Ryde pier

Ryde Pier was a group of three separate piers:
– a promenade pier (now a listed building)
– an electric tramway pier (now gone)
– and a steam railway pier (still used, although not by steam trains).

Ryde Pier was completed in 1814 to solve the problem of embarkation and disembarkation from the ferries. Originally built of timber, to a length of 1,740ft (527m) and 12ft (3.6m) wide.

As ferries became larger the pier had to adapt and in 1824 was extended to 2,040ft (618m), then in 1833 extended to 2,250ft (681m), while the pier-head was again extended in 1842 and the late 1850s.

A second horse-drawn ‘tramway’ pier was built alongside the existing structure, opening in 1864 and later being replaced by electric trams.

In 1880 on a third pier adjacent to the tramway pier, a direct steam railway link to the pier head was created.