Pier Entrance and Gardens, Cleethorpes, c.1905

A striking panoramic view of the Pier Entrance and Gardens at Cleethorpes, looking towards the Humber Estuary. Large crowds of visitors are gathered in the gardens and around the pier entrance, while an electric tram passes along the road at the right.

The photograph provides a fascinating record of Cleethorpes during a period of change. The original pier-head pavilion and concert hall, built in 1888, was destroyed by fire in 1903. The new Pier Pavilion and shops were built closer to the shore in 1905 and can be seen in this view. At the far end of the pier, however, the replacement pier-head building is not yet present, helping to date the photograph to c.1905.

The image measures approximately 11½ inches in length and is an unusually large panoramic format for the period. It may originally have been produced as a panoramic postcard or souvenir view, although its original format cannot now be confirmed because it is mounted onto a paper backing.

From the Trevitt Collection.