Pier culture: history beside the seaside

1900, Southsea, UK: Holidaymakers on Clarence pier, which was partly destroyed by bombing in 1941. Plans are afoot to build a 180ft-high wheel called the Solent Eye, a south coast version of the London Eye Photograph: F J Mortimer/Getty

1900, Southwold, UK: The pier which was extended and opened in 2001. Businessman Chris Iredale has spent close to £1m creating the 620ft pier. The original was built in 1900 but fell into disuse in 1979 after decades of storm damage Photograph: PA

April 3 1926, Eastbourne, UK: Tourists during the Easter holiday Photograph: PA

1950s, Blackpool, UK: Revellers crowd the North Pier Photograph: Peter Lomas/Rex Features

1946, Brighton, UK: The pier Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty

August 21 2000, Brighton, UK: An elderly couple relax in deckchairs by the pier Photograph: David Sillitoe/Guardian

April 1 2003: Brighton, UK: West Pier a week after being damaged by fire Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

November 2 2006, Brighton, UK: Starlings gather over the derelict West Pier Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty

October 1 2007, Southwold, UK: Waves crash onto the beach near the pier Photograph: Graham Turner/Guardian

An artist's impression of the Birnbeck pier development in Weston-super-Mare Photograph: Bradley Wilford/Levitate

The planned Birnbeck pier development Photograph: Bradley Wilford/Levitate

A blueprint for the innovative Beachcomber pier development in Morecambe Photograph: Atomikarchitecture

Proposals for a new pier between Skegness and Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire Photograph: Atomikarchitecture