Mechanical Memories Magazine

Walking over the Waves:
Quintessential British Seaside Piers
by Chris Foote Wood
In 2007, author and broadcaster Chris Foote Wood achieved a lifelong ambition - to
visit every seaside pier in England, Wales and the Isle of Man - all 56 of them! This
odyssey, plus copious research, has provided the raw material for Walking over the
Waves.
In words and pictures, Chris describes in fascinating detail the history, the
personalities, the stories and legends and the present condition of this very British
institution, the seaside pleasure pier. Read about how they were built and who built
them, the storms, shipwrecks and fires that hit our piers and sometimes destroyed
them, and the stars who performed or still perform on them.
From the longest pier to the shortest, the oldest to the youngest, the finest to the
most mundane, they are listed. "Each pier is different, with its own individual
personality," Chris enthuses, "some piers are still much as they were when they were
built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, while others are wholly given over to
entertainment and modem amusements. Most are a mixture of the two" .
"Seaside piers appeal to all ages, all generations and most nationalities. Piers
offer a complete range of enjoyment and satisfaction - there's something about a pier,
stretching out over the water, that has universal appeal. Enthusiasts appreciate a pier's
form and structure, while most holidaymakers are more concerned about the facilities
on offer. Some are content to stroll along the pier deck, enjoying the benefits of fresh
air, exercise and views over the sea while others immerse themselves in the
amusement arcades and funfairs that are a major feature of most of our remaining
seaside piers. Food, drink and entertainment are all the more enjoyable when taken
'over the waves'."
ISBN Number: 978-1904445678
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 192
Publication Date: 2008
Publisher: Whittles Publishing
Our Price: £16.99
@joylandbooks.com
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