The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the pier and promenade for Weston was performed by Master Cecil Hugh Smyth Pigott assisted by Lord Arundell of Wardour and a large group of dignitaries.

The scheme from 1861 proposed to connect the island of Birnbeck with the mainland at Anchorhead by a solid embankment, to be faced with masonry.

Opening of Birnbeck Pier – 8 June 1867

The opening ceremony took place at 2.00pm shortly before the procession reached the bridge.

The bridge was decorated with flags and streamers and hundreds of well dressed holiday makers lined the cliffs and Kewstoke road, which was very lively and animated for Weston with invited dignitaries in position for the opening

Master Cecil Hugh Smyth-Pigott wore the scarf of the Cecil Pigott Lodge was placed on a table to make a speech. Then master Pigott paid the “first toll” at the entrance gate to formally open the pier.   

Birnbeck Pier

There would be two lodges and directly across the Birnbeck channel to the island will be a magnificent iron bridge, supported on massive pillars of the same material. Its length will be 1,000 ft, its width 20ft to 25ft and its height 20ft above high water. It will be a light and airy structure, so ornamented as to gratify the eye of the most fastidious artist and yet of such stability and strength as to bear any extraordinary usage.

Its width will afford passage for carriages and foot passengers, while room enough to spare for rows of ornamental seats of the whole length on either side. The island will be converted into a pleasure garden, with the adaptation of buildings, verandas and awnings; while around its base covered row of baths will be provided for both sexes and provision made for embarkation and disembarkation of those inclined to aquatic sports.

From the pier from the northern spur of the island will be laid the first stone of a solid landing place, which is to be continued in a north-easterly direction to such a length as to accommodate the largest steamers. Its seaward face will be so constructed as to repel the sea from that quarter where alone the sea is turbulent, while its harbour face will offer all the facilities for safe and speedy landing and embarking.

Such a pier, it will be seen is in every respect adapted for the pure exigencies of a watering place, and hence the cordial manner in which it has been received by all classes of the town. 

The first real mention of a Grand Pier was at a public meeting in the Town Hall in September 1881, but nothing came of it. There was a second meeting in February 1884.

With further meetings over the years.

In September 1903 the Grand Pier company paid £250 to the Urban District Council to enable work to commence on the New Grand Pier and remove a kiosk in Regent Street.

On the 26 September, the Grand Pier company took possession of the site and worked commenced.

18 June 1904

The first section of the Grand Pier with Pavilion was opened to the public with the entrance directly opposite Regent Street.

The opening ceremony took place within the Pavilion and was timed to take place at 3.30, with Mr Alfred Deedes, J.P.,(chairman of directors) who formally declared the first section of the pier and pavilion open to the public, with hearty cheers all round by the invited dignitaries