 Many visitors arriving on the steamers never left the pier and Birnbeck Island which between them housed the cafe , pavilion , amusements and funfair . These were destroyed by fire on 26 December 1897 and replaced by the present buildings , although these have been altered over the years . The attractions included Mutoscopes , a shooting gallery , merry @-@ go @-@ round , park swings , a theatre of wonders and a licensed bar . In 1891 a telephone was installed only six months after the first one was installed in the town . In 1909 , the amusement area was expanded by an extension on iron supports along the south side of the island . However , this was not built to the proper specifications so was demolished in 1912 ; a larger concrete platform was added in its place in 1932 . 
