors, and help drive major economic growth.

The Jolly Roger was built in 1893 and has played a significant part in the Pier’s history. It helped it to become a leisure pier; rather than just a working platform as it began life under the control of its first owners, the Woolwich Steam Packet Company.

The building was first known as the Pier Pavilion, before being renamed the Jollity and then the Jolly Roger.

It was a popular entertainment venue for decades but has been mainly used for storage over the past 30 years. In 2017 it became home to a seasonal circus presented by Circus Fantasia and that is due to continue again this year.